Bende Traditional Rulers Release 2019 Rotation Agreement, Say Benjamin Kalu Signed Proposal for Two-Term Arrangement

Traditional rulers in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State have released documents detailing a 2019 political rotation agreement between Bende North, known as the Umunna bloc, and Bende South, known as the Ikwu-Isii bloc, over representation in the House of Representatives.

The documents were made public during a meeting of the Bende Council of Traditional Rulers held at its secretariat on Thursday, October 8, and another meeting of the Bende North Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday, October 9, at the palace of the late HRH Eze Sampson Uwaka in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area.

The documents comprise a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Rotation, Equity and Peace, as well as a separate proposal dated February 4, 2019, bearing the signatures of the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, who was identified as Director-General of Kalu’s campaign council at the time.

The proposal outlines a two-term arrangement between the two blocs and contains a commitment that representation would return to Bende North after Bende South had occupied the seat for two terms.
Reading the memorandum at Friday’s meeting, HRH Ebiri Okoro drew attention to its provisions on political rotation, equity, fairness and the duration of representation between the two blocs.

Titled “Bende Federal Constituency Memorandum of Understanding on Political Rotation, Equity and Peace, Effective from the 2019 Electoral Cycle,” the document states that its objective is to establish a peaceful and equitable arrangement for rotating the federal constituency’s seat between Bende North and Bende South.
Article One of the memorandum identifies the agreement’s purpose as promoting the peaceful and equitable rotation of the House of Representatives seat between the two blocs.

The document identifies Bende North, also known as Umunna, as comprising Item, Igbere, Alayi and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu, while Bende South, known as Ikwu-Isii, comprises Bende, Itumbauzo, Umuhu-Ezechi, Ozuitem, Uzuakoli and Umuimenyi/Nkpa.

On the duration of representation, Article Four provides that the bloc occupying the seat would ordinarily be allowed two consecutive four-year terms, subject to the Constitution, electoral laws, party processes and the decision of the electorate.
It further states that, upon completion of the two-term period, “the opportunity rotates to Bende North (Umunna).”

The memorandum also stipulates that “no individual, community, or political party shall treat the seat as a permanent entitlement.”
Beyond the rotation arrangement, the document commits both blocs to resolving disagreements peacefully and rejects violence, threats, communal hostility and other actions capable of creating division. It also calls for equity, fairness, justice, unity and peaceful coexistence.

A second document released by the traditional rulers, titled “Proposal Regarding Representation and Rotational Understanding in Bende Federal Constituency,” is dated February 4, 2019.
The proposal bears the signatures of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, identified as a candidate at the time, and Hon. Emma Trumps Eke, identified as Director-General of Kalu’s campaign council.

In the proposal, Kalu is quoted as stating: “As a son of Ikwu-Isii (Bende South), I wish to place on record my intention to seek the opportunity to represent the constituency in the House of Representatives, while recognising the historical contributions and leadership of our brothers and sisters in Umunna (Bende North).”

The document states that the proposal was based on “the understanding of equitable rotation and mutual respect between the two blocs.”

On the duration of representation, it further states: “Under the proposed arrangement, representation would be allowed to move to Bende South for two terms, after which the opportunity would return to Bende North.”

Speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Abia North Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, said he was among those who signed the agreement and described the release of the documents as vindication.
“I want to say today that I have been vindicated. Those who sponsored touts to say that I lied should go and ask God for forgiveness. I, Eze Uwakwe, stand for the truth; I can never tell lies,” he said.

Eze Ukaegbu maintained that the documents supported the position that it was Bende North’s turn to produce the next representative for Bende Federal Constituency.

“With these documents, it is the turn of Bende North to represent Bende Federal Constituency,” he declared.

In his remarks, His Royal Majesty, Eze Joseph Ukaoha Anyanta, the Enyi Ezeji of Ibinaukwu, said traditional rulers had historically played important roles in maintaining stability within their communities.

Citing the Bible, he noted that kings were entrusted with responsibilities that included ensuring stability and commended Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu for making the documents available.