BY KEN EHIGIATOR

The people of Agbani in Nkanu-West local government area of Enugu State have petitioned Governor Sullivan Chime over plans by a top official of Nkanu local council, Mr. Ekene Okenwa, to impose a candudate for the forthcoming council poll in the state.

In the petition, the people said the official’s action was contrary to the directive given by the governor that candidates should not be imposed for the council election scheduled for November.

According to Agbani people, the council has been bragging that he can use his closeness to the Chief of Staff to the governor to impose his replacement without hindrances.

The people said in a petition to the governor: “Contrary to the clear and unambiguous instructions you gave that there would be no imposition of candidates, what is currently playing out at Agbani ward of Nkanu-West, by virtue of forceful imposition of a candidate by the council official, is gross violation of your directives.”

They alleged that though candidates had since Friday, August 30, 2013, submitted EOI and nomination forms to the party secretariat, the official was bent on having his way by imposing his replacement.

The people also alleged that the official had done nothing tangible for their communities in his four-year stay in office, wondering why he wanted to impose a replacement to continue with his record of non-performance.

They said: “Sir, much as we are not against anyone’s political aspiration, we are saying that the top council official, having failed woefully in his four years in power at Nkanu-West, can not transfer his failure to Agbani by imposing his unknown first cousin on the people of Agbani.

“Agbani should be allowed to elect, select or appoint candidate of their choice. The official in question should leave Agbani to chart their political future by themselves.”