From Ijeoma Nwajiobi, Nnewi
The President General of Nnewichi Community in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State has said that there is need to uphold the 1997 Nnewi Rotational Agreement of all the political elective offices for peaceful coexistence in all the four quarters.
Engr. Sir. Emma Chukwueloka, a pioneer member of a Catholic Order, Knights of St. Michael the Archangel made the call on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at Obi Nnewichi Palace.
He categorically stated that Nzuko-Ora Nnewi is not a political elective office rather a town union, adding that Nzuko-Ora Nnewi should not be cited while discussing rotation and duration of office of all political elective offices in Nnewi.
“I am of the opinion that since the very essence of the agreement was to ensure peaceful coexistence in Nnewi, that agreement should be respected and upheld”.
“Before we begin to talk about amending the agreement, the circle of rotation should be completed first. It is only fair, equitable and just for the people of Nnewi to come together to review the 1997 agreement when the circle of rotation is completed and to discuss how to improve on the already existing memorandum of understanding on the Zoning/rotation of all Political Elective Offices in Nnewi” he stated.
Engr. Sir. Chukwueloka as an Aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) called on the Board of Trustees who are above the President and Executives of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi to come in and ensure that the 1997 agreement is respected, since the current Nzuko-Ora Nnewi PG, Hon.Jude Osumuoh appears to have conflict of interest because he is a beneficiary of the current Local Government Administration which according to him naturally they would love to consolidate power.
He tagged the fuss about the duration of office of the Local Government Mayor as a result of response given to the people of Nnewichi community in a letter written by the current Nzuko-Ora Nnewi PG.
“We must know that Nzuko-Ora Nnewi is a platform that unifies the four quarters of Nnewi and must be apolitical
but unfortunately the PG is also the Chief of Staff to the current Mayor, Hon. Echezona Anazodo.
“He is an appointee to the Local Government Administration and that made him to be biased, neglecting his work as a watchdog to ensure that Ndi Nnewi get their entitlement from the government” he further noted.
Sir. Chukwueloka revealed that the letter they got from the Nzuko-Ora Nnewi PG clearly referred them to the Special Adviser to the Governor on political matters on the determination of the duration of the tenure of the Nnewi North Local Government Mayor which made it clear that the PG understood that the determination of the duration of office of the Mayor remains a prerogative of the state government and not that of the people of Nnewi.
“Recall that the 2024 Local Government election that produced the current Mayor, Anambra State had amended the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law reducing the duration of the office of the Mayor from three years to two years.
“It is on that basis that there is this fuss on tenure elongation to ensure that the people of Umudim completes a four year tenure. But this law that is being challenged was the same law that brought the current Mayor to office!
“But the question is ; Was it what the people of Nnewi agreeed on in 1997?, the answer is No.The people of Nnewi had an agreement in 1997, the members of the The Nnewi Transition committee, stakeholders and representatives were selected from different quarters in Nnewi at Igwe Dr. K.N.Orizu palace and were given the task to come together to form a memorandum of understanding that would ensure peaceful coexistence among the four quarters in Nnewi especially as regards to the zoning of all political elective offices which has nothing to do with Nzuko-Ora Nnewi.
“It is not the constitution of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi that governs Local Government Administration rather the Anambra State Local Government Administration Law.
“The basis of the agreement was on tenureship not on the duration of tenure and the agreement stated that any community that a particular office is zoned to, be it state House of Assembly, Local Government Chairmanship, that community will occupy that office for one tenure” he disclosed.
He further disclosed that the essence of the agreement was to ensure even distribution of power among the four quarters in Nnewi.
“By the time the agreement was made, the people of Uruagu was on the seat of power, occupying the Chairmanship position which was agreed to move to Otolo, and to Umudim and then to Nnewichi before it rotates to Uruagu again.
“Hon. Amobi Chikwendu occupied the position for a period of three years because the then Anambra State Local Government Administration Law said stipulated the duration of office of the Mayor to three years” Sir Chukwueloka added.
He urged the stakeholders in Nnewi to rise and speak the truth in one voice for the collective well-being of the people of Nnewi and to recommend someone from Nnewichi after Umudim has completed their two year tenure in line with the law, that has the leadership capacity to move Nnewi forward.
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