OJI RIVER URBAN- WHICH ZONE ARE WE?? by Chioma Nnadozie

Permit me to use the Present ZONING FORMULA of equal representation in my cry for attention. In Nigerian politics as well as the component States, political representations are based on zonings; with the sole aim of ensuring equal representations and collaborations in running the government.
Oji River local Government Area is not isolated from this all inclusive arrangement, as the component villages and wards are grouped into three political Zones via A-B-C.  As good as the intention might be, we still have the ironical implications especially in the urban community, who could not understand their political bus stop in the Oji River, Local Government political arrangement.
One might begin to wonder if the political past leaders were predominantly deceived of the fact that the inhabitants of Oji River Urban were all Leprosy, deaf, dumbs and war veterans; which is  far from the truth, as the  Oji  Urban dwellers constitutes a major part of the VOTING powers in the whole local Government Area, considering the presence of Federal Cooperative College Oji River, School of health technology, police training college/quarters, Nigerian medium Prisons quarters Oji River, special school for deaf and dumbs Oji River,   Oji River Leprosy and veteran soldiers settlement camp, the salvation army special rehabilitation Centre for handicapped, and then the teeming OJI RIVER urban indigenes.
In the present zone C where Oji River Urban is gummed to Ugwuoba, all is not well with the urban dwellers, as they are always deemed useful as major voting powers during elections and voting but consistently ignored during political assignment, even in our own Local council, let alone State levels.
Facts on ground show that our marriage to the Ugwuoba Community to form the ZONE C in Oji River is a calculated attempt to make the urban community irrelevant and minority. 
In recent political positions/ appointments, a lot of slots have gone to our sister Ugwuoba, while the OJI RIVER URBAN dwellers are yet to find their political feet/ relevance.

For record purposes, let us re-examine some major political positions that came to OJI RIVER ZONE C.

1
HON. FRANCIS NWANDISON
FED. HOUSE OF REP
UGWUOBA

2
HON. JOHNNY OBIDIMMA
STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
UGWUOBA

3
HON. INNOCENT NWANGWU
LOCAL GOVT. CHAIRMAN
UGWUOBA

4
HON. JOHNNY OBIDIMMA
LOCAL GOVT. CHAIRMAN
UGWUOBA

5
HON. CHIDI IFEANACHOR
VICE CHAIRMAN- L.G
UGWUOBA

6
HON. DARLINGTON OKEKE
VICE CHAIRMAN - LG
UGWUOBA

7
HON. HARRISON OKEKE
VICE CHAIRMAN – LG
UGWUOBA

8
HON. ERNEST NWEZE
CHAIRMAN- DEV. CENTRE
UGWUOBA
OJI SOUTH DEV. CENTRE

9
HON. BASIL NWAOBU
CHAIRMAN- DEV. CENTRE
UGWUOBA
OJI SOUTH DEV. CENTRE
 
Political  appointments

10.
HON.ERNEST NWEZE
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT-GOV
UGWUOBA

11.
BARR. I.K EZENWUKWA
SSA – GOVERNOR
OJI URBAN

12.
PIUS AZOR
OJI  PDP CHAIRMAN
UGWUOBA
8 YEARS

13.
HON. AFAMEFULA
OJI PDP SECRETARY
UGWUOBA

14.
TAGBO NNAMA
SEC. ENSIEC BOARD
UGWUOBA

15.
HON. EZEOMA RAY
UNITED PALM PRODUCE
OJI URBAN


Little wonder, nobody talks about the poor road networks in Oji Urban, nobody is concerned that the industrial road to Federal Cooperative College is in a worst condition. Nobody is concerned to proffer a lasting solution to the series of mass deaths of Oji Urban indigenes as a result of road Accidents. Nobody is reporting on the pitiable condition of our Urban Market. Nobody is concerned that Oji Urban indigenes now pay money to get drinking water from our own Wonderful water.
OJI URBAN dwellers are tired of being grouped as deaf and dumps. We are no more leprous. We are not all handicapped. We are not minority. We should not accept this rejection anymore.  Government of Enugu State should recognize us. We are both politically demographically ripe for political positions and appointments.
We have vibrant youths……
And when it comes to Voting population, we are the highest……..
We can do it better....
YES WE CAN.........................

The OJI URBAN dwellers are wailing, our women are weeping, our youths are worried, and our men are sobering……..

WE ARE TIRED OF BEING SIDELINED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE SAY NO TO POLITICAL USE AND DUMP !!!!!!!!!