Enugu governorship race is gradually gathering momentum. Expectedly, political gladiators and opinion leaders have gone into subterranean moves with a view to reshaping the political landscape of the Coal City State in 2023.
First to break the ice was Ex-governor Chimaroke Nnamani, representing Enugu East Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, when he visited Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at Government House, Enugu, last two years.
During the solidarity visit, Senator Nnamani fused his structure with the one of Governor Ugwuanyi-“Guburugburus” further consolidating the “Ebeano Structure”, a political platform he (Nnamani) used effectively to keep his perceived opponents at bay.
Unfolding events indicate that zoning system among the three Senatorial zones namely; Enugu-East, Enugu-West and Enugu-North has resurfaced in public domain and it will be a strong determinant in gubernatorial pursuit.
Already, the people of Enugu East Senatorial zone have begun playing up the rotational arrangement as they contend that their quest is based on equity, justice and fairness.
Strictly, the phrase equity, justice and fairness depends on the side of the prism one is viewing it from.
While the people of Enugu-East Senatorial District are speaking in unison, the indigenes of Enugu-North Senatorial zone prefer they kick-start the second round as they argued that they had waited patiently at the rear for 16 years before they took their turn. But the people of Enugu-West Senatorial zone seem to be polarized along two fronts on the issue of zoning system.
It could be recalled that the Convener and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee of the Enugu-West Senatorial rally held last year, Senator Ben Collins Ndu, told Governor Ugwuanyi that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District had assembled to speak with one voice that the zoning of the governorship seat of the state favours Enugu East Senatorial District.
Senator Ndu who disclosed that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District are 100 percent in support of Governor Ugwuanyi and his decisions in respect of his successor in 2023, maintained that they firmly stand by the decision of the State caucus of the PDP in 2013, that the governorship position of Enugu State should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District after the expiration of the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District presently occupied by the governor.
The Convener revealed that he seconded the motion moved by Chief Hon. Dubem Onyia, at the said PDP caucus meeting of July 7, 2013, that the governorship position of the state should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District in 2015 with an understanding that it should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District in 2023, after the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District.
Senator Ndu pointed out that the PDP meeting of 2013 was attended by the party leaders such as the then State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Vita Abba, then Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime (from Enugu West Senatorial District), then Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, other members of the National and State Assemblies who were members of the caucus.
He added it was based on the PDP decision on zoning of the governorship position that Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi from Enugu North Senatorial District emerged the governorship candidate of the party and thereafter the Governor of Enugu State in 2015.
“What we are saying in Enugu West Senatorial District is that in Enugu State, governorship position rotates among the three senatorial districts. You (Ugwuanyi) are a beneficiary of the motion I seconded that the governorship seat should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District.
But Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi thinks differently as he told the bewildered audience that “there is no zoning arrangement for the governorship election of Enugu State”
Despite being a key member of the organizing Committee, who even donated two million naira to host the rally, “Odenigbo” as Onuaguluchi is fondly called by his admirers, stunned everyone at the rally when he mounted the podium and challenged all key stakeholders therein present to state the specific details of such an alleged zoning arrangement, that he, himself was not privy to.
Facing Governor Ugwuanyi, Onuaguluchi said, “Your Excellency, 2023, it is the turn of the South East to produce the President and we are asking you to run for President”.
He however urged the Governor not to mind those talking of zoning regarding the Governorship as there had never been such an agreement.
His words: “Dont mind those “after their own pockets” trying to mislead by claiming that there is zoning in Enugu State. It has never been so.
“In 1990/1991,when I contested for Governorship, there was no zoning. In 1999, when Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East, Victor Nduka Agu from Enugu West and Gbazueagu, also from Enugu West contested there was no zoning. In 2003, Hon Fidel Ayogu from Enugu North, Ugochukwu Agballah, Anayo Onwuegbu and Alex Obiechina, all from Enugu West contested against the incumbent, Chimaroke Nnamani, there was no zoning. In 2007, it was Okey Ezea from Enugu North versus Sullivan Chime and Ugochukwu Agballah from Enugu West. In 2011, it was Okey Ezea from Enugu North and the incumbent, Sullivan Chime from Enugu West. It has always been so.
