Ebuka Okonkwo
Amid the renewed controversy over tenureship in Nnewi, the President-General of Nzuko Ora Nnewi, Hon. Prince Jude Osumuo has dismissed renewed claims in some quarters that the 1997 power-sharing agreement among the four quarters of the town stipulates a two year term for the offices of Local Government Chairman, describing them as sympathy seeking politically motivated narrative.
Osumuoh also called on the people of Nnewi to disregard what he described as the commotion being stirred by "fifth columnists" over the tenure of the Mayor of Nnewi North Local Government Area.
He was reacting to reports on social media that Nnewichi Quarter opted out of membership of Nzukora Nnewi and subsequently announced that they would not be participating in the forthcoming Afia Olu Nnewi.
Speaking at Nzukora Nnewi office in Nnewi on Friday, the President-General maintained that the the guiding principle governing the rotation of the mayorship is a four-year tenure and not a single term, stressing that no community would be shortchanged under his leadership.
He declared that the issue of tenureship had long been settled, even by the court, hence anybody resurrecting the matter is just trying to stoke unnecessary tension.
Osumuoh argued that there is no precedent for a two-year mayoral tenure in Nnewi, attributing the current controversy over the Nnewi North mayorship tenure to political interests rather than genuine concerns over the rotational arrangement.
According to him, the document circulated on social media, purporting to be the 1997 agreement is far from the facts, describing it as an unsigned draft rather than the final agreement.
The PG further dismissed the claim by a certain individual to the position of Traditional Prime Minister of Nnewi, stressing that no section of the community could prevent the Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu from attending the annual Afia Olu festival.
The President-General absolved the incumbent Mayor of Nnewi North, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, of any involvement in the controversy, explaining that it was the Mayor's community, Umudim, that requested him to finish their rightful term in office.
He also disclosed that the Secretary of Nzuko Ora Nnewi had been suspended for misconduct.