As preparation ahead of Imo Council poll scheduled to take place on
September 21st, 2024 gathers momentum, a concerned group with the appellation of “Mbaitoli
Political Awareness Coalition” has raised alarm over the alleged plan of Chief Executive Officer, Zinox Computers Chief Leo Stan Ekeh to
impose one of his brothers as the Mbaitoli Council Chairman against the
zoning arrangement in the area.
The group made the disclosure at a press briefing held over the weekend in Owerri.
According to the coordinator of the group Comr.Nwosu Ebuka Darlington,
he noted ‘’that they are no longer comfortable with the way and manner
Chief Ekeh has been playing his politics in Mbaitoli over the years with selfish
and clannish approaches by only considering his Ubomiri kinsmen any time the
opportunity beckons on him to nominate appointees by the Government, an act which according to him has been
discouraging others from doing the right thing”.
“We gathered in good authority that Chief Leo Stan Ekeh is trying to use his relationship with Governor Hope Uzodinma to impose one of his brothers as Mbaitoli council chairman in the forthcoming L.G.A election against the zoning arrangement in Mbaitoli and peoples’ interest. The selfishness in him has no comparison that none of Mbaitoli sons and daughters has benefitted from him except his Ubomiri kinsmen against the impression the people have about him or he gives people out there about himself”.
“We challenge him “LEO STAN” to mention any Mbaitoli son or daughter
that is working in his company “Zinox Computers” and the electoral ward
he or she comes from, or any road in Mbaitoli, he graded or constructed.
Not only that, all Government appointments which he attracted in the past he only considered his Ubomiri brothers namely ranging from Sole Administrators, Commissioners, Development area Coordinators, SAs, Head of service, Deputy Governor designate, Chairmen and members of Government Boards and Parastatals,
Eze-elect and Autonomous community creation, among others and
wondered if other Mbaitoli sons and daughters have been greedy and
behaving the way he does, Mbaitoli would not have been where it is today”.
“The group however urged him to learn or borrow a leaf from Chief Tony
Chukwu (Onweghi ihe Kariri chineke) and Governor Hope Uzodinma’s
empowerment style, asserting that Chief Chukwu has empowered so many
Ehime Mbano people and Mbano clan in general both in elective and
appointment positions in the past without focusing on his village kinsmen
alone. Also the Governor Distinguish Senator Hope Uzodinma, while serving
as Senator of Federal Republic of Nigeria, of all the appointments he
facilitated, he did not give it to his Omuma kinsmen alone”.
“The group therefore advise him to desist from what they termed his “clannish style of politics”
particularly in the forthcoming council election in Imo of choosing or
nominating his Ubomiri brother as council Chairman of Mbaitoli against the
zoning arrangement in the area but should make enquires and
consultations with the help of leaders to avoid being deceived or face
resistance he would least expect.
The group however appealed to the peoples Governor ,
Hope Uzodinma (Onwa Oyoko) to advise him properly.
They however made it clear
that going by the current Mbaitoli political zoning ,the council chairman
which is an elective position should come from Mbaitoli East (Mbieri) which
comprises Ezinihitte, Amaike and Umuagwu/Umunwoha wards since
the current Imo House of Assembly member for Mbaitoli state constituency
comes from Mbaitoli North comprising Afara/Eziama, Ogwa I and Ogwa II,
Orodo A and B wards, while the current Imo State Deputy Governor comes
from Mbaitoli South comprising Umunoha, Ogbaku, Ifakala and Ubomiri
wards”.
“They equally used the opportunity to urge the performing Governor of Imo
State Uzodinma to resist any attempt to be deceived concerning the
chairman seat of Mbaitoli by selfish and clannish attitude of Chief Leo Stan
Ekeh to avoid any political balkanization or rancor in Mbaitoli.
