A coalition of civil society, socio-political and religious pressure groups, have told various political parties in Anambra State to consider fielding candidates outside the Catholic faith from Old Nnewi council area for the Nov 8 Governorship Election in the state.
The group under the auspices of Anambra Equity Movement (ANEM), observed that since Catholics have dominated Governoship power for 23 uninterrupted years, the next Governor should be zoned to Non-Catholics especially Anglican/Pentocostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in order to guarantee fairness, equity and justice.
With it’s motto “Egbe belu, Ugo belu: Anambra turn-by-turn for justice, equity and fairness”, the group resolved that the Governorship by geopolitical zones should remain in Southern Senatorial Zone of the state.
ANEM stated this in her resolutions over the weekend after her maiden General Meeting held in Awka, the Anambra State Capital.
The ceremony drew attendees from all 21 council areas of the state where quality decisions were reached for the general interest of Ndi-Anambra in relations to maintenance of zoning structure in the state.
A Communique titled “Anambra Equity Resolution Awka 2025”, which was jointly signed by ANEM Convener and Chairman, Hon. Engr. TonyUche Ezekwelu and Secretary, Engr. Aniebue Chibuzo, said Southern candidates should be further zoned to Old Nnewi Local Government to ensure that Christian brotherhood and charity would reign Supreme among Christians and other people of God in the state.
“South Senatorial Zone should be zoned to Old Nnewi LG that made up of Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo LGAs; Aguata/OAU had produced two governors (Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Prof. Charles Soludo) while Ihiala with (Dr Barr Chinwoke Mbadinuju) had held power to the exclusion of Old Nnewi.
“We hereby plead with all Catholic aspirants and the church hierarchy to join to plead with them to step aside for justice, equity and fairness. Accident of Birth and creed should not be taken as disability to deny competent people the fundamental rights to elective political positions.
“The meeting unanimously resolved that for Justice, Equity and Fairness, the next Governor of Anambra come November 8th 2025, APGA having ruled for 20 years, PDP for seven years under Mbadinuju and Ngige, Anambra should try another party and best option for next Governorship by all considerations, All Peoples Congress (APC) which is the Party at the center and all pledged to work assiduously to ensure the APC meets our criteria of bringing out candidate who is and Anglican/PFN group, from Old Nnewi North, South and Ekwusigo, Anambra South Senatorial Zone. This person must have the capacity to wrestle power from an incumbent Governor.
“We agreed to meet formally with the potential candidate (s) who meet all our zoning criteria to partnership/collaborate towards achieving desired victory come November 8th 2025. The candidate shall be formally unveiled in due course.”
The resolution which was read by ANEM Secretary, further applauded the leadership acumen of Sir TonyUche Ezekwelu and Comrade Anthony Aniebuo in establishing full structure in the group alongside the Central Working Committee, LG EXCOS, Ward Excos down to pulling units Excos which shall be unveiled soonest.
To achieve the above goals, ANEM resolved to write and pay advocacy visits to convince all Party leadership, Hierarchy of Catholic, Anglican, PFN and other CAN Bishops/GOs, Ndi Igwe, Town Unions, Youth Groups, Market leaders, Labour Unions, CSOs among others that the only way for Anambra Guber 2025 is for power to shift from Catholics to others for Justice, equity, fairness.
It however maintained that Christian charity and brotherhood are the only way to ensure lasting peace, good governance and development.
After endorsing the working document, ANEM inaugurated her Central Working Committee, and LG EXCOS to kick-start grassroots programmes of the group in the state ahead of Nov 8 Guber poll.
Speaking to newsmen, the Convener Hon Engr Ezekwelu said religion should not be ths criteria to hold elective political offices rather comptetence.
“When Anambra wasn’t running this obvious religious politics, a Salvation Army member, Chief (Dr) Chukwuemeka Ezife became the Governor of the State and was the best. Everybody supported him.
“Today, everybody is weeping because Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo has become an emperor who rode on the wings of being a Catholic to become a governor. He listens to nobody except himself.
“Thus, the church and everybody are not happy because of the level of insecurity, political, governance arrogance and pride. A professor that feels he knows everything and knows better than everybody.
“Our concern is this, PDP have ran for seven years under Mbadinuju and Ngige, APGA 20 years; Catholics had 23 years of uninterrupted governance in Anambra State, so we should try other parties and other denominations like Anglican and PFN. Christ teaches his followers to be charitable to the weak, poor and less privileged. This we should emulate.
“Many of us are victims of kidnapping and political assassination attempts. Others were not lucky. Two serving lawmakers, Hon Okechukwu Okoye and Hon Justice Azuka were kidnapped and guesomely murdered under Soludo’s administration, after collecting huge ransom. So much money collected from us by ransom. The Government is incompetent in securing lives and property of the people.
“It’s time for we to move away from APGA because it has totally lost focus and vision, and the spirit of being your brother’s keeper is gone. Self-centeredness now take centre stage. It’s time Anambra is cued into the centre and we need a competent person to key us into the centre.
He however urged progressive-minded Anambrarians to key into the vision of ANEM to restore justice, equity and fairness to the people and guarantee sustained peace and development in Anambra state.###
