By Don Peter Okoro JP
UN Eminent Professor of Gynaecology and Pediatrics, Professor Obi Bethrand Nwosu, has unequivocally stated that he stands with His Royal Highness Igwe Dr KON Orizu III on his position concerning the Rotation of the Local Government Council Chairmanship.
Speaking in an exclusive interview recently, the Professor who in 2018 convened the first Nnewi Political Summit (Possessing our possession) to stop a similar political trouble in Nnewl, and who is also a Consultant with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), pointed out that: “My view still remains that Agreement is Agreement. In 1997, under a renowned Professor as the Nzuko Ora Chairman, under the authority of our peace loving Igwe, Nnewi sat down and resolved this issue of Rotation.
“It was agreed and written down. I believe in what is written down and that which is written down should be carried out to the letter. It is my fundamental human right to demand that an agreement should be obeyed. That is all I’m asking for. Moreso when that agreement has been signed by all and has been carefully followed by others. Then it comes to a particular quarter and it is now being misinterpreted and misapplied; that is not good enough. Remember that it can happen to any other person at any other time.”
On the question that as at the time the Agreement was made, it used to be 3 years per tenure, he replied: ” What we are saying is what was written down. What is written down in that agreement is tenure not number of years. Then for the State House of Assembly, it was clearly spelt out to be 4 years. Those people who wrote the agreement are very intelligent and some of them are still alive. They did not speak from both sides of their mouths. What they wrote and agreed on was tenure, not years. They were aware that there has always been controversy about the Mayor or LG Chairman tenureship. Therefore, being wise enough, they left it as a tenure. Then our own Igwe who is a very wise man and a living legend, made a statement when this case was brought to him. Igwe asked what is the position of the State Government? And it was quoted to him to be 2 years. Then, he concurred along with what is in Anambra State law regarding tenure.
“And in any case, the Mayors are not generating anything. They don’t have much to do and don’t have the creative minds to create anything that would generate funds. That’s my interpretation of what the Igwe said. Now I wanted to be sure which side the Government is. The State Government said a tenure is 2 years. So this idea of 3 or 4 years is what I don’t want to go into because it doesn’t exist. What exists is what is written down and I respect the wisdom and intelligence of the people that crafted that document. I don’t think there could have been a better set of people with a more balanced ideas and interest than the people who wrote that document. Thank you.”