Group Advocates Political Space

As the 2011 general elections gathers momentum, a non political organization in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State  True Believers Forum (TBF), Ozuzu Clan has urged the people of Etche to maintain the zoning arrangement existing in the area.

Addressing newsmen over the weekend at Ozuzu after a meeting of the group, the Chairman of Ozuzu Clan True Believers Forum, Mr Richard Opurum stated that adhering to the existing zoning arrangement in the area would sustain the existing peace in the area.

Mr Opurum explained that Etche Ethnic Nationality is made up of six clans including Omuma local government area, adding that if the zoning arrangement that gave Omuma clan the opportunity to produce the candidate that represented Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency in the National Assembly for two terms of eight years is not maintained the other clans may be unhappy.

He further explained that by the existing arrangement in the area, it would be the turn of Etche people to produce the next candidate for the Federal House of Representative for Etche/Omuma Constituency in 2011 general elections.

The TBF leader urged all the aspirants from Omuma and Ozuzu clan who are vying for the position to drop their ambition and support other aspirants from other clans in accordance with the existing zoning arrangement in the area, adding that the group has concluded arrangement to sensitise the people on the forthcoming Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC voters registration exercise.

According to him,  “Ozuzu clan would produce the next 2011 council chairmanship, so there is no how the clan could produce the House of Representatives, state House of Assembly members and at the same time produce, the council chairman”, he stated.

Also speaking, the general secretary of the group, Mr. Kingsley Ohale opined that the people of Etche have benefited immensely from the zoning arrangement in the area adding that it has given the minorities in the area the opportunity to occupy political positions.

Mr. Ohale stated that the position of the state House of Assembly for Etche Constituency I is for the Mba clan.

According to him, Ozuzu clan occupied the position for eight years between 1999-2007, adding that breach of such agreement would be political injustice”, he said.

The scribe, while calling on the people to ensure that their votes are counted in 2011 general election pledged their unalloyed support to the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and the chairman of Etche Local Government Council, Hon. Ephriam Nwuzi in their quest to transform the area.