Ahead of the Local Government elections, which will be held anytime soon in Cross River State, the youths in Obubra Local Government Area have rejected the zoning of the Council seat to Okum bloc.
The youths, under the umbrella of Adun Youth Forum in Constituency II, stated this in a press statement made available to CONVERSEER on Monday, 26th August 2024.
According to the statement, the group said the position should be thrown open for everyone to contest.
The youths who were reacting to the purported resolution reached by the Adun-Okum stakeholders under the chairmanship of Prof. Anyi Ajake Obongha, said the Okum bloc already has its share of representation in the current dispensation, adding that it will not be fair if the Chairmanship seat is zoned to the area.
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“The attention of members of the Adun Youth Forum of Obubra Constituency II, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State, has been drawn to a resolution purportedly reached at a meeting of Adun-Okum stakeholders under the chairmanship of one Prof. Anyi Ajake Obongha at the NUT Secretariat at 100 Marian Road in Calabar on the 23rd day of August 2024, purporting that all stakeholders of Adun-Okum constituency have agreed that the Local Government Chairmanship be solely zoned to Okum bloc in the forthcoming Local Government elections.
“We succinctly and categorically state that the purported resolution neither represents the interest of the Adun bloc nor the overall interest of the people of Obubra Local Government Area, as same is selfish and a calculated attempt to rob the people of Obubra of credible representation at the Local Government Chairmanship election.
“It is pertinent to state that the Okum bloc is presently inundated with political appointees including the Commissioner for Women Affairs, and a House of Representatives member who is in his third cycle of four years at the National Assembly, whilst the Adun bloc in Obubra Constituency II has barely a member in the house of assembly in the present Government.
“However, it is the desire of our people, the people of Obubra Local Government Area, to have a free and fair election where a popular and credible representative of the people will be allowed to vie for the office of the Chairman of Council.
“Finally, it is our position that the Okum bloc is not entitled to enjoy zoning as that would deprive Obubra the opportunity of electing a credible and competent Chairman in a just and fair electoral process.
“We trust that the leadership of our great party will not support the oppressive intentions of these enemies of democracy,” the statement read.