Ahead of the local government elections in Delta State, the people of Abavo Kingdom in Ika South Local Government Area have expressed total support for the subsisting rotational arrangement for elective political offices in the área.
The people spoke through the Traditional Ruler of Abavo Kingdom, Uche Irenuma 11 at the end of an enlarged meeting of critical stakeholders comprising youths, Council of Chiefs, political leaders of different political parties and a cross-section of Abavo Community.
Obi Uche Irenuma 11 who is ‘’the17th Paramount Ruler of Abavo kingdom’’ explained that the zoning system has become the tradition of the people of Ika South since the local government was created over 30 years ago.
The Abavo monarch particularly appealed to all political leaders in Ika South to maintain the status quo by adopting the zoning system in the forthcoming local government chairmanship election adding that in line with the zoning arrangement, if an Agbor man goes to the state Assembly, an Abavo person will take charge as Ika South local government chairman and vice versa.
‘’This arrangement has worked perfectly and boosted the political understanding of the people of the area and we feel that the same zoning arrangement should be adopted in the local government election as was the case in the past,’’ said the people.
Obi Uche Irenuma 11 contended that the practice of the age-long tradition of zoning principle between Abavo and Agbor kingdoms that make up Ika south local government area had not only promoted political harmony, peace and development in the area but also gave political impetus to inclusiveness, peaceful coexistence and a sense of belonging to the people.
The Abavo king remarked that in furtherance to the arrangement, the people of Abavo during the 2023 General Elections, mobilized and voted overwhelmingly for the member representing Ika south in the state Assembly and Deputy majority leader, Hon Festus Okoh and urged the people of Agbor to reciprocate the kind gesture by throwing their weight behind the emergence of an Abavo man as the next Chairman of Ika South local government area in the interest of equity and fairness.
Recognizing that all politics is local, Uche Irenuma 11 enjoined the Ika South political leadership to work as a team and shun divisive tendencies and unnecessary pressure even as he admonished them to be guided by the need to advance political stability, peace and development in Ika south local government area.
The Abavo monarch commended Governor Sheriff Oborewori for his development vision aimed at bringing more dividends of democracy to the people and pledged the support and cooperation of Abavo people to the success of his administration.
Obi Uche Irenuma 11 also appreciated former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his landmark achievements in Abavo kingdom and Delta state at large and prayed God to continue to prosper and bless him in his future political endeavours.
