Dr John Elom, APC Aspirant for Onicha LG Chairmanship Position.
By Victor Nwegede
Ukawu community in the Onicha local government area of Ebonyi State has called for a fair play on political activities and leadership of the council area ahead of the July 20 grassroots elections in the state.
The community people who demanded this during their civil agitation yesterday in Abakaliki lamented their political marginalization and slavery in Ebonyi State from 1996 till date.
The community people through their nominee for the Onicha local government chairmanship position, Dr Elom John Elom commended the leadership style of Governor Francis Nwifuru in Ebonyi especially on his commitment to modifying civil service, health, education systems and human capacity building, among other interventions in the state.
Dr Elom further commended Governor Nwifuru for having declared that the local government election would be opened for the stakeholders and people of every council area to choose their preferred candidates come 20th July 2024.
While expressing confidence that the governor would subscribe to the spirit of equity, fairness and social justice in the upcoming polls, in considering the factors which led to his emergence as the fourth Executive Governor of Ebonyi, Elom affirmed that his community had been marginalized politically both in appointive and elective positions since the creation of the state.
According to him, the people of the Ukawu autonomous community have been marginalized in Ebonyi State politics, just as political orphans.
"What is the political placement of Ukawu Autonomous Community in Onicha local government area since the creation of Ebonyi State by late General Sani Abacha on 1st October 1996? Even when we have electoral strength that counts up to eighteen thousand figuratively.
"What is our crime - equity, political inclusiveness and equilibrium without balancing power distribution in a democratic setting? What an orphan! Who will go for us this time and what is the next decision from the state government? It's time for the local government elections, can the orphan be remembered now?"
He said the Ukawu people have become tired of being a political slave and however, pleaded for equity and political inclusiveness in the present administration led by Governor Nwifuru in reflection of his People's Charter of Needs mantra.
"This is because the people of the Ukawu community have been left without consideration since the creation of the Onicha local government area. Our appeal is narrowed to craving the indulgence of the state government that our orphanage nature should be re-addressed, just like Oliver Twist and many others who happened to find themselves in a political ideology called orphanism," he said.
He maintained that since the creation of the state and Onicha local government area, only the Ukawu community has been so marginalized because its people were denied the opportunities to become both the past and present chairmen or chairpersons in the political administration of the council from 1999 till date.
In his words, apart from Mrs Veronica Ikele who was compensated by Governor Nwifuru as his Senior Special Assistant for Women Mobilisation for losing the 2023 State House Assembly election, the Ukawu community still suffers political negligence in the present administration.
He noted, even though Chidiebere Uzor who hails from Onicha Igbeze still serves as the present Executive Chairman of the Onicha local government area, his community has over seven public officeholders including Senator Anthony Okorie Ani representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, Professor Chigozie Ogbu - Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Mrs Catherine Ogbu - Chairman State Civil Service Commission, two commissioners, two Special Assistants to the governors and a member in Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission, EBSIEC.
"Abaomege, another community in the Onicha council area, occupies positions of the Ukaba Development Centre Coordinator, Secretary of Local Government Service Commission, member of Universal Basic Education, member of State House of Assembly Service Commission, three Special Assistants to the governor on Adult Education, Security and Airport respectively.
Elom, who was Ukaba Development Centre Coordinator during former Governor David Nweze Umahi's administration declared his interest in flying the All Progressives Congress, APC flag for the Chairmanship position of Onicha Council Area in the upcoming local government polls in the state.
He prayed that the cry of his people be remembered this time around by considering the political ideologies of the Governor which were narrowed majorly to the liberation of the downtrodden in the state.
He said his people lacked dividends of democracy, because they had no voice in the government, noting that over 20 years, no grader entered the community, leaving their roads not motorable, and dilapidated structures used as public schools among other social amenities in unpleasant shape.
The Onicha Local Government Chairmanship Aspirant recalled his antecedents when he served as Ukaba Development Centre Coordinator between 2017 to 2019 - a year and two months; saying he graded a 2.3-kilometre road, built 20 lock-up shops and made some other interventions in the area.
Also, recalled that Elom aspired to represent his people in the State House of Assembly in the last election but he was denied the opportunity by his party, APC members by giving the ticket to another person who lost to the Labour Party candidate at the polls.
