The youths of Enugu State under the auspices of ‘Enugu Youth Stakeholders’ have added their voice to the raging zoning argument in the state ahead of the 2023 governorship election.
At the Town Hall meeting held at the Castle Majestic Hotel on 16th December, the youths; drawn from all the youth groups and organisations in the 17 local government areas of Enugu State said the peace being joined in Enugu can be traced to the harmonious transition.
In his opening remarks, the convener of the Stakeholders forum, Comrade Oge Nnamene said since the creation of Enugu State, “we have had several Governors and it’s commonsensical that the next Governor should come from Enugu East Senatorial Zone.”
Nnamene went further to state that “desperate politicians are trying to create discord and it should be discouraged. We’re here to jaw-jaw instead of war-war.”
He warned that the actions of some politicians could take the state back to Egypt and that shouldn’t be encouraged stressing that they (Enugu East Senatorial Zone) have qualified persons in their numbers to vie for Lion Building come 2023.
“We can’t go back to Egypt; electoral violence, which zoning has eliminated.
“Enugu East has all it takes to produce the next governor and they’re also very qualified. We are ready to consult, consolidate and do otherwise if the first two fails.”
Also in their communique after the town hall meeting, the youth stakeholders affirmed that zoning has brought peace to the state and shouldn’t be truncated and warned politicians to desist from any act capable of truncating the peace in the state.
” We are not unaware of some political jobbers and their sponsors who are in a desperate bid to truncate the established, equitable rotation/zoning. We hereby caution such political actors and their apologists to desist from such selfish and un-progressive venture, as an attempt to alter the zoning arrangement will be swiftly resisted with full force by the teeming population of Enugu Youths.”
They also commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his giant strides and also hailed the All Progressives Congress, APC, for zoning their Guber ticket to Enugu East and called on PDP to do same.
“We have thoroughly reviewed the existing peace and political stability currently being enjoyed by Ndi Enugu and have acknowledged that it’s anchored on the principle of Inclusion, fairness and Equity which is established by the generally accepted zoning system in the State.
“Enugu gubernatorial zoning pact is a tripod arrangement made to include all the three senatorial Zones in Enugu State; Enugu East, Enugu West and Enugu North Senatorial Zone. The existing gubernatorial zoning system in Enugu State is currently in Support of Enugu East senatorial zone and we, Enugu Youth Stakeholders hereby reaffirm our support to that.
“That we thank Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the governor of Enugu state for his giant strides and unprecedented development in Enugu state, especially his commitment to youth empowerment and participation in politics and for always standing by the side of truth, peace and equity, justice hence the zoning.
“We thank the All Progressive Congress, APC for standing by the side of equity and fairness by zoning their gubernatorial ticket to Enugu East Senatorial Zone and call on the ruling People Democratic Party and other political parties in the state to officially and publicly tow the same line. We Call on the leadership of all political parties and political blocs in Enugu to acknowledge and take note of the zoning arrangement during nomination and fielding candidates for party primaries and general elections.
