Odido Deserves Eleme Local Government Council Chairmanship Seat in 2014
Honourable Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa is in the
twilight of his second term in office and the jostling for who succeeds him has
begun in earnest. The jostling may not necessarily be about who the successor would be, even
though some aspirations are more than obvious, but importantly, the battle at
this time is about the where in the geopolitics of Eleme the
successor would come from. Several permutations ranging from the absurd to the
macabre are being postulated by different interests in justification of primacy
of succession, but herein only one is worthy of discourse, being, the issue of Nchia/Odido
Dichotomy.
OKrika/Obigbo/Tai/Eleme Local Government Area
(OTELGA) was created on September 6, 1979 from the old Bori Local Government
and further into Gokhana/Tai/Eleme Local Government Area (GOTELGA) in December
1989. This political administrative arrangement was again separated into Tai/Eleme
Local Government Area on September 23, 1991 and once again Balkanized into the
present day Eleme Local Government Area in 1996. Consist predominantly of the
Odidos (Ebubu, Onne, Eteo, Ekporo, etc) and the Nchias (Ogale, Alesa, Alode,
Agbonchia, Aleto, Akpajo, etc); from inception, harmony, brotherhood and
cooperation has been sustained through the efficacy and conscientious
application and observation of the Odido/Nchia dichotomy principle in the
allocation of socio-political and economic gains accruing to the Local
Government Area, as a balancing ideology to promote unity and discourage
discord.
This trend of political engineering as handed
down to us by the founding fathers of the Local Government Area and which has
been sustained as a vehicle for equitable distribution over time by all
well-meaning leaders has continue to be the source of our strength and pride as
a people. The sanctity and ingenuity of
the Odido/Nchia dichotomy principle which has sustained us as a united family
as we were moved from one political-administrative permutation to another over
these many years cannot be continuously violated by the dictates of inordinate
ambition of an unconscionable few. There is no better time than NOW to reverse
the ongoing mindless repudiation of the Odido/Nchia dichotomy principle thus
promote and uphold the doctrine of rotational leadership and true
brotherliness in Eleme.
For the avoidance of doubt let us briefly
examine the table below to see how the principle has been abused and the
pendulum of leadership leaning towards one direction between 1979 and 2013. The
table, without being parochial and/or economical with the truth, reveals the
imbalance in Eleme Local Government Council Chairmanship and whether justice,
equity and fairness have been served; our amity preserved and promoted; and our
heritage and posterity, united and progressive, if in 2014, due negligence and
inattention to detail we consign the glue of our peaceful co-existence to
extinction by promoting the election of another Nchia Local Government Chairman.
Table 1: List of Past Indigenous Chairmen of Eleme Local Government Council
S/No
|
NAME
|
DISTRICT
|
WARD
|
Period
|
1.
|
Chief Hon. C. C.
Okpa
|
Nchia
|
Agbonchia
|
1981 – 1984
|
2.
|
Hon. Chief (Sir).
John O. Obele
|
Nchia
|
Agbonchia
|
Oct. 9, 1991 – Dec.
1, 1991
|
3.
|
Hon. Olaka Nwogu
|
Nchia
|
Alesa
|
Dec. 3, 1991 – Nov.
9, 1993
|
4.
|
Hon. Evang. Precious
Osaro-Ekee
|
Nchia
|
Alode
|
Apr. 11, 1996 – Mar.
15, 1997
|
5.
|
Hon. (Dr.) Nwokolu
Dimkpa-Nte
|
Nchia
|
Agbonchia
|
Mar. 26, 1997 – Jun.
9, 1998
|
6.
|
Chief Rev. Princely
Emeka Chujor
|
Nchia
|
Ogale
|
Jun. 2, 1999 – Jun.
4, 2002
|
7.
|
Hon. Onornwi Ngofa
|
Nchia
|
Aleto
|
Jun 4, 2002 – Dec.7,
2003
|
8.
|
Hon. Fred Mbombo
Igwe Hon.
|
Nchia
|
Aleto
|
Dec. 7, 2003 – Aug.