As it is, the numbers of likely aspirants for Enugu 2023 governirship race are already in progressive ratio.
A research by the Coal City Youth Development Initiative pegged the figure of likely aspirants in the state at 26.
Prominent among the aspirants are: Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Professor Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji, Hon. Chijioke Edoga, Chief Chinyaka Ohaa and Peter Mbah.
Interestingly, these front-liners including Nnaji and Ekweremadu are under the umbrella of the PDP.
Inside source said that Ekweremadu who is representing Enugu West Senatorial District at the National Assembly has told Governor Ugwuanyi his intention to succeed him in 2023.
If Ekweremadu’s declaration to the incumbent is true, then the battle line is drawn as the former deputy president of the senate has to contend with the issue of rotational system said to have entered orally by the founding fathers of the State.
As it is, many people believe that Ekweremadu’s political height and many years of experience in the Senate should have been channelled towards realising the Presidency of Southeast extraction rather than his governorship dream which is seen by many as a step that may torpedo the tranquillity of Governorship rotation which has been acquiesced to by all political stakeholders in Enugu.
Indeed, this is not the first time Ekweremadu is being tipped for gubernatorial seat as in 2007, book makers narrowed the flag-bearer of PDP to him before Sullivan Chime who was single-handedly picked by his predecessor, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, eventually won the poll.
Ekweremadu also kicked vehemently in 2015 when Ex-governor Chime zoned the governorship seat to Enugu North senatorial zone.
To pro-Ekweremadu’s acolytes, merit should be used for election of Governor Ugwuanyi successor, insisting that rotational system has not be adhered to ab initio.
To many people in the Coal City, if knowledge is truly “power” as posulated, then Professor Nnaji is the man to beat as he is “powerfully” equipped to take any nation to the echelon of her dream.
A Public Affairs Analyst, Jerry Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi said, “Since it’s practically unwise to argue the pertinence of education and goodwill to human/societal administration and management, then arguing Professor Nnaji’s capacity in this regard is totally uncalled for, not just because he is a guru in political and administrative tenets but because he is a man with very visible admirable traits, a man with conscience and great sense of understanding; visibly evident in his adjudications as a Judge at the ICCMCC, Hague Netherlands.
“Humility and tolerance are virtues he has always held to the brim and of course, I could vouch for that.
“He is also a Professor of International Law and Global Politics. A Professor and Visiting Scholar, University of Kansas Law School, USA. A Merit Award Winner – University of Naples II, Italy. A Vice Chancellorship Candidate – Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) – 2015. A Senatorial Candidate in the 2019 General Elections of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he added.
Will the current clamour for an Enugu governor of Nkanu East Local Government Area extraction by the likes of Senator Jim Nwobodo and Chief Ken Nnamani, a one time president of the senate, sway the chances of Ekweremadu and Professor Nnaji?
Are Isi- Uzo and Enugu North Local Governments not part of Enugu-East Senatorial configuration? If they are, then they should be given the opportunity to produce governor in 2023 as Isi-Uzo local government in particular has not had the privilege to have its son or daughter as governor of the state. Isi-Uzo shares cultural afinnity with both Nsukka and Nkanu people.
Many believe that for equity, justice and fairness to reign, the electorate should decide on two options; either for the gubernatorial seat to be thrown opened or allow the Enugu-North Senatorial zone to produce Ugwuanyi successor.
The President-General of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies of Nigeria, Engr. Chris Okonkwo, while speaking on Enugu politics, suggested that the successor of Governor Ugwuanyi should come from Enugu-East Senatorial zone.
Dr Okonkwo who spoke to newsmen shortly after receiving the executive members of Enugu State Citizens Support for Equity and Good Governance (ESCSEG) led by Comrade Emmanuel Onyedonzi Onwe in his Amurri country home, recently, said emphatically that it was the turn of his Senatorial zone to produce the next governor in 2023.
“Justice, equity and fairness demand that Governor Ugwuanyi successor should come from Enugu-East Senatorial zone”, he added.
Be that as it may, many residents of Enugu metropolis interviewed, opined that if merit becomes the alternative, then it will be a battle of wit between Professor Nnaji and Senator Ekweremadu.
