Ahead of the 2023 general elections, political tension has heightened in Enugu State following the outright rejection of rotational system of governorship seat by stakeholders from Enugu-West senatorial zone of the state.
Prior to the recent development, there had been claims that it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial to produce successor to the incumbent, (Ifeanyi Ugwuany) who hails from Enugu North Senatorial zone of the state.
Leaders from Enugu East senatorial zone including the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani had recently argued that since the position had gone round the three senatorial zones, it should start afresh from the Enugu East zone.
But rising from the meeting on Wednesday, the people of Enugu West senatorial district said it was their turn to produce the next governor, saying a review of the list of previous occupants of the position showed that Enugu West fell short of other zones, having produced a governor only once.
They also said that they were not aware of any meeting where any form of zoning arrangement was agreed upon by the people of the State.
A communiqué issued after the meeting signed by over 80 stakeholders from the zone, including some serving and former lawmakers reads in parts: “That the stakeholders of Enugu West Senatorial District noted with delight, the good working relationship between our leaders and the Executive Governor of Enugu State His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi.
“The stakeholders noted with keen interest the current healthy debate in Enugu State on the issue of power shift, rotation and zoning as to which Senatorial Zone should produce the next Governor of Enugu State in the 2023 general elections.
“This on-going debate and dialogue in the state gave full expression to the prevailing democratic ecosystem guaranteed by His Excellency’s peaceful disposition in the democratic space in Enugu State.
“The meeting restated that there has never been any known pre-existing or agreed power rotation arrangement hitherto, in whatever form, nature, parameter, precept, convention, written or unwritten with respect to which zone should produce the Governor of Enugu State in recent history.
“The stakeholders noted with regret that Enugu West Senatorial Zone of Enugu State has not been fairly treated on the issue of the position of the Governorship seat of the State.
“Facts and history validated the view that Enugu West Senatorial Zone has been short changed in the allotment of the Governorship position of the State. In view of the foregoing, Enugu North Senatorial Zone has produced Governor two times in the former Governor, His Excellency Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo from Igbo-Etiti L.G.A of Enugu North Senatorial District and the incumbent Governor, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi who hails from Udenu L.G.A in Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
“Enugu East Senatorial Zone has produced Governor three times, in His Excellency Governor Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo who hails from Enugu South L.G.A. in Enugu East Senatorial District, His Excellency Governor Christian Chukwuma Onoh who is from Enugu North L.G.A. in Enugu East Senatorial Zone and His Excellency Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani who is from Nkanu West L.G.A of Enugu East Senatorial District.
However and regrettably, Enugu West Senatorial Zone has just one opportunity to produce Governor in the person of His Excellency, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime from Udi L.G.A of Enugu West Senatorial Zone.
“In the present circumstances, what the Enugu East Senatorial Zone is now asking for essentially is to go for governorship for the fourth time and Enugu North Senatorial Zone has had governorship for only two times while Enugu West Senatorial Zone has produced Governor only one time.
“That we are aware that some of our sons and daughters are allowing themselves to be used to mislead our people. “We expect them to have a rethink and be conscious of the verdict of history when the story of this time will be told, when facts will take precedence over individual wishes and aspirations.
“For our people, who are in government, we understand the circumstances of their present engagement and we believe that they will duly align with our position at the appropriate time.
“Facts and history validated the view that Enugu West Senatorial Zone has been short changed in the allotment of the Governorship position of the State. In view of the foregoing, Enugu North Senatorial Zone has produced Governor two times in the former Governor, His Excellency Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo from Igbo-Etiti L.G.A of Enugu North Senatorial District and the incumbent Governor, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi who hails from Udenu L.G.A in Enugu North Senatorial Zone. Enugu East Senatorial Zone has produced Governor three times, in His Excellency Governor Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo who hails from Enugu South L.G.A. in Enugu East Senatorial District, His Excellency Governor Christian Chukwuma Onoh who is from Enugu North L.G.A. in Enugu East Senatorial Zone and His Excellency Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani who is from Nkanu West L.G.A of Enugu East Senatorial District. However and regrettably, Enugu West Senatorial Zone has just one opportunity to produce Governor in the person of His Excellency, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime from Udi L.G.A of Enugu West Senatorial Zone.”
“Also, it is our expectation that this generation of leaders will live up to its aspirations that the greatest art of leadership is to be a witness to truth.
“Finally, based on these historical narratives, of how Governors were produced in the recent past, in Enugu State, we therefore, request and demand that equity, fairness, balance, justice and good conscience will be served if the rest of the two Senatorial Districts yield to our desire/demand to produce the next Governor of Enugu State come 2023 general elections.
“The meeting unanimously passed an overwhelming vote of confidence on the three National Assembly members from Enugu West Senatorial District for their excellent and qualitative representation and good leadership.”