Leaders in Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency of Imo State have urged the member representing the constituency in the House of Representatives, Henry Nwawuba to jettison his third term ambition.
They also advised others from Mbaitoli Local Government Area to dispel the thought of occupying the seat, maintaining that it is the turn of the Ikeduru Local Government Area to produce Nwawuba’s successor in 2023.
The leaders took the decision at a meeting held on May 11 at the instance of Chief Ugochukwu Nnawuihe.
They argued that since the return of this cycle of democratic governance in the country in 1999, the seat has rotated between Mbaitoli and Ikeduru local government areas that make up the constituency.
According to them, Hon Uche Nwole from Mbaitoli Local Government Area had the first shot between 1999 and 2003.
They added that at the expiration of Nwole’s tenure, the seat was won by Hon. Bethel Amadi from Ikeduru Local Government Area in 2003.
The leaders recalled that in 2006, a two-term arrangement was adopted for each of the component council areas to obviate a situation the constituency would be represented by a first-timer perpetually.
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They disclosed that Hon. John Egbuchulem from Mbaitoli served as Chairman while Barrister Mike Nwachukwu from Ikeduru served as the Secretary of the eight-member committee that helped to fashion out the modalities for the two-term arrangement.
According to the leaders, the then incumbent member Hon. Bethel Amadi suggested that since he was already in office, he should be allowed to do a second uncontested tenure.
The leaders noted that those who wanted to contest the election from Mbaitoli however rejected the suggestion and instead, posited that since a new arrangement was being entered into, aspirants from both local government areas should be allowed to contest the position and whoever emerged the winner, would begin the two-term arrangement.
Owing to this stance, the leaders informed that aspirants from both local government areas contested the 2007 election arrangement, adding that unfortunately for Mbaitoli, Hon. Amadi won the election and thus began a fresh two-term arrangement from 2007 to 2015.
They pointed out that Hon. Bethel Amadi was the only aspirant from Ikeduru, those from Mbaitoli included the former Council Chairman Osita Opara, former Council Chairman Abed Anyadike, Dr. Kemdi Opara, Charles Egwim and Collins Obi from Ogbaku Community.
They posited that Henry Nwawuba of Mbaitoli replaced Hon. Amadi in 2015 and began another two tenure arrangement and by 2023, will conclude his two terms under the agreement thereby making it the turn of Ikeduru under the agreement for two terms.
The leaders said; “From 1999 to 2023 is six tenures, shared equally at three tenures each. Mbaitoli’s three tenures were occupied by Hon. Uche Nwole (1999 to 2003) and Hon. Nwawuba (2015 to 2023) while Ikeduru’s three tenures were occupied by late Hon. Amadi.
“Since the two local governments are even at three terms each, it is in 2023, the turn of Ikeduru and only aspirants from Ikeduru should be eligible to contest.
“Mbaitoli/Ikeduru Federal Constituency is a large constituency with many qualified aspirants such that it would be unfair for a candidate to seek to monopolize the seat of the federal constituency for three tenures (12 years).
The leaders therefore urged Hon. Nwawuba to respect the agreement entered into by the leadership of the two local governments in 2007 by burying his third term ambition and withdraw from the race for Ikeduru to rightfully take her turn.
