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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The Oba Global Initiative (OGI) has called for peaceful transparent elections anchored on the zoning principle entrenched in the community constitution for the forthcoming election of the executives of Oba Patriotic Union (OPU), in Idemili South local government area, Anambra State.
Addressing the press yesterday in Oba, the OGI Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr Obiora Anyoku Chairman, Board of Trustees and the Coordinator, Nwanne Ejikeme said its members, and indeed all well-meaning people of Oba, are deeply concerned over the unfolding events in the town following the appointment of an Interim Town Union Government (ITUG) for Oba on April 1st 2023 by the Anambra State Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs.
The group noted that one of the major terms of reference given to the ITUG is the conduct of a democratically elected town union election by the end of December 2023 noting that the election should ordinarily be a breeze given the rotational arrangement entrenched in the OPU Constitution and the precedents over the years.
While calling for respect for the zoning principle in the constitution of the town union, OGI disclosed that in this present election cycle, the office of the President-General is zoned to Umuogali Zone while the office of the Secretary-General is zoned to Isu Zone.
“Similarly, other offices are zoned to different Zones. This constitutional arrangement is to ensure equity and inclusiveness The OGI hereby call on all indigenes to respect and abide by the OPU Constitution, particularly the zoning arrangement entrenched in it and, to desist from interfering or tampering with the candidate selection processes in the Zones.. The Zones should have a free hand to select their preferred candidates for the offices zoned to them by the OPU Constitution”
The OGI also condemned attempts by certain individuals, groups and agencies to nominate or sponsor ‘independent’ candidates to compete with candidates that have been democratically chosen by the zones.
Noting that the spirit and letter of the OPU Constitution do not envisage ‘independent’ candidates, it said the prerogative of the Zones to select their preferred candidates through a democratic process and in accordance with the OPU Constitution should be respected.
“The OGI recognises that, in accordance with the OPU Constitution, offices are zoned to Zones and not to individuals. Therefore, the Zones reserve full prerogative to select one of their own to serve the tenure zoned to it without interference from persons or groups outside the Zones.
“The OGI is of the candid opinion that Section 20. 3(a) of the OPU Constitution which states that “a Candidate for election to an office shall obtain a nomination form and be nominated by two members from two financially up-to-date Umunna” refers to the Umunna within the Zone to which an office has been zoned. In other words, the two members who may nominate a candidate must come from two financially up-to-date Umunna within the Zone and not from any Umunna outside the Zone.”
Our correspondent gathered that Oba Global Initiative (OGI) is an Association of Oba indigenes living in Nigeria, United States of America, United Kingdom and Ireland, Southern Africa, European Union and other parts of the world with the mission of promoting peace and development in Oba through advocacy and interventions.
The OGI also called on all indigenes of Oba, especially the ITUG and all other groups to give unqualified support and cooperation to the OPU Executive Electoral Committee in order to ensure a peaceful and successful election.
