There is uneasy calm in Aguata Federal Constituency following agitations from the Aguata People’s Forum to protest the National Assembly ambition of the current Mayor of Aguata Local Government Area, Dr Chibueze Ofobuike, who is contesting for a seat at the Green Chambers.
The Forum led by Moses Ezechukwu alleged that Aguata South, which should ascend the seat of the Local Government Council as Chairman, has been denied the opportunity following the emergence of the Deputy Mayor of the Council from Aguata North.
According to him, this was the plot of Ofobuike from Aguata South to enable him to go for the Federal House of Representatives position in the 2027 general elections.
“This harmony has been anchored on an unwritten gentleman’s agreement between Aguata North and Aguata South”
“The arrangement is simple: One zone occupies the Chairmanship position for eight years, after which it rotates to the other zone for the same duration”
“In the build-up to the 2027 general elections, this longstanding tradition of fairness that characterised the practice has been subtly and tactically subverted”
He added that Ezechukwu stated, “This disruption is widely attributed to the maverick manoeuvrings of Chibueze Ofobuike (the incumbent Chairman of the Local Government Area), actions which ultimately cost Aguata South the opportunity to complete its eight-year tenure as Local Government Chairman”
“His Excellency, Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, OFR (Oluatuegwu), made it clear that individuals who have previously served as Caretaker Committee Chairmen and elected Chairmen are ineligible to contest the forthcoming Local Government Council elections”
” Following this pronouncement, Chibueze Ofobuike reportedly realised that his personal political ambitions had been threatened. Instead of putting Aguata South first, grapevine information alleged that he sacrificed the zone on the altar of inordinate ambition”
“The local government Chairmanship position was well within reach – a bird at hand – for Aguata South, had Chibueze Ofobuike chosen to place his zone and the people of Aguata South above his personal aspirations and pushed for the position”
“Through calculated political manoeuvring, he allegedly sidelined potential aspirants from Aguata South by preventing them from obtaining the Expression of Interest (EoI) and Nomination Forms for the Chairmanship position”
“He is further alleged to have orchestrated the emergence of his Deputy, who is from Ekwulobia, Aguata North, as the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for the elections, effectively leaving Aguata South with nothing at the moment”
“This is Chibueze Ofobuike’s political strategy to block the emergence of a candidate for local government Chairmanship from Aguata South, and aspirants for the House of Representatives from Ekwulobia, while positioning himself advantageously for the House of Representatives seat in Aguata Federal Constituency”
“It is important to note that the contest for the House of Representatives seat in Aguata Federal Constituency has been opened to both Aguata North and Aguata South”
“It defies logic for an individual to bargain away what belongs to his people, merely to secure advantage in a House of Representatives contest that is open to both Aguata North and South”
“Now that the veil has been lifted, the people of Aguata South must reflect deeply and act wisely. They should find the item that fell into the riverbed with their feet”
“The entire good people and residents of Aguata should know the number of their teeth with their tongues. What defines leadership is not physical appearance, but character,” he said.
Reaching those allegations, the Secretary of Onitsha South local government area, who is also from Aguata local government area, Mr Paul Onuachalla, said ;
“This is coming from someone looking for a second term at the National Assembly, but a second term is not a right but a privilege and performance-based”
“Aguata Federal constituency cannot be blackmailed into rewarding or accepting poor performance” he noted.
