…fronts Akubuike as potential candidate
By CHUKS EKE
Stakeholders in Umunri clan of Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state, including its traditional ruler, Igwe Ralph Ekpeh, the youths and other prominent personalities have appealed to other communities in the council area to allow them produce an illustrious son of the community in the person of Hon. Henry Chinedu Akubuike as the next council boss during the forthcoming chairmanship election in the state.
They said their demand was predicated on the fact that Enugwu-Ukwu, as one of the communities has has never produced chairman of the council area since its creation many years ago, while other communities like Abagana, Nimo and other have had their fair share at one tenure or the other, even as they cited justice, equity and fair play as their major reason for the demand.
The demand which co-incided with the outright endorsement of Akubuike came at the weekend when Akubuike led a delegation of the stakeholders to Igwe Ralph Ekpeh’s palace in Enugwu-Ukwu.
Earlier in his remarks,Akubuike who was the first elected President of the Enugwu-Ukwu Youth Council, noted that it is the turn of Enugwu-Ukwu to produce the next transition or elected chairman of the Njikoka Local Council, adding that it was long overdue as no one from the town had occupied the seat in the last 20 years.
He therefore pledged to set a precedent in public service if he is allowed to serve in that capacity, and at the same time, unite the entire Njikoka people towards greater development and progress.
Responding, Igwe Sir Ralph Ekpeh, noted that Akubuike has served the Enugwu-Ukwu people creditably and in many capacities and therefore, his current ambition is a welcome development.
The monarch reminded the people that Akubuike had stepped down on two consecutive occasions for other candidates who contested in 2015 and 2019, adding, “Akubuike has listened and obeyed the principle of zoning political offices in Umunri Clan in 2018 and now 2022 by stepping down on two consecutive times from running for the Njikoka Constituency 1 State Assembly Election in 2019 & 2023.”
The royal father thanked Akubuike and his entourage for the visit, and urged them to be broad-minded, and that Enugwu-Ukwu will take its own turn in the leadership of Njikoka LGA this time around.
In their various remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister of Enugwu-Ukwu kingdom, Chief Sir Clement Nwafor and the Cabinet Secretary of the Enugwu-Ukwu Traditional Authority, Chief Frank Nwokike, respectively commended Akubuike for his track records of commendable community service.
They observed that indeed it was time for Enugwu-Ukwu to produce the next council chairman, adding that he deserves to serve as next “transition or elected council chairman of Njikoka Council Area.
Other members in the entourage of Akubuike included political stakeholders, youths and women leaders among whom were Ozonkpu Chief Jaspino Okonkwo, Nze Mgbilimgba Anaekwe, Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Okeke, Hon. Agudo Enemuo, Hon. Chisom Nwammadu, Oba Hon. Dobaman Okafor, Chief Hon. Ugo Oguejiofor, Amb. Eze-Ebunafor Nwigbo, Hon. Awele Onuzulike, Hon. Ebele Ngini, Mr. Edikete Anianuli, Chief Bernard Iji-Okeke, Honourable Members of Beloved Brothers, among others.
