In the build-up to the political contest for the Abia State House of Assembly representation for Umuahia Central State Constituency in 2023, the Youths of Afaraukwu Ibeku Community made up of 3 autonomous communities (Okwulaga, Enyiukwu & Isiama) have insisted that power must be ceded to Afaraukwu in tandem with the existing power-sharing arrangement in the constituency.
This call was contained in a communique issued by youths of Afaraukwu Community and made available to OHAFIA TV News, after a well-constituted emergency meeting of the leadership of the respective autonomous communities over the weekend.
Among other contentious issues, the youths maintained that as a peaceful and peace-loving, progressive community, Afaraukwu have been a strong supporter of Abia State Government at all levels and law-abiding as a civil responsibility.
The youths also emphasized that they have been supportive of every contestant, including the present representative of Umuahia Central, most times to the extent of not pushing candidates from their wards because they believed that it was not the turn of Afaraukwu Community in line with the existing power-sharing arrangement.
“In line with the above explanations, and in the spirit of equity and fairness, we wish to state categorically that 2023, is the turn of the Afaraukwu community to produce the next representative of Abia Central State Constituency. And this is non-negotiable.
“That we urge stakeholders to support the bid for an Afaraukwu Son to occupy the seat of Umuahia State Constituency” the communique read in part.
This all important communique was jointly signed by Comr Alozie Irokansi, (President General), Mr Goodluck Nwachukwu (Secretary General), Mr Austine Fred Kelechi (President, Okwulaga Afaraukwu), Mr Chinedu Nwoko (President, Enyiukwu Afaraukwu), and Mr Ikechukwu Egeonu (President, Isiama Afarakwu) on behalf of Afaraukwu Youth Association.
