That Senator Ike Ekweremadu has formerly declared interest to join the 2023 guber race in Enugu State is no longer news.
Indeed, what is in the lips of many people in Enugu and beyond is whether Ekweremadu’s political ambition will alter Enugu State politics as his move seems to have drawn him on a head-on collusion with the incumbent, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Leader of “Ebeano” political dynasty a platform he rode to power in 1999 and has had sway up to this day.
“Ebeano” has the privilege of producing governors for Enugu State since it was founded by Ex-governor Chimaroke Nnamani currently representing Enugu East Senatorial zone for a second time.
It could recalled that the fear of “Ebeano” was the beginning of wisdom throughout the reign of Dr Nnamani as governor as he used it effectively to keep his perceived opponents at bay.
The trio of Senator Jim Nwobodo, ex-president of the senate, Ken Nnamani and Senator Chimaroke Nnamani had since drummed support for Governor Ugwuanyi to choose his successor.
Although Governor Ugwuanyi has not anionted any person formally for the 2023 gubernatorial election, there is general believe that Senator Ekweremadu is not in the list of his preference aspirants.
It is against the speculation that Governor’s choice for the exalted seat may either come from Isi-Uzo local government area or core Nkanu is gaining currency. Core Nkanu land is made up of Nkanu-West, Nkanu-East, Enugu-East and Enugu South local government areas of the state.
Highly favoured persons in anionting cycle as being jerked up by social media are Honourable Chijioke Edoga, Chief Everest Nnaji and Chief Peter Mbah.
While Hon. Edoga, current State Commissioner of Environment hails from Isi Uzo local government while Chief Nnaji and Mbah are from Nkanu East Loca government area.
True to its bidding, Senator Ekweremadu a former deputy president of the senate last Friday, March March 11, ended long speculation of his desire to rule Enugu State in next poltical dispensation when he announced to selected journalists at Western Hotel, Enugu his agenda for the people of Coal City State.
Describing the press conference as a consultative meeting with the media, the Mpu born lawyer cum politician explained that the governoship position will offer him a good platform to serve the state better.
According to him, having served in various capacity starting as a local government Chairman, Chief of Staff, Secretary to State Government, SSG, five-term Senator, three-term Deputy President of the Senate, he has garnered enough experience to transform Enugu State.
His words: “In the course of the journey, I have met world leaders and made friends in both the private and public sectors of the national and global economics.
“I have had the opportunity to understand how States and nations are transformed.”
He recalled how he has initiated and completed many life-changing projects stressing that it’s time to focus on Enugu. If elected Ekweremadu said he will establish at least two industries in each of the 17 Local Government Areas in four years.
He also promised to build Super High Ways from Enugu to Ebonyi, Enugu to Abia, Enugu to Benue, Enugu to Anambra as well as a ring road to connect all the LGA’S in the state.
The Senator said he is poised to to restore pipe borne water to end the perennial problem of water scracity in Enugu.The he said he will do by building dams and rehabilitating existing water sources and pipelines.
Curiously, Senator Ekweremadu denied being a product of zoning arrangement in Enugu state saying “what we need in Enugu is not zoning but the capability to deliver good governance to the people of Enugu state.
Asked where lies equity, justice and fairness if zoning system is truncated and what will they tell the people of Enugu East Senatorial zone, Ekweremadu retoted, “There are three senatorial zones namely; Enugu-East, Enugu North and Enugu West. Enugu East Senatorial zone has produced three civilian governors in persons of Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, Late Christian Chukwuma Onoh, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani. Enugu North Senatorial zone has produced two governors namely Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and the incumbent, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Enugu West senatorial zone has just produced one governor in person of Sullivan Chime.
Senator Ekweremadu then asked retorically, where lies the equity, justice and fairness?
Interestly just after Senator Ekweremadu addressed newsmen in Enugu on Friday, March 11, the people of his local government area, Aninri, on Saturday which was a day after, March 12, pledged their loyalty to Governor Ugwuanyi, appreciating his peace and development initiatives in the state.
The people of Nenwe, in Aninri Local Government Area passed a vote of confidence in Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for his uncommon leadership style, development strides in the state, peaceful disposition, proactive security interventions, political empowerments and educational facilities in the community as well as his approach to governance anchored on fear of God, vision, love, peace, humility and generosity.
The Nenwe people gave the endorsement when they paid a solidarity/Thank-you visit to Ugwuanyi at the Government House, Enugu.
Presenting a communiqué issued by Nenwe Stakeholders after a crucial meeting at Aninri West Development Centre, Nenwe, Air-Vice Marshal Christian Chukwu (Rtd.) informed Gov. Ugwuanyi that the people of Nenwe are happy with him and “are completely loyal to you Your Excellency”.
Chukwu added that they appreciate the governor’s response to security issues in Nenwe and for appointing their sons and daughters into various government positions, disclosing that Ugwuanyi is the first governor to consider their people for elective and appointive positions in the history of the community.
“We sincerely appreciate you for seeing that Nenwe produced her first House of Assembly member in the history of Nenwe town. We are happy with your relationship with our House of Assembly representative, Hon. Okwu Chinedu and all your appointees from Nenwe town. And we hereby hand them over to you as your sons and daughters”.
