From James Nwakpa
As Ebonyians join other well-meaning Nigerians to celebrate the 62nd independence day celebration of Nigeria and the 26th anniversary of the creation of Ebonyi State, the people of goodwill have called on all the political parties to embrace the principle of equity and fairness in the zoning of major political positions in the state.
This advocacy was intensified following the decision of the state governor, and leader of APC in Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi to uphold the rotation formula which has allowed every senatorial district in the state to have their fair share and sense of belonging in taking the governorship position since the creation of the state in 1996.
Governor Umahi while addressing the people during the independence day celebration at Pa Ngene Oruta Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the state capital, advised politicians to shun politics of rancour and acrimony, stressing that the governorship slot should go back to the Ebonyi North zone since it has gone round the three senatorial districts of the state to promote peace and unity among the people of the state.
In an interview, the Executive Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Council, Hon. Ebere Nwogba observed that the State Governor, Engr. David Umahi has made Ebonyians proud in the comity of other states and poured accolades on him for his unprecedented achievements, both in the area of infrastructure and human capital development within the past seven years in office as the Executive Governor of the state.
Similarly, the National Coordinator of a pro APC governorship candidate support group, known as Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru (FON) youths movement, Comrade Chinedu Emerick, called on the people of Ebonyi South and Ebonyi Central Senatorial districts to support the Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru who is the APC governorship flag bearer from Ebonyi North zone of the state, in the interest of peace and progress of the state.
Also, other interviewees who made their feelings known to the press, including a businessman, Mr Amaechi Nwali and a seasoned politician, Hon. Kenneth Nwovu emphasized the need not to truncate the aims and aspirations of the founding fathers of the state, stressing that the past leaders of the state have laid a solid foundation for the development of the state and as such, demands the contributions of everybody to take the state to a greater height.
The peak of this year's anniversary celebration was the flag off of the second phase of the cash empowerment program by the state governor, Engr. David Umahi, under the chairmanship of the state deputy governor, Barr. Kelechi Igwe revealed that over eleven thousand people have benefited from the state government's cash empowerment, ranging from two million nairas to two hundred thousand nairas, depending on the category of the people.
