The apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organization, Ohanaeze, former vice president of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, have called on governorship aspirants that are not from the north senatorial zone of the state to withdraw their ambition saying that the North has four more years to complete their tenure.

Addressing journalists in Awka in the presence of 15 traditional rulers in the state, the president of Ohanaeze in the state, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, noted that the decision was taken after various meetings of all the stakeholders in the state.

He described the previous Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a failure, hence the reason the body had inaugurated a strong economic team led by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to get it right for Ndigbo.

On his part, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, said that the zoning process apart from guaranteeing good neighbourliness and sustenance of peace in every political sphere would also eliminate rancour, acrimony and disunity among others in the state.

He recommended that each senatorial zone occupying the governorship seat at any time should be allowed to retain it for a consecutive eight-year period.

For Ezeife, “A political entity performs best in the atmosphere of peace and unity which were generated by equity, justice and fairness.

The former Governor strongly recommended that any senatorial zone the governorship seat rotates to, should be allowed to retain the seat for eight years which comprises of two four-year tenures.

Speaking further, the Ohanaeze leader in the state said: “With the support of the elder statesmen to the zoning system, “the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Anambra state chapter has resolved that since the north-senatorial zone is currently occupying the position, the zone should be allowed to produce the next Governor of the state during the forthcoming gubernatorial election fixed for November 18, this year.

“This is to enable the zone complete its eight-year uninterrupted tenure as recommended here. The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndgibo, Anambra State chapter, therefore, hereby appeals to all political parties and Anambrarians to adopt this zoning arrangement as a permanent policy of zoning system for our dear state.

“Furthermore, we hereby urge all the political parties contesting in the forthcoming governorship election to embrace this initiative by choosing their respective candidates for the election from the North senatorial zone.”

Ohanaeze solicited for the support of all Anambrarians, especially the electorate to support the zoning arrangement in all elections henceforth.

He added that based on this popularly adopted zoning arrangement, that the governorship slot will be zoned to the south senatorial district which will also retain the seat for eight years after the north has completed its tenure while the central senatorial district will occupy the position for the same period.

Ohanaeze and the stakeholders however listed the new zoning arrangement in Anambra State as follows, Anambra North 2013-2021, Anambra south 2021 – 2029.

Others were Anambra central 2029 – 2037, Anambra North again, 2037 -2045 and Anambra South 2045-2053 and so on.

Okeke claimed that the zoning formula had already been adopted by the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU) made up of 179 communities in the state adding that Anambra governorship election must hold, despite the threat by Biafra agitators.

He, however, maintained that Ohanaeze was not against IPOB, MASSOB and others as being speculated saying that Ohanaeze was in partnership with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), as well as Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to get what was due to Ndigbo.

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