The Agwa Professionals League in Coalition with Agwa Women Liberation Movement, National Council of Agwa Youths and Agwa Artisans’ Association have expressed outrage over the undeniable marginalization of the Agwa Clan in the recently concluded APC chairmanship primaries for Oguta LGA.
Speaking on behalf of the Coalition, Engr Ibe Ben Ibe decried the exclusion of Agwa, which stands as the second-largest clan in Imo State, the most populous clan in Oguta LGA, and one of the state’s major oil-producing communities, adding that despite Agwa’s immense contributions to the APC through decisive electoral support and substantial financial backing, the clan has been sidelined in a process that reeks of injustice.
The spokesperson revealed that multiple appeals were made to His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Hope Uzodimma (Onwa Oyoko), by the leadership of Agwa Central Union (ACU) and other Agwa leaders of thought, urging him to uphold the long-established zoning arrangement in Oguta LGA by allowing the chairmanship position to rotate to Agwa Clan in Oguta South and address the blatant marginalization of the Agwa Clan. Instead, the party has brazenly discarded this principle, leaving Agwa to bear the brunt of this calculated injustice, which threatens the balance of political equity in the LGA.
He expressed sadness in the violation of zoning tradition in Oguta LGA, stressing that for years, Oguta LGA has adhered to a principle of rotating key political offices, including that of Executive Chairman and House of Assembly representation, between the Oguta North and Oguta South blocs, but the results of the recent primaries have upended this tradition, disenfranchising the Oguta South bloc, and more pointedly, the Agwa Clan.
The Coalition expressed shock at the total disregard for qualified Agwa Aspirants, saying that despite the caliber of candidates from Agwa Clan—including Comr. Deacon Johnbosco Chimaokwu Obodo, Esq. (JP), Hon. Chima Oscar Ukemezie (JP), Hon. Collins Ugo Jumbo, Hon. Williams Ejiakor, and Engr. Jerry Iriaka—the party overlooked their formidable credentials and chose a candidate from Oguta Amaeshi in Oguta North, where the current House of Assembly member also hails from.
The Coalition calls on the Governor, as the leader of the party, to rectify this egregious imbalance by appointing the very qualified aspirants from Agwa Clan to positions of authority. This is not just a demand for fairness; it is a plea for justice, to alleviate the profound sense of exclusion and marginalization currently felt across the entire Agwa Clan.
The Coalition reaffirms its commitment to the unity and progress of Oguta LGA but stresses that this can only be sustained through equitable representation. Anything less is a direct affront to the democratic principles that underpin our collective progress the spokesperson said.
They therefore, passionately appeal to our Governor and other leaders of the party to address the glaring marginalization of the Agwa Clan by making provisions for the basic social amenities that have long eluded the Clan and appointing some most qualified Chairmanship Aspirants of Agwa extraction into positions of authority to assuage the excruciating pains and anger the people are currently experiencing.
For clarity, Oguta North comprises the following wards:
1. Oguta Ward A
2. Oguta Ward B
3. Oru Ward
4. Egwe/Egbuoma Ward
5. Ossemotor/Enuigbo Ward
The autonomous communities under Oguta North include:
1. Oguta Amaeshi
2. Egwe
3. Egbuoma
4. Nnebukwu
5. Ossemotor
6. Nkwesi
7. Orsu-Obodo
8. Mgbele
9. Ndionyemobi
10. Ezi-Obodo
Oguta South, where Agwa Clan falls, comprises:
1. Mgbala/Uba
2. Obudi/Aro
3. Uwaorie
4. Izombe
5. Ndiuloukwu/Umuowerre
6. Awa
Its autonomous communities are:
1. Obudi-Agwa
2. Mgbala-Agwa
3. Uba-Agwa
4. Uwaorie-Agwa
5. Mbano-Agwa
6. Umuofeke-Agwa
7. Obeabor
8. Aborshi
9. Umunwama
10. Ndiuloukwu
11. Ejemekwuru
12. Awa
13. Akabor
*Overrepresentation of Oguta North*
Oguta North is overwhelmingly represented in plum political positions, further skewing the balance. These positions include:
1. Member, IMSHA – Oru Ward
2. Chairman, ISOPADEC – Oru Ward
3. Chairman, Oguta Council of Ndi Eze – Ossemotor/Enuigbo
4. Hon. Minister for Trade and Investment – Oru Ward
5. Hon. Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence – Ossemotor/Enuigbo
6. SA to the Governor on ISOPADEC – (Oguta Amaeshi) Oguta Ward A
7. Pro-Chancellor, Imo State University – (Oguta Amaeshi) Oguta Ward A
8. Pro-Chancellor, Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences – (Oguta Amaeshi) Ward A
9. Pro-Chancellor, Federal University – Oru Ward
10. APC Chairman, Oguta LGA – Egwe/Egbuoma Ward
In comparison, Oguta South holds significantly fewer positions:
1. Member, House of Reps – Izombe Ward
2. Imo NDDC Rep – Izombe
3. SOLAD – Mgbala/Uba Ward
