By Our Correspondent
The Imezi Owa General Assembly, IOGA for short, is a powerful socio-political body that was set up to support His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.
Our Correspondent reliably gathered that there are three political positions that are contended for among the three constituencies in the vibrant Ezeagu LGA political arena, namely;
- Local Government Chairman.
- Party Chairman.
- House of Assembly Member.
The different constituencies are;
- North
- Central
- South.
Further, it was learnt that Ezeagu Stakeholders agreed that no constituency shall hold more than one position at the same time, to ensure equity, fairness and justice.
Sadly however, That has not been the case, as can be currently seen from the fact that South holds LG Chairman, the North holds the House of Assembly, as well as Party Chairman. Even the current House of Reps Member hails from North.
A historical look shows that, from 1999, Ozor Barr. Joe Mmamel, Aguobu Owa Ward 2, Central, was Chairman from 1999 to 2002; Deacon Romanus Chibuisi, Awha Ward, Central, from 2002 to 2003; Dr. F. S. A. Uzor, Iwollo Ward, North, 2003; Hon. Mrs. Oby Okafor, Aguobu Owa Ward 1, Central from 2003 to 2007; Hon. Mrs. Ify Ozoani, Imezi Owa Ward 1, Central, for three Months in 2007; Hon. Julius Ogbuke Arinze, Olo Ward 2, North, from 2008 to 2011; Hon. Barr. Emeka Ozoagu, Neke/Oyofo Ward, North, from 2012 to 2016; Hon. Chukwudi Ezinwa, Obunofia Ward, South, from 2016 to 2018; Hon. Evaristus Anibueze, 2017, Umana Ndiagu/Ndiuno Ward, South; Hon. Chukwudi Ezinwa, 2017 to 2019, Obunofia Ward, South; Hon. Barr. Aniagbaoso, Olo Ward 1, North, 2019; Hon. Chukwudi Ani, Mgbagbu Owa Ward 2, from 2020 to 2022; and Hon. Chukwudi Ozoeluba, Aguobu/ Umumba/Ndiagu Ward, South, from 2022 till date.
Further, regarding House of Assembly Member, Dr. F. S. A Uzo, 1999 to 2003, Iwollo Ward, North; Hon. Paul Anaekwe, 2003 to 2011, Obeleagu- Umana, South; Hon. Hon. Chief Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, 2011 to 2015, Aguobu Owa 2, Central; and Hon. Chima Obieze, from 2015 till date, Akama/Amankwo Ward, North.
As concerns Party Chairman, Hon. Paul Anaekwe, 1999 to 2003, Obeleagu-Umana, South. Hon. Andrew Ilo, 2003 to 2007, Imezi Owa Ward 2, Central; Hon. Gilbert Ude, 2007 to 2011, Imezi Owa Ward 1, Central; Chief Chris Ohagwu, 2011 to 2015; Awha Ward, Central; Hon. Chukwudi Ani, 2015 to 2019, Mgbagbu Owa Ward 1, Central and Hon Anayo Chiude, 2019 till date, Olo Ward 1, North.
At a recent meeting of the IOGA, held at Favour Guest House, New Haven, Enugu, the stakeholders made a strong case for the unconditional zoning of the Chairmanship of Ezeagu LGA to Imezi Owa Community. The stakeholders, noted that from January, 2003 to December 2005, Ezeagu LGA was subdivided into 4 Development Centres, with equal status in terms of allocation, Councilors, and composition, viz, Ezeagu Central, led at the time by Chief Mrs. Oby Okafor;; Ezeagu South, led at the time by Chief Fred Ozoilo; Ezeagu North, led at the time by Chief Okey Ozoani; and Ezeagu Northwest, led at the time by Hon. Chioma Chiaha.
He noted also that, from 2003 to 2015, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi was a Member of the House of Representatives, from the South.
After Ozomgbachi’s second term at the House of Representatives and his insistence to go back for a third term, the North and South, in a quid pro quo deal, supported Ozomgbachi’s third term bid, altering the zoning arrangement between Udi and Ezeagu for the Federal Constituency seat, while the North usurped, for eight years, the LG Chairmanship turn of the Central and also denying Central our fair share.
Again, when Chief Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo finished her first term in the Enugu State House of Assembly in 2015, before her nomination as the Deputy Governorship candidate, she was slated to go for a second term. The North again, with the support of the South agitated and her seat was ceded to Hon. Chima Obieze, against the wish of Central, and to our detriment.
Since 1999 till date, only Hon. Mrs Ify Ozoani, Imezi Owa Ward 1, Central, has been appointed as Caretaker Chairman, for only three months.
The fact remains, however, that since 1999, no one from Imezi Owa Ward 2 (Ozom) has been appointed or elected as Chairman of Ezeagu LGA
Concluding, the IOGA Chairman, Hon. Ngwu Matthew A., and another stakeholder, Dr Ojemba Ozobu, the Dean, Faculty of Health Technology and Engineering of Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Enugu pleaded fervently with the Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mba, and Ezeagu LGA stakeholders as a whole, to ensure that equity, fairplay and justice will prevail in this instance by ensuring that the post of Chairman, Ezeagu LGA is zoned to Imezi Owa Community.