The United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for Orlu senate in the fast approaching February 16, 2019 election, Comrade Precious Nwadike has disagreed with his opponent, Hon. Jones Onyeriri, member for Nkwerre, Isu Nwangele and Njaba Federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, who was recently quoted as saying, “for equity, Nkwerre axis should be allowed to produce the next senator for Orlu zone”, claiming that any attempt to produce another senator from the Oru axis will polarize the zone.
According to a release issued by the media aide to the House of Reps member, Mr. MacDonald Njoku, which was published on social media platforms“for equity and fairness, Oru clan should allow other clans to go for the seat inspite of the fact that Nkwerre axis had in the past, produced Senator Emeziam”.
In his sharp reaction to the argument, Comrade Nwadike through his Director of Media and publicity, Mr Philip Izundu berated Onyeriri, for such wild claim which sounds petty and should be disregarded by the electorate in Orlu zone.
He stated that Hon. Jones Onyeriri cannot be talking of equity in a situation where he is among the cartel that has monopolized such position in the zone thereby shutting out more creative and credible people in politics who should have added greater value to the zone.
Nwadike contented that the Orlu senate seat in 2019 is not for settlement any longer, reminding Onyeriri that he has no moral claim of equity after eight years in the green chambers of the National Assembly and now he still wants to go to the red chambers perhaps for another eight years adding that “he who goes to equity must come with clean hands” as anything short of this is deceptive and self serving.
Nwadike had argued that, “what Onyeriri should be advocating for is generational zoning which enables or encourages the participation of young people for real equity”. He should step down for younger people, arguing that if those who were there before him had monopolized the position the way he does now, Onyeriri wouldn’t have been there, how much more aspiring to the senate.
He also argued that if it is a matter of geographical equity Orlu axis where Nwadike hails from would be canvassing vigorously for the seat, but today, we are emphasizing more on generational equity and credibility which he said, place him far above others.
Chief Onyeriri had advocated vigorously for equity when he met recently with traditional rulers and leadership of Nkwerre, Nwangele Isu and Njaba Federal constituency and entire Orlu senatorial zone, where he pleaded that his clan be given free hand to represent the Imo West senatorial zone, being currently contested by both Senator Osita Izunaso and Governor Rochas Okorocha, among others.