26, 2003
|
9.
|
Chief Davis Saloka
|
Nchia
|
Alode
|
Aug. 26, 2003 – Apr.
22, 2004
|
10.
|
Hon. Chief Ejor
Ngonwa Ejor
|
Odido
|
Onne
|
Apr. 22, 2004 – Apr.
24, 2007
|
11.
|
Hon. Mba Laleobe
|
Nchia
|
Ogale
|
Apr.24, 2007 – Dec. 10, 2007
|
12.
|
Hon. Josiah Olu
|
Odido
|
Onne
|
Dec. 10, 2007 – Apr.
25, 2008
|
13.
|
Hon. Oji Nyimenuate
Ngofa
|
Nchia
|
Aleto
|
Apr. 25, 2008 – Apr.
24, 2011
|
14.
|
Hon. Kammy Ngelale
|
Odido
|
Ekporo
|
Apr. 24, 2011 – May
31, 2011
|
15.
|
Hon. Oji Nyimenuate
Ngofa
|
Nchia
|
Aleto
|
May 31, 2011 –?
|
Of the fifteen (15) occupiers of the Eleme Local
Government Council Chairmanship seat who are of Eleme origin Odido District which is located in the
East and Southeast regions of the Eleme territory has produced only three (3)
for only three years and four months period, while the Nchia District which is situated in the Western area has occupied
the Eleme Local Government Council Chairmanship seat twelve (12) times spanning
a period of over twenty-two (22) years. The current Executive Chairman, Hon.
Oji Nyimenuate Ngofa hailed from Nchia and he is serving his second tenure, so no one begrudged them and the Odido
accepted this in good faith, even though this unprecedented act of chivalry will
culminate in an unbroken 22 years in power to the Nchia. Now, if we accede that
in 2014, it is the turn of the Odido District, to complete the dual
rotation, common sense and astute judgment, devoid of sentiments, demand that
the Nchias should in good faith and for justice sake concede the
position to Odido. Anything short of this conscientious interplay of mutual
accommodation may consign our togetherness to jeopardy, because it would amount
to reckless insensitivity to consciously attempt to exclude the Odido component
of the Local Government from the power matrix for 28 years res ipso coquito!
It is also worthy to caution, that the present sabre rattling
and threats of dire consequences, demeans rather than enhances, the quest for
Chairmanship, since it will only inadvertently alienate many of us who consider
ourselves lovers of and believers in ONE
Eleme. Let no one be deluded that any single clan or ward can install
itself Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area without the cooperation and
collaboration of the other clans, wards and communities.
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999 (as amended) unequivocally in Chapter II, Section 14(4) states inters
alia “....The composition of the
Government of a State, a Local Government Council, or any of the agencies of
such Government or Council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or
Council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognize the diversity of the people
within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and
loyalty among all the peoples of the federation” If we may ask,
would Eleme Local Government not be in violation and indeed in contravention of
the spirit and letter of the Constitution should the Nchias insist on excluding
and marginalizing the Odido component
of the Local Government Area for 24 years?
Even the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) took a
cue from the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when in Section
7(2) of the Party’s Constitution it affirmed that “The Party shall adhere to
the principles of zoning and rotation” and so it is applicable to most of
the registered Political Parties. Most States today and their out-going
Governors tend to subscribe implicitly to this dictum, as can be gleaned from
the public declarations of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State; Governor Sullivan
Chime of Enugu State; and even our own indomitable Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, amongst many others, whose unwavering commitment to ensuring
that the egalitarian principles of justice and equal rights are upheld to the
greater glory of unity, amity and equity. Therefore, we dare say without
apology, that only an uninformed and unreasonable person, impervious to the
peaceful co-existence and co-habitation of the peoples of Eleme, who is
pandering to selfishness and inordinate ambition can dispute the overarching
imperative of an Odido Chairman for Eleme Local Government Area come 2014.
