Obetta emerges House of Reps consensus candidate
A House of Representative aspirant for Nsukka /Igboeze-South Federal constituency, Mr. Chidi Obetta has emerged as the consensus candidate from among five aspirants contesting the position from Nsukka Local Government Area.
The arrangement which was brokered by Nsukka Traditional Ruler’s Council according to a document seen by our correspondent was a directive from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state, to ensure that the monarchs oversee to the emergence of an aspirant from the area.
The consensus deal which was struck under the banner of “Undertaking and Consent for a Consensus Candidate for House of Representatives for Nsukka and Igboeze South Constituency saw Obetta towering above Mr. Peter Odo, Mr. Charles Ugwu, Mr. Emeka Asogwa and Mr. Chinedu Asogwa.
The chairman Nsukka Local Government Traditional Rulers Council Igwe Aloy Ezeugwu, Secretary Igwe Cletus Okwor and Igwe Spencer Ugwuoke patron of Nsukka Traditional Rulers Council in a statement issued which they all signed said Obetta was selected after considering the zoning system in Nsukka LGA, acceptability, provision of employment for Nsukka people and people oriented aspirant.
“Sequel to the mandate/Power of attorney executed by the aspirants in favour of the traditional ruler’s council, we in nominating a candidate considered the following:
“Zoning system: Late Hon. Alex Ike Eze from Nsukka West Constituency represented the federal constituency from 1999-2003(4years), Hon. Charles Ugwu from Nsukka East State Constituency represented the federal constituency from 2003-2007 (4 years).
“From the above it is clear that Nsukka West state constituency should produce the next House of Representative member in 2019. Therefore, the zoning has to start afresh from Nsukka West state constituency.
“We considered popularity and acceptability by the constituent; provision of development/employment for Nsukka youths and a candidate that is people oriented.
“The traditional ruler’s council in considering the aforementioned criteria hereby nominates Chief Mark Chidi Obetta as our candidate amongst the aspirants,” the statement read.
Earlier in an interview with newsmen the chairman, Igwe Ezeugwu said they nominated a consensus candidate after the aspirants couldn’t agree from amongst themselves.
“When they could not choose within themselves, we asked the aspirants to give us a mandate/ power of attorney to nominate a consensus candidate.
“The aspirants gave us the power and pledged to support whoever we selected as contained in the agreement they wrote and signed,” he said.
Ezeugwu said part of the decision of traditional rulers was that the person that emerged as consensus aspirant should carry others along if elected in 2018.
“The Nsukka traditional ruler council has forwarded Obetta’s name to the governor who gave us the assignment to help produce a consensus candidate from Nsukka LGA.
“It’s our hope that aspirants will see our decision as one that will help move the area forward as well as enable Nsukka LGA speak with one voice during the party primary for Nsukka /Igboeze-South Federal constituency,” he said.
