2023: ONYPF Makes Demand For Okigwe North To Produce Next Senator 

NJOKU MACDONALD OBINNA 

Following the height of injustice in the  power sharing pattern of Imo North Senatorial District; Okigwe South and Okigwe North and the sustained outcry for equity, fairness, justice and inclusiveness, Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum: a powerful broadminded and issue based non-partisan organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, CAC, made up of illustrious sons and daughters of Okigwe North, concerned stakeholders, technocrats, opinion moulders and strategic  leaders, converged a historical meeting at the Sea Fortune Royal Suites, Ago Palace Way, Okota Area of Lagos State, on Sunday, 6th March, 2022, for deliberations on how best to move Okigwe North forward through equity, fairness and justice in public office sharing pattern.

In a well worded comminque released to the press, which was signed by the duo of Comr. Sylvanus Chidimma Onyenagbuo, National President of Okigwe Youth Progressive Forum, and his Secretary, Comr. Charles Ogu, after  the extensive and engaging deliberation, the Forum however, resolved in strong terms for the need to zone Imo North Senatorial District’s ticket in the 2023 general elections to Okigwe North in the  far reaching resolutions made by the critical stakeholders in the well attended meeting as follows: 
1. It was reempahasised that Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum, a non-partisan organization made up of people from different political parties,  backgrounds, trainings and religious leanings with a common objective of ensuring equity, fairness and justice in power sharing and inclusive  representation in the Imo North Senatorial District.

2. That a vote of confidence was unanimously passed on the Executive of Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum under the national leadership of Comr. Chidimma Onyenagbuo.

3. That by 2023, Okigwe-South should  have represented Imo North Senatorial District in the Senate for 16  uninterrupted years back-to-back; starting with Sen. Sylvester Anyanwu  from Obowo Local Government Area, 2007 – 2011.  Sen. Mathew Nwagwu from Obowo Local Government Area, 2011 – 2015. Sen. Athan Achonu from Ehime Mbano Local Government Area, 2015 -2016, Sen. Benjamin Uwajumogu from Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, 2016 – 2020. And the current occupant of the coveted seat, Sen. Franklin Ibezim from Ehime Mbano LGA, 2020- 2023.

4. That, for the interest of equity, fairness, justice and  peace, Okigwe North, which is made up of Isiala Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe LGAs, resolved that Okigwe North should be given the opportunity to take a stint at the plum office in the next general elections by fieldng a credible candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District’s coveted seat.

5. That, the continued injustice meted against the good people of Okigwe North, lack of inclusiveness, non- recognition of Okigwe North political bloc in the equitable distribution of dividends of democracy, the winner- takes-it-all syndrome in what has become a skewed political system have awakened consciousness among the people who now want to know who becomes what, from which political zone and the power sharing formula in the leadership formation of Imo North Senatorial District.

6. That, under the current Shared Prosperity Administration in Imo State  led by Gov. Hope Uzodimma, Okigwe North has remained the most marginalized in terms of the sharing pattern of public and political offices as her counterpart boasts of having all the juicy positions namely; Minister of Education for State (Ehime Mbano LGA), Senator representing Imo North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate (Ehime Mbano LGA), Secretary to the  Government of Imo State (Ehime Mbano LGA), and Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly (Obowo LGA); all from Okigwe South.

7.  The Forum therefore, resolved to write to the three major political parties in Imo State namely: All Progressives Congress, APC, People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to present their candidates from Okigwe North as the people have unanimously agreed to support only  sons and daughters of Okigwe North running for elective positions in the 2023 general elections, and also urged people with political ambition to declare their intentions.

8. The Forum also resolved that the House of Representatives’ position is open for the three Local Government areas in  Okigwe North namely: Isiala Mbano, Onuimo and Okigwe LGAs, respectively. And maintained that it can start from any Local Government area since all had taken their turn and stint at the plum office since the return of modern democracy in 1999.

9. The Forum also resolved to seek an audience with the Imo State governor, His Excellency, Senator Hope  Uzodimma, through a select high powered delegation of Okigwe North leaders to support a candidate from Okigwe North ahead of the 2023 general elections.  

10. The leadership of Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum finally resolved to commend Gov. Hope Uzodimma for fulfilling his promise of constructing the ongoing Owerri /Okigwe Road. 

Okigwe North Federal Constituency,  having woken up from our deep slumber, we have so far realized but not too late how much we have had our back to the  wall through underdevelopment as a result of poor or absence of effective representation since 2007 till date. Therefore, we are left with no other option  than to ask for what is rightfully ours.

We have no alternative now than to break the shackles and feathers with which an evil political veil had been long used to hold us captives. And our battle cry is as simple as it is: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! 

Signed,
Comr. Slyvanus . Chidimma Onyenagbuo
National President,
Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum.

Comr. Charles Ogu,
National Secretary,
Okigwe North Youth Progressive Forum.