Reps Speaker
Hope Rises for Chike Okafor
By Orji Sampson
As the nation gets set for a new leadership in the National Assembly especially that of the Federal House of Representatives, Okigwe South Federal Lawmaker, Hon Chike Okafor may soon get his wish of becoming Reps Speaker following latest developments.
This assertion was given credence following the demand of the APC South East zone stakeholders for a revisit on the principal officers in the 9th Assembly.
According to fall out of the meeting and a communiqué signed South East Vice Chairman, Emma Eneukwu, they asked the National leadership of the party to utilize the zoning of the principal officers so as to enable south east get something tangible such as the Speaker of the House.
It is however believed that if such demand is granted and going by the positions and his antecedents haven been member of sensitive committees Chike Okafor could be favoured to nick the speakership position.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) South East zone Stakeholders rose from a meeting Saturday in Enugu with a call to the national leadership of the party to revisit the subsisting zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly in a more equitable manner that would accord more deserving positions to the South East zone.
“This, they said, was with recourse to the consideration that the country rests on the six geopolitical zones of South East, South-South, South West, North Central, North East and North West.
“In a communiqué read by the national vice chairman of the party, South East, Hon Emma Eneukwu, the stakeholders urged the national leadership of the party to draw strength from the need “to utilize the zoning of principal offices in the 9th National Assembly to further deepen and strengthen the electoral appeal of the party, especially in parts of the country where it may be considered as weak.”
“They admonished that at all times it should be borne in mind that since democracy is a dynamic process, the party should remain a truly national political party with broad based support in all parts of the country, the South East inclusive.
“The stakeholders deplored in strong terms, what they called “the undue interference and unwholesome meddlesomeness by forces by forces from outside the zone in the affairs of the South East of our great party aimed at fictionalising and destabilizing the party in the zone.”
“Present at the meeting include the minister for Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu; the minister for Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige; VON DG, Osita Okechukwu; Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha and Hon Chike Okafor both aspirants to the Speakership of the House of Representatives.
“Others include Senator Chris Adighije, Senator elect Orji Uzor Kalu, Rt. Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly and Member-elect for Nkwerre/Isu/Nwangele/Njaba Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Chief Uche Ogah, General J. O. J. Okoloagu (rtd), Dr Emeka Worgu, and a host of others.
“The stakeholders at the end set up a contact (lobby) committee to reach out to other zones of the country regards to their demand.
“The committee is headed by Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Others include Dr Chris Ngige, Geoffrey Onyeama, Azubuike Udah, Senator Chris Nwankwo, Mrs. Ugo Okoye and Hon Austin Chukwukere.
“A reconciliation committee was also set up to be headed by Emeka Worgu while Sunny Onyeukwu would serve as secretary”.