Appreciating the governor’s interventions in provision of educational facilities in schools in the community, the Nenwe stakeholders comprising Royal Father, all the Presidents General of the four autonomous communities, all village Chairmen and their executives, academicians, Business Moguls, Artisans, Civil Servants, public office holders, Diasporans, among others, said: “We are witnesses to your numerous developmental projects across all parts of Enugu State, especially some forgotten rural communities.
“We appreciate your peaceful nature, kind heart and your firm belief in God as the leader of the state. Having assessed your Excellency’s approach to governance which is anchored on fear of God, love, humility and generosity, we hereby pass a vote of confidence in the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”.
In his speech, the member representing Aninri Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedu Okwu (Otaka), eulogized Gov. Ugwuanyi’s leadership qualities describing him as “the most peaceful Governor in Nigeria” and “an uncommon Governor”.
The lawmaker pointed out that this was the first time his people interfaced with a governor in a large number, adding that “it was made possible because we have an accessible Governor”.
“Your Excellency, we thank you so much for this rare opportunity. We can never take it for granted. We are very happy with you because the hands you use in holding us are the hands that made us to come and tell you that we are in solidarity with you.
“Call us in the morning, call us in the afternoon, you will see us. Call us in the night even in the midnight, Your Excellency, we will be there. We want you to give us a directive and you see us carrying it out immediately to the letter. We want to thank you for the things you have done for us and thank you more for the things you have to do after now.
“Your Excellency, our people are very happy with you. Today we have the rank and file; who-is-who in Nenwe are here today. Even those that are not here with us, they are here spiritually because they are aware that we are here”.
In their separate remarks, the Administrator, Aninri West Development Centre, Hon. Israel Ani and the President General, Agbada Nenwe Town Union and Coordinating Presidents General of Nenwe Town Unions, Comrade Ifeanyi Mbude reiterated the support, solidarity, loyalty and confidence of the people of Nenwe community in Gov. Ugwuanyi and his people-oriented administration.
Comrade Mbude maintained that the governor has done a lot for their people, saying: “Before you came on board as the Executive Governor of Enugu State, we were like people who do not have hope because since the return of democracy, no Nenwe person has gone to the House of Assembly, no Nenwe person has been a Commissioner, no Nenwe person has been a High Court Judge and so many other positions. But when you came on board, Nenwe produced a House of Assembly member for the first time since the return of democracy (Hon. Okwu).
“It is not only him, we also have a High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Nnenna Alukwu, courtesy of you. You did not stop there, you also gave us member of Enugu State Judicial Commission in the person of Mrs. Amaka Alinta Oriaku. We also have a Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mrs, Ada Johnny Nwonye. There are many SSAs, SAs and Liaison Officers”.
Other Nenwe dignitaries at the event include the retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Godwin Nwobodo, HRH Igwe Dr. F.N. Imoh (Ezeudo 1 of Agbada Nenwe), Very Rev. Fr. Innocent Chukwuka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Dr. Mrs. Ada Johnny Nwonye, her Spouse, Chief Johnny Nwonye, Member, Enugu State Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. Amaka Alinta Oriaku, the Academia, Igwe’s Cabinet, other Presidents General of the remaining three Town Unions, among others.
If there is any pressure group that is aggressively advocating a technocrat as successor of the incumbent, it is the Enugu State Citizens Support for Equity and Good Governance (ESCSEG) led by Comrade Emmanuel Onyedonzi Onwe.
The pro-democracy group stated that Enugu State needs in 2023 a tested technocrat, stressing that the man or woman to drive the seat of state should be a tested technocratic/professional with a clear-cut vision of revamping every sector of the economy of the state.
Speaking with News Echo Correspondent, the Comrade Onwe, emphasized that the group would not back any career politician or any candidate that doesn’t have plans to revive the fortunes of the state.
According to him, “career politicians are the problems of this country which our dear state has its own fair share” and that those who have turned politics as their only means of livelihood “must be rejected at all levels of governance come 2023 if our state must continue to make progress”.
Speaking on the current agitation for power shift to Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Onwe stated that the agitation for zoning is traceable to unequal distribution of resources among the component strata that make up a geographical entity.
His word, “In a saner clime, zoning doesn’t make headlines but competency, capability, pedigree and proven integrity. But here, people believe that once a particular area is in charge, greater resources and attention would be channeled towards the development of that area at the detrimental of the rest of the state”.
Onwe however, stated that ESCSEG supports zoning arrangement backed with competency, capacity, proven integrity with a well defined manifesto, adding “We’ll support tested technocratic with a clear-cut vision of developing our state from where Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi would stop”.
“As a matter of fact, we have set our machinery in motion towards shopping for an acceptable candidate for a possible support” he further stated.
Findings revealed that with the unfolding events, the likes of Professors Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji and Barth Nnaji may be the men to beat in gubernatorial poll in Enugu State come 2023 as the entry of Senator Ekweremadu in the gubernatorial race is already changing the face of Enugu politics.
While Professor Barth Nnaji has excelled in robotics engineering, Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji is a distinguished Professor of International Law and Global Politics, a Judge at the ICCMCC, the Hague, Netherlands.
He is a man who has led and still leads in numerous veritable leadership positions both home and abroad.
