The Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers (ASTRC), has resolved to back zoning of political offices, insisting that the office of Governor has been zoned to Anambra South Senatorial zone.This means that the next Governor Anambra State for the 2021 gubernatorial elections in the state will have to emerge from Anambra South.
The Royal Fathers took the stand after deliberation on the zoning and rotation of political offices in Anambra State.A communiqué released by the Council after its meeting noted, however: “the decision we are taking today is not new’’.The document was signed by Chairman of the council, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe 40 other traditional rulers.
These include the Secretary of the Council, Igwe Pius Omachonu and Deputy Chairmen, Igwe S.I. Okafor, Igwe Wisdom Onebune (a retired Col.) and Igwe E.C. Onyia.
It said that the council’s decision stemmed from its resolution in 2017, “to enthrone and sustain in Anambra State, a political culture of all inclusive democracy, cost effective electioneering and peaceful, free, fair and credible elections’’.The council, then, reaffirmed its resolution, “that it is the turn of Anambra South Senatorial zone to produce the Governor of Anambra State for two (2) consecutive terms totaling eight (8) years’’.
It also affirmed that power would rotate to Anambra Central afterwards and then return to Anambra North for the same two (2) consecutive terms of eight (8) years respectively.The communiqué referred to the resolution of the Traditional Rulers Council during its annual seminar in 2017 to confirm its position on zoning/rotation of the office of the Governor among the three senatorial zones of the state.The communiqué was endorsed to by Ndi Igwe Anambra from all three senatorial zones.