For these reasons, and to preserve, promote and
protect our collective destiny, and the future of our posterity and heritage,
we implore and encourage our compatriots of Nchia extraction, especially our political
brothers and sisters, who though eminently qualified and believe they are
poised to actualize a long anticipated aspiration, to acknowledge that the
vicissitudes of current political fortunes weighs precariously against their
aspiration, if amity is to be preserved. The Nchias need come to terms with the
fact that they represent “OUR BIG BROTHERS” and have been privileged to occupy
the position of Eleme Local Government Council Chairman for many years. Conceding
the position of Council Chairmanship to Odido is an esteemed sacrifice that
must be made to the greater glory of our tomorrow as Eleme people with one
destiny under God.
Again, a sincere beam of searchlight on Odido District will pin the Eleme Local Government Council
Chairmanship position to Ebubu come
2014. The reason is not farfetched. Of recent, Ekporo has produced a Member
Rivers State House of Assembly in the person of our great son, Chief Hon.
Precious Osaro Ngelale who was later appointed a Minister of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, and a Chairman of Council in the person of Hon. Kammy
Ngelale. Onne has gotten two Council Chairmanship slots in the persons of Chief
Hon. Ejor Ngonwa Ejor
and Hon. Josiah John Olu and two (2) Members of Rivers State House of Assembly
(RSHA) in the persons of our illustrious sons HRH (Barr.) Dr. Emere J. D. Osaronu (JP) and Hon Josiah
John Olu. Eteo has also taken its own share of political leadership in recent
times with our vibrant son Hon. Marcus Nle Ejii serving two tenures as Member
Rivers State House of Assembly and also as a Portfolio Commissioner in the Rivers
State Government. In all these, Ebubu has always played both fatherly and
supportive roles with only Membership of the Rivers State House of Assembly in
the person of Hon. Samuel Oguru to its credit. This shortcoming in the
distribution of political power cum abuse of the doctrine of rotation can be
collectively addressed if the Eleme Political Class (EPC) is determined to do
so by simply conceding the Eleme Local Government Council Chairmanship position
to Odido in general and Ebubu in particular come 2014.
A peep into the remote past is necessary here. From
the “Eleme County Council” of 1959 created by the Eastern Nigeria Government through
the highly cherished Governor Melford O. Okilo’s “Eleme Urban Council” of 1981
down to the present Eleme Local Government Council, history attests to the fact
that Ebubu, within the Odido bloc, has suffered much
oppression, suppression and repressions in both political and social matters
and denied political representations and appointments. To put the records straight, between 1960 and
1965 Chief Hon. Israel Saloka Oluka of Aleto served as Chairman Eleme County
Council. He was succeeded by Chief Hon. Aaron Oluka Ngei of Alesa who headed
the Council from 1965 to 1967.Chief Hon. Columbus Okazu of Ebubu served as
Chairman Eleme Urban Council for less than 6 months and was succeeded by Chief
Hon. Gaius O. Ngofa of Aleto in 1982. Chief Hon. Paul O. Wokoma of Akpajo was
Chairman Eleme Urban Council from 1982 to 1983 and was replaced by Chief Hon.
Olungwe Osaro Baah of Eteo in December, 1983. During this period (1981 to 1984),
the real cum overall Chairman of the Eleme Urban Council, designated Coordinating Chairman was Chief Hon. C.
C. Okpa of Agbonchia, who by all standards deserved inclusion in the above
table. This narration is not intended to arm-twist but born out of the sincere believe
that together we can correct this abnormality; together we can reverse the
trend; together we can give every section of Eleme a sense of belonging based
on the doctrine of political power rotation between Nchia and Odido.
We are not unmindful and neither are we naïve to the
great sacrifices the Nchias have made and continue to make, nor are we impervious
to the perceptions of the “our turn” mentality being aggravated, but we pride in
the conviction that the Nchias will always do what is right, no matter the
cost. We are also of the conviction that truth, astute judgment and good
conscience will surely prevail. God bless Great Nchia! God bless Eleme Local
Government! God bless Rivers State! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Eleme bi nnԑ!
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