Awgu – A pressure group, Concerned Ndeaboh Peoples Forum has made a case for the zoning of the next chairman of Aninri LGA to Ndeaboh.
In a letter which was sighted by hoo!haa!! Newspapers, the group decried a situation where “Ndeaboh, despite being the host community of the Local Government headquarters have never produced a chairman of the council, whether elected or appointed, in almost 30 years of the council’s existence”.
The letter reads in full:
CONCERN NDEABOH PEOPLES FORUM
Community School Nochele Ndeaboh Aninri LGA, Enugu State
20th July, 2024
ANINRI LGA ELECTION 2024: NDEABOH HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH
History of Aninri
Aninri Local Government Area was created in 1996 from Awgu LGA. It comprises five towns namely: Mpu, Ndeaboh, Nenwe, Okpanku and Odume. It is on record that the above five towns contributed equally, both financially and in all ramifications to the creation of Aninri. The key persons who fought for its creation are as follows; Late Chief Esom Alinta (Nenwe), Late Igwe Prof Sampson Ukpabi (Okpanku), Late Igwe Dr Innocent Onyioha Nwanjoku (Odume), Late Justice Tobias Achi Kanu (Ndeaboh) and Sen. Ike Ekweremadu (Mpu)Aninri LG PoliticsSince creation of Aninri LGA. In 1996.
All these towns in Aninri have served as elected chairman or caretaker/Transition, except one town “NDEABOH”.NDEABOH has never since creation of Aninri LGA served as elected or caretaker/transition. The highest position ever held in Aninri by Ndeaboh man is Development center chairman of Aninri East Local Development Centre by late Obinna Achi, at that same time Hon. Okezie Nwanjoku and Hon. Ben Alukwu was at development center of Aninri North and West respectively.
According to Othman Dan Fodio, “Conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it. We expect ndi aninri to accept the fact that the Ndeaboh agitation for the chairmanship of Aninri LGA, this year 2024, is based on equity, justice and good conscience.
Therefore, Aninri – our dearly beloved Local Government cannot move forward or make any appreciable progress while Ndi Ndeaboh keep crying to chukwu okuke abiama, on account of their obvious marginalization by the other towns in the Local Government.
How it stands Sole Administrator Mr Ani Gabriel (Oduma) – 1996 -1997
Date Elected Town
1. Sen Ike Ekweremadu 1997-1999 elected Mpu
2. Hon. Tony Nwonye 1999-2002 elected Nenwe
3. Engr. Ivoke Jonathan 2002-2004 caretaker Okpanku
4. Hon. Okezie Nwanjoku 2004-2006 elected Oduma
5. Elder Aja David 2006-2007 caretaker Mpu
6. Hon. Augustine Chukwu 2007 (7 months) transition Oduma
7. Hon. Mathias Ekweremadu 2008-2012 elected Mpu
8. Hon. Christopher Nwobodo 2012-2016 elected Nenwe
9. Hon. Chidi Ekwe 2016-2017 (22 months) caretaker Oduma
10. Hon. Uche Ogbonna 2017 (4months) caretaker Okpanku
11. Hon. Ben Alukwu 2017-2017 (3months) transition Nenwe
12. Hon. Ezekiel Chukwu 2018-2022 elected Oduma
13. Hon. Aja Benneth 2022-2024 elected Okpanku
From the above incontrovertible analysis, Ndeaboh is the only town that is yet to occupy the exalted seat of “Mayor of Aninri”, whether elected or appointed.
This ugly statistics is vividly portrayed below: NUMBER OF TIMES SERVED
1. Ndeaboh————-0
2. Nenwe—————-3
3. Mpu——————- 3
4. Oduma————— 5
5. Okpanku————- 3
Our Prayer
Despite being the host community of Aninri Local Government Headquarters, Ndeaboh town has never produced a Local Government Chairman, whether elected or appointed.
Therefore, in the spirit of equity and justice, we insist that our brothers and sisters from the other towns in Aninri should do the right thing by conceding the chairmanship slot in the forthcoming council polls to us. It is sadly inexplicable that after almost three decades of existence, Ndeaboh – the host community of Aninri LGA has been denied the opportunity of occupying the number one seat at the Local Government Secretariat. This is regardless of the fact that we donated the land on which the local government headquarters is sited, free and unconditionally.
Ndeaboh has also remained a hospitable host as nobody from the other towns in Aninri has ever been molested at the local government headquarters by our people. In fact, violence is not in our character. Therefore, we urge the rest of Aninri and Enugu State to support the campaign for Ndeaboh Chairmanship of Aninri LGA, this year 2024.
Finally, in line with James Baldwin’s famous quote, “not everything that is faced can change but nothing can be changed until it is faced”, we the people of Ndeaboh, under the banner of Concerned Ndeaboh Peoples Forum (CNPF) have resolved to take our fate in our hands by squarely facing this unhealthy situation that has lasted 28 years.
As if the above painted scenario is not bad enough, Ndeaboh has never occupied any elective position, be it House of Assembly, House of Representatives or Senate. Certainly, Ndi Ndeaboh have suffered enough. This is the time to make amends.
Ndi Aninri, Ndi Enugu, chetakwanu na “E mee nwata ka e mere ibe ya, obi adi ya mma”, “E were, e werekwa na-ese okwu” “e nye ndi ebea, e nye ndi ebea, udo achia n’obodo”
#ndeaboh chairmanship of Aninri LGA
#ka ndeaboh jee
#ndeaboh ive o ruuru
Let justice and equity prevail, for a greater Aninri.
Thanks
Hon. Enyendi ebea Enyendi ebea
For Concerned Ndeaboh Peoples Forum(CNPF)
