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He claimed former Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife, traditional rulers from the three senatorial zones, the Emeka Anyaoku-led Anambra Elders Advisory Council, Anambra State Association of Town Unions, ex-Chief Judge, Senator Ben Obi, and ex-Speaker of the state House of Assembly attended the meeting where the decision was taken.
The Chairman of Political Committee, Anambra South Traditional Rulers Forum, said: “It is imperative to note that we agreed that Peter Obi, having enjoyed an eight-year tenure, and Willie Obiano enjoying two terms, it was agreed that Anambra South should produce the next governor.
“This position was subsequently adopted by Anyaoku-led Anambra Elders Advisory Council, the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, ASATU, Anambra State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association and other stakeholders.” He added, “The traditional rulers in their zonal meetings have all supported the zoning arrangement as agreed and it is the turn of Anambra South.”
Meanwhile, Great Anambra Forum has backed Anambra South for the 2021 governorship. The group faulted an opinion poll conducted by Media Awareness and Development Advocacy Forum stating that zoning was unpopular in the state.
‘’Zoning is more as an elitist strategy to negotiate continued participation in the political process and access to the state wealth at the expense of good governance and creative ideas to drive socio-political, economic and cultural potential of Anambra State,” MADAF stated in its report.
But GAFORUM’s facilitator, Fab Ozoigbo, said at an event where the group distributed 5, 000 Personal Protective Equipment and face masks to help fight the spread of COVID-19 in the state, many were in favour of power shifting to Anambra South. According to him, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. John Ndubuisi, and other clerics are in support of power rotation.
THE GUARDIAN NG
