The Ayamelum Leaders of Thought, traditional rulers and other stakeholders of the local government area in Anambra state, on Tuesday throw their weight behind the third term ambition of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Uchenna Okafor.
Mr. Uchenna Okafor who is currently in the state assembly for eight years in office is also from Ayamelum North and wants to retain the seat for the next four years as a ranking member of the house.
It is the calculation of the North zone of the local government area to be at par with the South and Central zones of council, which have at different times occupied key elective positions for 16 years each to the disadvantage of the North zone.
The leaders in an interview on Tuesday insisted that the status quo remains in the political equation of Ayamelum local government area and therefore Ayamelum North should be given the opportunity again to produce the next candidate for the state constituency in the House of Assembly come 2023 elections.
They explained that their choice for Uchenna Okafor’s re-election in 2023 elections was to ensure that Ayamelum North retains the position of the number three citizen of the state.
Among the leaders of the state constituency who spoke in support of the incumbent speaker’s return to the state legislature next year include chairman of the Leaders of Thought, Chief Tony Chinedu, a former Secretary to the Anambra State Government, (SSG), Chief Paul Odenigbo, immediate past Chairman of Transition Committee of Ayamelum local government council, Mr. Benjamin Okafor, chairman of Presidents-general of town unions in the area and, President-General of Ifite-Ogwari town, Mr. Okonkwo Oliver, as well as the chairman of Ayamelum Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Igwe B. O. Ikeji who is also the traditional ruler of Omasi kingdom.
The people pointed out that after a critical review of the current distribution of major political offices among the three senatorial districts in the state where the state governor, Professor Charles Soludo comes from Anambra South senatorial district; the Deputy Goveenor, Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim (Anambra Central senatorial zone), it is only fair that the Anambra north Senatorial zone should clinch the slot for the Speaker seat in the state Assembly.
According them, in the present circumstance Ayamelum state constituency stands a better chance of retaining the Speakership of the state Assembly and Uchenna Okafor is eminently qualified as a ranking member of the House of Assembly to occupy the seat instead of a fresh person.
They argued that the incumbent speaker has been a major factor in the restoration of peace in the communal crisis between Omor and Anaku which led to the destruction of over 150 houses in the area.
Chairman of the Ayamelum Leaders of Thought, Chief Tony Chinedu said that, “The relative peace currently prevailing in the area after the communal clashes between Omor and Umubo communities, and later Omor and Anaku communities during which over 150 buildings were raised down and scores of lives lost was made possible because Hon. Okafor used his position as Speaker of the state Assembly to attract the intervention of the state government and security agencies to quell the skirmishes.”
A former SSG Chief Paul Odenigbo noted that, “It is obvious that since the other two senatorial zones, the Anambra South and Anambra Central have produced the Governor and Deputy-governor respectively, the slot for the Speaker of the State Assembly will automatically be zoned to the Anambra North.
He added that since Rt. Hon. Uchenna Okafor as the Speaker of the state Assembly will be going back to the House of Assembly as a ranking member from the Anambra North senatorial zone, he will be better qualified to be re-lected Speaker of the State Assembly.
