Tension is brewing in Rundele Clan Ward 7, Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, over plans to deny the Omofo community of their councilorship slot in the forthcoming Local Government elections.
The community is protesting against the alleged imposition of Emenike Wokama, the immediate past Councilor of the ward, who is said to be seeking a second term in office, contrary to the zoning arrangement in the area.
According to the protesters, the zoning arrangement, which has been in place for ages, stipulates that the councilorship position should rotate among the five communities in Rundele, with Mgbuolua community taking first, followed by Mgbuelia, Omofo, Egamini, and Agba-Ndele.
Tension In Rivers Community Over Plans To Deny Them Councilorship Slot
Since Mgbuelia community produced the last Councilor in the person of Wokama, it is now the turn of Omofo community to produce the next Councilor.
The protesters, led by Comrade Kpomasuruchi Dimpka, Chairman of Omofo Youth Federation (OYF), vowed to resist every attempt to steal the mandate of their people by all means.
They urged the Paramount Ruler of Rundele Kingdom, HRH Eze Damian Ejiohuo, the Rundele Council of Chiefs, and other stakeholders to call Wokama to order and ensure that the right of Omofo people is given to them.
“We are here to protest not as members of any political party, but as youths of Omofo Community,” Dimpka said.
“We are protesting against attempt to deny us our right. We are protesting against injustice. It is Omofo’s turn, and we will resist it at all cost.”
Dr. Okechukwu Omeodu, another leader of the protesters, said that the community is protesting to avert crisis and conflict in Rundele.
“Rundele has a sharing or zoning formula that has lasted for ages, where the councilorship position is been rotated among the five communities,” he explained.
“But after Mgbuolua and Mgbuelia had represented us in the last two administrations, Mgbuelia man and the immediate past Councilor, Hon. Emenike Wokama is scheming to return for second tenure. Omofo people will reject it by all means because this is our turn.”
The protesters called on the leadership of the APC in Rundele Ward 7 to respect the zoning arrangement and ensure that the candidate from Omofo community is given the opportunity to contest the election.
They warned that any attempt to impose Wokama on the community would lead to crisis and conflict in Rundele.
Representative of Mgbuelia Community in the Rundele Council of Chiefs, Chief Raphael Nweneka, who addressed the protesters, sued for peace and assured that the matter would be handled at the leadership level of the clan.
He insisted that the right thing must be done for the interest of peace and unity of Rundele.
