Anambra State House of Assembly members-elect engage in intense horse-trading on who becomes the Speaker, Senior Correspondent, OKEY MADUFORO, reports.
Casual observers had, until the current turn of events, assumed that zoning of political offices in Anambra State had been settled with the election of Governor Willie Obiano.
Going by the prevailing arrangement, the governor is of Anambra North Senatorial District while his deputy, Nkem Okeke, hails from Anambra Central. The House of Assembly Speaker, Mrs. Chinwe Nwebili, is from Anambra North along with the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oseloka Obaze.
The immediate interpretation of the arrangement is that the Governor, Speaker and SSG – three principal functionaries of the state – are from Anambra North.
Political leaders in the state, however, seem bent on resolving the arrangement in such a way that the two other zones, do not feel marginalised.
This rearrangement has already started with the House of Assembly where the office of the Speaker has been zoned to Anambra South.
The new wave of thinking has already provoked intense powerplay among members-elect over who leads the House.
Interestingly, the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has 27 out of the 30 seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has three seats.
As the tussle over who becomes the speaker lingers, four lawmakers are already up for possible election by their colleagues, and the horsetrading has commenced.
The possible contenders include Ikemefuna Ozoezie (Aguata II), Ikechukwu Umeh (Aguata I), Mrs. Nikky Ugochukwu (Orumba South) and Mrs. Rita Maduagwu (Nnewi South I). They are members of the outgoing house and are already engaging in intense consultations among their colleagues and other stakeholders in the state.
Incidentally, Obiano, reportedly, does not have particular interest on any of the contenders. This, thus, leaves the race open in what promises to be a stiff contest.
It is, however, being insinuated that his wife, Ebele, appears to be rooting for Maduagwu through Nwebili.
The alleged development is not going down with APGA chieftains who see the rumoured interest of the First Lady in an otherwise, strictly legislators’ affair, as amounting to over stepping her bounds and the office of the First Lady.
The concerned APGA chieftains also contend that much as the governor needs a harmonious relationship with the legislature, it should not boil down to sacrificing merit on the altar of expediency.
So far the four lawmakers have submitted their credentials for screening while the horse trading continues.
Ikem Uzoezie
Uzoezie, a graduate of Geology came close to becoming the Speaker of the Assembly four years ago until it was re-zoned to Anambra North district which produced Nwebili. Since then, he has been House Committee Chairman on Environment that has produced records of ecological control in Anambra State. Uzoezie also belongs to five other committees and has co-sponsored bills and motions within the time.
Before his election to the Assembly, he was consultant on geological surveys to the Akwa Ibom State Government and later managed the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) department of the Anambra State Government in the area of water resources development and management.
Among his colleagues, he paints the picture of a bridge between all interest groups in the assembly and has made modest contributions towards resolving party issues.
His primarily election was a smooth sail, as all the opponents in the election stepped down for him, allowing him to pick the ticket unopposed.
Uzoezie also got endorsements from other political parties and stakeholders. He is seen as a level-headed politician that has the experience and network of contact among his colleagues in the ruling party and other lawmakers. APGA leadership also appears disposed to his aspiration.
Nikky Ugochukwu
She was a member of the PDP before defecting to APGA. She is the House Committee Chairman on appropriation.
Ugochukwu, however, is seen by members as one that can only make good followership as a lawmaker, but lacks the leadership capacity to carry the Assembly along.
What she has going for her is her third term in the Assembly and she has remained a loyal APGA member. It is however not clear if she enjoys the sympathy of the state government.
Rita Maduagwu
Maduagwu defected from the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2011 when her party members in the Assembly were alleged to have been cajoled into joining APGA in a bid to enjoy their statutory privileges.
However, she cuts the picture of a nominal member of the Assembly. Again, the alleged support of Mrs. Obiano to her ambition seems to have incidentally become her albatross, as critics of the First Lady see her as a stooge. Her supporters, however, see her alleged endorsement by the governor’s wife as a huge plus for her.
Ikechukwu Umeh
The lawmaker from Aguata I constituency is indeed no push-over in the contest of the speakership position. His performance profile in the last four years as a lawmaker has been interpreted by analysts as slightly above average.
Also, his position as Chief Whip in the House may serve as an advantage for him. His relationship with the state chairman of APGA Mike Kwentoh may equally count for him.
Despite the spirited efforts by the contestants, it is believed that the ultimate decision on who becomes the Speaker of Anambra Assembly may end up on the table of APGA state caucus which seems to be interested in having a level-headed party loyalist for the job.
