Delta State

LG Election: Zoning agitation protest rocks Delta

Aggrieved protesters from Nsukwa, Aniocha South local government area, Tuesday, stormed Delta State Government House, over the clan that should produce the next local government council chairman.

The protesters, who claimed to be members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the aegis of Concerned Nsukwa Clan Youths, besieged the Government House main entrance, insisting that it was the turn of Nsukwa clan to produce the next chairman.

They barricaded the entrance to the Government House to drive home their position on the zoning issue.

Different placards were displayed, some of which were written โ€“ โ€œNsukwa Clan is not a political slaveโ€, โ€œSay yes to equity, fairness, justice and balance in Aniocha southโ€, โ€œYouth of Aniocha South endorse Nsukwa Clan mandateโ€, โ€œSay no to political impunity, manipulation and oppression in Aniocha Southโ€, โ€œOn Equity we standโ€ and โ€œNsukwa Clan Council Chairmanship 2024 is non negotiable.โ€œ

Others include โ€“ โ€œSenator. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa let Aniocha South breatheโ€, โ€œSay no to family business in Aniocha Southโ€, โ€œNsukwa Clan deserved the Council Chairmanship and โ€œNsukwa Clan wants Council Chairman or no dealโ€.

Traffic was disrupted affecting both vehicular and human movements for hours as the protesters marched through the streets, although in a peaceful manner brandishing placards.

The protest is coming barely 24 hours after Hon Joan Onyemaechi resigned her appointment as Commissioner in the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori-led government in order to pave way for her brother to emerge as the Council chairmanship candidate,

Political pundits thought that by sacrificing her position, peace would have ordinarily returned, but the reverse is the case as the local government is still boiling.

But it appears that she has just lost that plum position of a commissioner for nothing as there are still contending forces battling over the same zoning arrangement.