By correspondent.
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the people of Edda Local Government Area in Ebonyi State have made a case for the people of the LGA to be given the chance to go to the House of Representatives in 2027, stressing that Edda people were being left out in the post which rightly belongs to the two Council Areas of Afikpo and Edda and should be rotated accordingly between the two LGAs.
In an open letter written to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, a group known as EDDA YOUTHS FOR EQUITY AND DEMOCRACY, alleged that Edda LGA has been marginalized in power-sharing over the Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency as Afikpo has occupied the position of House of Reps for the past 20 years since 1999 as against the 8 years occupied by Edda within the same period.
In the open letter to Governor Nwifuru titled: “Letter of Concern and Appeal for Equitable Representation, dated 7th October, 2024, and signed by the Coordinator of the group, Imo Ama Imo, they praised Gov. Nwifuru as one who “has pursued the charter of peace with sincerity…and always ready to nip in the bud anything that will breed disunity in the state”, the stated.
The group outlined the flow of representation in the House of Representatives between the two LGAs(Afikpo and Edda) who share the Federal Constituency and said that Afikpo Local Government had maintained dominance in representation by holding the post for twenty years since 1999 while Edda only held the position for eight years within the same period.
The group alleged that they have it on good authority that Hon. Idima Igariwey the incumbent occupant of the House of Reps position and a ranking third term member is planning to go again to the House for a fourth term in 2027 after he took over from Hon. Omo Isu( from the same Afikpo LGA) who held the position for eight years, there by making it a total of twenty years the Afikpo LGA is holding the post “while Edda continues as spectators”. They, therefore described Igariwey’s fourth term bid as ill-advised and self-motivated, which they said will perpetuate Edda marginalisation and undermine equity and fairness in the area.
The group contended that “as the jostling for 2027 begins to gather momentum, there is the need to keep the records straight to maintain charter of equity in power sharing in Afikpo/ Edda Federal Constituency as a derail will be precipice for disunity”.
The group described Gov Nwifuru as “an icon of peace and equity…We know your stance on giving everyone a sense of belonging and we assure you of our preparedness to stand with you on the side of truth, eqity and fairness in the zoning of political offices come 2027”.
The full length of the open letter to Gov. Nwifuru is reproduced below:
7th October, 2024.
OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY,RT.HON. BUILDER OGBONNA NWIFURU,GOVERNOR OF EBONYI STATE.
Letter of Concern And Appeal For Equitable Representation
Your Excellency sir, we, the EDDA YOUTHS FOR EQUITY AND DEMOCRACY (EYED) extend our heartfelt gratitude for your exemplary leadership in maintaining peace and unity in Ebonyi State since your election as Governor. Your commitment to equity and fairness is inspiring.
You have pursued the charter of peace with sincerity and you are always ready to nip in the bud anything that will breed disunity in the State. But as the jostling for 2027 begins to gather momentum, there is need to keep the records straight to maintain charter of Equity in power sharing in Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency, as a derail will be precipice for disunity.
And we have it in good authority that Hon. Idu Igariwey has been scheming to go to the House of Representatives again for the 4th term in 2027, while Edda continues as mere spectators.
Your Excellency, the record below shows Afikpo and Edda LGAs’ representation in the House of Representatives since 1999:
1. Edda LGA-Hon. Agwu Nnachi(1999-2003).
2. Edda LGA-Hon. Irem Ibom(2003-2007).
3. Afikpo LGA-Hon. Omo Isu(2007-2011).
4. Afikpo LGA- Hon. Omo Isu(2011-2015).
5. Afikpo LGA-Hon. Idu Igariwey(2015-2019)
6. Afikpo LGA- Hon Idu Igariwey(2019-2023).
7. Afikpo LGA-Hon Idu Igariwey(2023-2027).
The year 2027 will make it a total of twenty years that Afikpo LGA would occupy the post of House of Representatives since 1999 as opposed to eight years occupied by Edda LGA within the same period.
It can therefore be argued that Hon. Idu Igariwey’s ill-advised and self-motivated fourth term bid will perpetuate Edda’s marginalisation, undermining equity and fairness. The record above is enough to direct political interactions in Afikpo/Edda Federal Constituency for the 2027 election as the House of Reps position is for both LGAs and should be equitably shared amongst the two.
Your Excellency, as an icon of peace and equity, we know your stance on giving everyone a sense of belonging and we assure you of our preparedness to stand with you on the side of truth, equity and fairness in the zoning of political offices come 2027.
Also, we assure you of our continuous support in your vision of transforming Ebonyi State to become the bride of the East.
Submitted with kind regards to Your Excellency.
Yours faithfully,
Imo Ama Imo
CO-ORDINATOR, EDDA YOUTHS FOR EQUITY AND DEMOCRACY(EYED).
