By Austin Ogwuda
FORMER Delta State Commissioner for Education (Technical) Joan Onyemaechi, definitely, is no doubt a dogged politician, call her a stormy petrel, you are not far from reality.
Build up to last Saturday’s local government elections in Delta State was accompanied with tension-soaked atmosphere all over the twenty five local government areas comprising Delta State.
First, it was the first major politicking after the 2023 general elections.
Therefore, many political pundits and observers saw it as litmus test.
Litmus test, indeed, for political big wigs in the State to assert themselves over who has the firm grip of one structure or the other, especially among the politicians under the canopy of the ‘Umbrella’.
The tension was severe. The contestations from Aniocha South were at the boiling point followed by protests accusing the female politician cum Evangelist Joan Onyemaechi of allegedly hijacking power by not allowing other clans to benefit or have a say in the local government.
…. Commissioner Joan Onyemaechi resigns
When the heat became unbearable the embattled Joan Onyemaechi in a dramatic turn stylishly announced her resignation during church service at her own Church auditorium.
Hear her, “Praise thy Lord, I just want to put it on record, I came to minister today to you here as a former Commissioner of the Ministry of Technical Education. In my local government, my younger brother is the Council Chairman, he has done one tenure and he is returning for the second tenure and the position is zoned to my clan.
“And there are people agitating and fighting that why am I the one always favoured in government? That I am a Commissioner, why should my brother return as a Council Chairman for a second tenure?
“And when something is zoned to your clan, you have to be very careful. We have three clans. The Nsukwa clan has done their two tenures, Ogwashi-uku clan did her two tenures, so it came to Ubulu clan and incidentally, my younger brother is the Council Chairman.
“And for us to complete our second tenure, they said why should brother and sister occupy two positions and for me I was given the opportunity and privilege to rise politically so I must allow another person to rise as well.
“So, I have decided not because he is my brother because if it were another person I would do the same by resigning for such a person’s interest. And since the position is zoned to our clan and they said because of my own position, my brother will not be allowed to do his second tenure, so I went to my boss, the Governor and appealed to him that I wanted to resign so that my brother can go back to the Council to do his second tenure which is due to my clan.
“So I have resigned as Commissioner to enable my brother to complete his second tenure”, she told the congregation.
Despite her resignation the protest did not abate.
Onyemaechi was a former Member of the Delta State House of Assembly; Member, representing Aniocha Oshimili Federal constituency in the House of Representatives as well as former Director General of the Asaba Capital Territory Agency.
Aggrieved protesters from Nsukwa under the aegis of Concerned Nsukwa Clan Youths mid May this year besieged the Government House main entrance in peaceful protest, insisting that it was the turn of Nsukwa clan to produce the next Council Chairman for Aniocha South.
They came with different placards, some of which read – “Nsukwa Clan is not a political slave”; “Say yes to equity, fairness, justice and balance in Aniocha south”; “Youth of Aniocha South endorse Nsukwa Clan mandate”; “Say no to political impunity, manipulation and oppression in Aniocha South”; “On Equity we stand” and “Nsukwa Clan Council Chairmanship 2024 is non negotiable.“
Others include – “Senator. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa let Aniocha South breathe”, “Say no to family business in Aniocha South”; “Nsukwa Clan deserved the Council Chairmanship and “Nsukwa Clan wants Council Chairman or no deal”.
But she ignored the protests as a seasoned politician, having secured the ears of those that matter, which paid off eventually as the brother, bounced back during last Saturday’s elections.
His Media team acknowledged that it was a long drawn battle fought and won.
According to a statement released shortly after the swearing in ceremony on Monday, the Media team writes thus:
EPILOGUE: JC SWORN IN AS ANIOCHA SOUTH LG COUNCIL CHAIRMAN TODAY
A journey of a thousand miles, as they say ‘begins with a step’. This is the beautiful story of the great positive footsteps of Hon Pastor Jude Chukwunwike as he was sworn in today (Monday) along with 24 others, by the Delta State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori. The deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme witnessed the occasion. The Vice Chairman Patricia Adolue was also sworn in. Dignitaries and members of the PDP State structure led by Chairman Barrister Kingsley Esiso graced the event and the entire apparatus of the State House of Assembly members were very visible.
Hon Pastor Chukwunwike returns to the Aniocha South Local Government Council as a second tenure Chairman. With the 2024 local government election done and dusted, there is no doubt that Aniocha South and Delta State remain the bastions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP respectively.
Our very own capacity, second tenure Chairman Hon Pastor Jude Chukwunwike, “The Man Of Grace” is set to illuminate his domain, Aniocha South with the special Grace of God and divine visitations that will put our Local Government among the Top Greats of the state.
Our Able and Amiable handsome Chairman, the good people of Aniocha South are united in saying, “welcome back in the name of the Lord to continue the good works you started in your first tenure. The celebrations at the Dome Events Center and the Grand Reception in Ubulu-Uku are testimonies of the happy mood of the PDP party faithful, family members and friends of the Chairman and his beautiful wife aptly by his side and waving at the cheering vociferous supporters.
All party leaders, executives and the campaign council members were fully on ground from all the clans. Kudos to Hon Joan Onyemaechi, the mother figure of Aniocha South PDP, who was visibly making sure that item 7 was perfectly executed to the admiration and satisfaction of all.
From: The Media & Publicity Team
Last line: Was last Saturday’s local government elections in Delta State a litmus test.
Find out the answer from what Governor Sheriff Oborevwori said himself. “I have been up since monitoring the process and now I am here to cast my vote and having cast my vote, I am sure that the PDP will be victorious by the grace of God.
“This election is a litmus test for 2027 elections which will show whether we are doing well in line with our MORE Agenda or not. For now, we are not borrowing to execute any project. We are doing our best for Deltans and we will continue to do more in the coming years”, he told journalists shortly after casting his vote last Saturday at Unit 33, Osubi Ward 6 in Okpe Local Government Area of the State.
Photo caption: what a journey come through, at last, after the huge sacrifice of a senior sister!