MBAITOLI APC LEADERS TO UZODIMMA: CEDE SENATORIAL SLOT TO MBAITOLI - NAY, MBAIKE

        By Kingsley Ononuju (Ekwedashike)

As preparations for the forthcoming primary elections for state and national assemblies, get to fever pitch, it becomes necessary that certain sticking points, which might be counter productive  and  negatively affect the outcome of the process are highlighted and addressed exhaustively and impartially.

Let me start by declaring my implicit and unwavering confidence in the Governor, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma and his ability to pilot the affairs of the State - this view reflects  the position of Mbaitoli APC leaders, who have vowed to continue to give the Governor and the party total support and mobilize the masses for more resounding electoral successes.

Without doubt, Mbaitoli -nay, MBAIKE as a constituency has the highest number of votes in Nigeria and given what the constituency brings to the table as a swing geopolitical area that determines, who wins in every election, it should be given commensurate recognition and favourable treatment but such is not the case as the federal constituency and particularly, Mbaitoli Local Government Area, unfortunately, does not receive fair treatment and commensurate reward for the role she  plays in determining the outcome of any election in the State and Nigeria.

Since 1999, it has been only late Distinguished Senator Ama Iwuagwu - a great son of Mbaitoli that was given the chance to run for the Senate seat of Owerri Zone, which he won but his representation was cut short due to his untimely death.

Thereafter, Mbaitoli Local Government Area remained marginalized and so to speak ostracized in the sharing and distribution of elective positions especially in the Senate.

I understand that the current APC State Chairman is from Owerri Federal Constituency, while the incumbent Senator representing Imo East Senatorial Zone is also from Owerri Federal Constituency though of a different party. Equally,  prior to the emergence of Onyewuchi, another Owerri Federal Constituency indigene in the person of Eze Ajoku also represented the zone in the Senate.

In the light of the foregoing, it will be absurd and beyond logic for another Owerri Federal Constituency indigene to represent the zone again in the Senate during this present dispensation.

For the sake of fairness, equity and moral justice, I appeal to the Governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma to use his good offices, wisdom and political will to resolve this burning issue.

People of Mbaitoli Local Government feel shortchanged and also contend that this is their turn to produce the person that will represent Imo East Senatorial Zone on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate.

The two sons of Mbaitoli, who have what it takes to win the election for the APC have made themselves available by purchasing the forms and scaling through the rigorous screening process. Any of the two can represent Imo East Senatorial Zone in the Senate.

Indeed, I am of the view that given our numerical strength, which is our bargaining chip, alongside our sister Local Government Area, Ikeduru we deserve better treatment. We are a formidable and decisive voting bloc, hence no sitting Governor can overlook that.

According to Victor Hugo: "Caution is the eldest son of wisdom," therefore, let the needful be done.

One thing incontrovertible is that Owerri Federal Constituency has had its fair share of producing candidates for the Senate, hence our caring and listening Governor will listen to this passionate plea.

A sitting arrangement that will have the party chairman and Senator representing Imo East Senatorial Zone coming from one Federal Constituency is unimaginable, unacceptable, unfathomable and tantamount to marginalization of the other Federal Constituencies comprising Imo East Senatorial Zone and "Fulanization" of the position.

While not undermining or denigrating the office of the Deputy Governor, I must however point out that it is not substantive and therefore should not be used by anyone or group to deny Mbaitoli the opportunity to produce the APC Senatorial candidate for Imo East Senatorial Zone this time.

I believe that there is ample chance and time for the right decision to be made and it is on that note that I make this passionate appeal on behalf of Mbaitoli APC leaders to the Governor,  Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. We need your intervention Sir. Ceding the Senatorial position to Mbaitoli will definitely assuage the pains inflicted by years of neglect and marginalization.

What I am asking for and on behalf of the other Mbaitoli APC leaders is not outlandish as it was such political brinkmanship that produced the candidacy of Achike Udenwa in 1999.

Martin Luther King once said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

Indeed, justice for one is justice for all, I solemnly submit.