Nnewi PG dismisses reported pull-out threat by Nnewi Ichi, insists elective tenure is four years

By Vincent Ujumadu

The President-General of Nzuko Ora Nnewi, Prince Jude Osumuo, has dismissed reports that Nnewi Ichi, one of the four quarters of Nnewi in Anambra State, is threatening to withdraw from the community’s umbrella body over the tenure of the Mayor of Nnewi North Local Government Area.

Speaking in an interview in Nnewi, Osumuo described the reported threat as unfounded and reiterated that, under the community’s zoning arrangement, elective offices are rotated among the four quarters — Umudim, Uruagu, Nnewi Ichi and Otolo — on a four-year basis.

He explained that the current disagreement followed differing interpretations of the tenure of local government chairmen after the Anambra State House of Assembly approved a two-year tenure for local government chairmen in the first instance.

According to him, as preparations continue for the forthcoming local government elections, some members of Nnewi Ichi have argued that it is their turn to produce the next mayor, while others maintain that the position remains with Umudim under the community’s rotation arrangement.