Politicians, stakeholders in Anambra councils dump zoning

The pact allegedly signed by politicians and stakeholders in Orumba North and South local government areas of Anambra State eight years ago for the member representing it in the House of Representatives to be rotated have been jettisoned as aspirants from the area are campaigning without recourse to the zoning arrangement.

It was gathered that all the political parties in the two local government areas endorsed the arrangement to reduce the rancor and alleged domination of one local government over the other.

However, no fewer than six aspirants from the two local government areas are presently jostling to represent the area in 2015, disregarding the earlier arrangement.

The incumbent member of House of Representatives for Orumba North and South, Chief Ben Nwankwo, claimed the pact received the blessing of the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who is from the area and regretted the breaking of the accord.

Explaining why the accord was broken, Nwankwo said: “I was the first adherent, first disciple and example of the zoning in 2007 when no man in Orumba South from any political party contested the House of Representatives position. However, this was not the case in 2011 when two different political parties, Accord and APGA, fielded candidates from Orumba North in violation of the agreement when it was the turn of Orumba South.

“An agreement so violated has lost its potency because it should not only be obeyed when it suits the person concerned.

”Nevertheless, I must state that the House of Representatives seat, as it concerns Orumba North and Orumba South, sees Orumba as one community and to me, the emphasis should be on efficiency, effectiveness and result-oriented representation and not faces. ”