By Dr. Udechukwu
Note: Please go through this write-up objectively. Don’t form your opinion before reading, but do after reading.
For sometime now, the Udi platforms have been filled with arguments bordering on zoning. I have carefully gone via people’s perceptions on the argument and decided to relate the zoning argument with the history of Udi chairmanship. After going through the list, you will tell yourself if zoning exists or not. Join me let’s go through the list of the chairmen of Udi and their various wards.
1. Late Igwe Chris Ogakwu 1982 Udi/Agbudu
2. Hon. Emmanuel Eneh (Chairman) Udi Agbudu
3. Hon. Nze S.N. Agu Ngwo Uno 1988- 1990
4. Hon. O. C Abalu Udi Agbudu (1996-1997)
5. Hon. Ozo Ramsey Onyia- Ngwo Assa
6. Engr Amadi obiora julius…1997-98. AFFA/ikono/oghu. (The Zone C some people are clamouring for)
7. Dr TC Mgbodile Affa Ikono Oghu (Same zone C).
8. Dr Emma Osita Ngwu.. 1999-2002 Ngwo Uno
9. Rev. Dr. Oscar Egwuonwu 2002-2002 (caretaker Udi South) Umuabi
10. Dr Sam Ugwuozor Ukana Awhum (Caretaker, Udi North)
11. Rev. Dr. Oscar Egwuonwu 2002-2005 Umuabi
12. Hon Engr Nick Ozonsi (2005-2007) Ngwo Uno
13. Hon. Onyia Ignatius Obiora (Caretaker 2007-2007) udi/Agbudu
14. Hon. Dr Walter Oji Abor
15. Hon. Bona Udeh Eke
16. Hon Chinedu Iloeje 2012 -2016 Amokwe
17. Dr Hyacinth O. Ngwu Umulumgbe 2016 – 2018
18. Hon. Sheddy Ozoene (Caretaker, Udi South) NSUDE
19. Hon. Nestor Ochin Ukana/AWHUM
20. Hon. Kene Eze (Caretaker, Udi South) Nachi
21. Hon. Ifeanyi Agu (Udi South) Umuaga
22. Hon. Nze Philip Okoh (incumbent Chairman), Obinagu 2022- till date.
Now you have gone through the list you can see that some zones and even some wards have produce 2 or more chairmen of Udi. Nsude has never produced an elected chairman and people are telling me about zoning.
I can understand that many people who write for zoning are not abreast with Udi chairmanship history and I blame them for writing out of ignorance.
Scroll back to the list and tell me if you see anything like zoning there.
Biko let’s allow peace to reign, ndi Udi can still come together to discuss zoning, I am not against that, but don’t bring what never existed because of your ignorance or selfish interest.
If we produce the history of past contestants, you will still see that most times there have been contestants from both the North and the south at same time. Some people from the North contested against Ifeanyi Agu who is from the south.
Bikonu eziokwu bu ndu. Udi enweghi zoning mana ha ka nwere ike ikpa maka zoning kita.
If there is Zoning agreement in Udi local Government Area, any person or group agitating for zoning should tell the people who and who was present during the agreement and the signed documents concerning the zoning agreement.
They should also tell the people any local Government election in Udi where both Zone did not contest for it. No zoning in Udi local Government Area.
I THEREFORE WISH TO SUGGEST TO NDI UDI IRRESPECTIVE OF POLITICAL PARTY TO COME TOGETHER AND DISCUSS THIS ZONING BASED ON:
1. WARDS
2. COMPETENCE
3. EQUITY
4. FAIRNESS
5. CHARACTER
UDI STAKEHOLDERS WHICH INCLUDE POLITICAL PARTIES STAKEHOLDERS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, and TRADITIONAL leaders
IT’S ONLY WHEN NDI UDI COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS ZONING THAT ZONING WILL BEGIN TO TAKE EFFECT AND WE WILL BEGIN TO ENJOY IT.
NDI UDI CAN WE NOW DISCUSS ZONING?
UDO DIRI UNU.
