The word “Ebeano” which literally means “where we are” in Igbo language was inverted initially as a comic in the political cycle of Enugu State
But as events unfolded, it became obvious that the founder of the platform, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, went beyond joking line as he used it to keep at bay dissenting voices and opponents throughout his eight years reign as a governor.
A mention of Ebeano sent fears to the opposition particularly after the likes of notable politicians such as Chief Jim Nwobodo, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Chief Ken Nnamani went under and had to abandon their home state, Enugu for safety.
Senator Nwobodo, a one-time governor of old Anambra State was instrumental to the emergence of Nnamani as governor in 1999.But he was so frustrated by the fireworks of his “godson” that he had to switch camp to United Nigeria Democratic Party (UNDP) where he contested for the post of president in 2003 and tried to unseat Dr Nnamani with Chief Alex Obiechina as governor of the state.
As a matter of fact, there was great divide between supporters of Nwobodo and loyalists of Nnamani on one hand and Nwobodo’s group and that of Nnamani on the other.
With the tacit support of the then Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s government, Dr Nnamani successfully entrenched Ebeano ideology in a fascist line, had upper hand at the then State house of Assembly with his eight acolytes defeating 16 other lawmakers.
A twist of fate however came when Sullivan Chime who Dr Nnamani installed as governor against all odds just waited to receive the baton of leadership at Government House, Enugu before clipping the wings of his godfather, consequently erasing whatever was left of Ebeano.
The message of Ebeano renunciation by Chime came as a rude shock to the Ebeano family at Nike-Lake Hotel, Enugu during Chime’s maiden speech to the people of the state in 2007 when he bluntly told the august gathering that the era of Ebeano has gone, stressing that it was abnormal to have subgroups in PDP.
Dr Nnamani after handing over power to his preferred successor, Chime, went straight to the Senate to represent his Enugu-East Senatorial District. The ex-governor also faced a series of trials by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure as governor.
Between 2015 and now, the Enugu political landscape has been redefined with less frictions as the new helmsman, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, had shifted the old order of brigandage to politics of all-inclusiveness, carrying everybody along including opponents and friends for peace to reign supreme in the state. Interestingly, one of the greatest beneficiaries of Ugwuanyi’s politics of “Live and let live” is Dr Nnamani who is now enjoying a second term in the Senate.
Perhaps, it is against the backdrop that Senator Nnamani last year took his supporters to crown Governor Ugwuanyi as the new leader of Ebeano political dynasty. The question now is: Will Ebeano under the leadership of Governor Ugwuanyi change the face of Enugu politics in 2023?
Already, subterranean consultations have begun by political office seekers and their backers across the various political parties in the state seeking anointment ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election.
Recently, the bigwigs from Enugu-East Senatorial Zone cutting-across political leanings met at the palace of Igwe Julius Nnaji in Enugu and threw their weight behind zoning of Ugwuany’s successor to their senatorial district. Among the political gladiators were Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, former President of the Senate, Ken Nnamani and current Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Edward Nnaji.
The argument of the Enugu East Senatorial Zone leaders is that it is their turn based on principle of rotation which they insist it is bidding though the agreement was unwritten. According to them, the governorship has gone round the three Senatorial zones that make up the state namely; Enugu-East, Enugu-West and Enugu-North, stressing that it is turn to begin the system.
For the people of Enugu- North Senatorial Zone, their stance s that since the governorship has gone round, by equity, justice and fairness, they should kick-start the rotation for having stayed patiently all these years for their turn.
Speaking at an Nsuakka Unity Rally last year, Senator Utazi said Nwodo could not deliver on his developmental agenda because his mandate was cut short. Commending Governor Ugwuanyi for his milestones, Utazi expressed the hope that zone should be allowed to continue in office to make up for what it lost during Nwodo’s era.
A pressure group from Enugu-North zone under the aegis of Igbo Nsukka United Front led by Chinamere Onyeke further said that the zone would use dialogue and negotiation to convince political stakeholders and residents of the State that second round governorship zoning in 2023 should start from Enugu North zone.
His words: “The first round of the governorship zoning in Enugu State started in 1999 and will end in 2023 and second round will start.“From 1999 to 2007 Enugu East senatorial district produced Dr Chimaraoke Nnamani as governor; Gov Sullivan Chime from Enugu West Senatorial District governed the state from 2007 to 2015.
“Then the present governor of the state, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, from Enugu North Senatorial District started in 2015 and will complete his tenure in 2023. Since Enugu North was the last in the first round one of the governorship zonings it will be unfair for the zone to be the last again in the round two of the zoning that will start from 2023”
Enugu North senatorial district having over 60 per cent of the state population was unfairly treated in 1999 as the governorship rotation could have started from the district since it has the highest population in Enugu State
“Enugu North district producing the governor in the round two of the governorship zoning is the only way to correct the unfair treatment and anomalies of 1999
” INUF will resist any form of marginalization of Nsukka people as well as ensure that the district was not short-changed again in the political equation in Enugu State In 2023. In Enugu West Senatorial Zone, where the former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu hails from, opinions on zoning are divided.
While loyalists to Ekweremadu are mounting pressure on him to contest for the 2023 gubernatorial poll, others think differently, insisting that the rotational system adopted by the founding fathers of the state should not be truncated.
For instance, a group from Enugu West called Enugu West General Assembly (EWGA), had recently pleaded with Governor Ugwaunyi to ensure that the zoning arrangement was not truncated under his watch.
Describing the governor as Enugu State’s equivalent of Mahatma Ghandi, the stakeholders declared: “In keeping with Ghandi’s politics of non-violence and positive action, we look forward to the climax of and unanimously accept and stand with Ugwuanyi’s legacy in keeping faith with the zoning of 2023 governorship slot to Enugu East Senatorial zone.”
In a communiqué entitled: “Enugu State 2023: Separating Enugu West Senatorial Zone and Greater Awgu Cultural Zone: Let The Truth be Told,” the groups regretted the attempt by a prominent politician from Enugu West Senatorial District to breach the zoning arrangement through the artificial delineation of the Senatorial district into cultural zones.
With the arrays of the godfathers on the side of Governor Ugwuanyi, it will be pretty difficult for any person outside the Ebeano political affairs winning the 2023 gubernatorial seat in the Coal City State. After all, all the persons said to be eyeing the governorship are Ebeano extractions from the ruling PDP stable.