CHIME - STEADYING THE TRIPOD IN ENUGU STATE By Chijioke Ogbodo In 1992, during the Nigerian Third Republic, Dr. Okwesilieze (Okwey) Nwodo, the Governor of then Enugu State in his effort to enthrone equity, justice and fair play in the distribution of public positions and socio-economic infrastructure among the three zones (now Senatorial Districts) in the state, came up with what he called “Triangular Equilibrium”. Although there was no law enacted to back up the policy, he worked very hard to promote this practice of equity among the people and this earned him the fun-name of ‘Governor of Triangular Equilibrium’ among the people of Enugu State and his colleague governors. This attempt at encouraging equity and even distribution of positions and amenities among the component parts was adopted and strengthened by the General Sani Abacha military administration in 1996 through a Decree No.34 of 1996 which established the Federal Character Commission (FCC). This was one of the recommendations of the 1994/95 Constitutional Conference. The commission was further consolidated by provisions 14 and 153 of the 1999 constitution. The Commission was established to give effect to Section 14(3) and (4) of the Constitution: 14(3) “The Composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to effect the federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote National unity, and also command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies’. 14(4) “The composition of the Government of a State, a Local Government council, or any of the agencies of such government or Council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manners as to recognize the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation”. Although it is not specifically stated that the presidency or the governorship position of a state must rotate among component parts, it is more or less a ‘gentleman’s agreement’, but for the constitution to accommodate the above stated provisions among others means that while not subjugating competence to the background, every component part has to be taken into consideration while determining who gets what when and how. This means that for peace and mutual co-existence to prevail, equity in governance should be encouraged. Enugu State like other states in Nigeria rests on a political tripod otherwise, three senatorial districts namely: Enugu East made up of Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East and Nkanu West Local Government Areas; Enugu North comprised of Igbo Etiti, Igboeze North, Igboeze South, Nsukka, Udenu and Uzo-Uwani Local Government Areas; Enugu West with Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, Oji River and Udi Local Government Areas. Leading to the return of civilian rule in 1999, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, Second Republic and the 1st Executive governor of old Anambra State in consultation with other leaders and elders of the state, presented Dr. Chimaroke O. Nnamani to the people Enugu State to contest for governorship. Chimaroke who vied and won the governorship contest on the platform of PDP is from Agbani, Nkanu West Local Govt. Area in Enugu East Senatorial District of Enugu State. He was sworn in on May 29 1999 and successfully ended his second term in office on May 28th 2007. Although Dr. Nnamani did not politicize his respect for (gentleman’s agreement) power shift, he led other stakeholders to support that the state power should move to Enugu West Senatorial District/zone. This understanding threw up the incumbent governor, His Excellency Barr Sullivan I. Chime. Action they say speaks louder than voice, Chime himself is a man of few words but full of action. In 2011 when he was campaigning for his second term, he promised the people of Enugu North (Nsukka) Senatorial District who have not had a shot at governorship of Enugu State (for nearly sixteen years) since the return of democratic rule in 1999, that he would support the shift of reins of power to the zone at the expiration of his second tenure. True to his nature, Governor Chime did not waiver on this promise as this was reiterated in 2013 when he formally assured the whole of Enugu people that Nsukka zone would produce the next governor of the state. This was a cheerful news to Enugu North people whose joy knew no bound as many threw parties in advance. As would be expected, many people from the zone started nursing governorship ambition which is normal and as at the last check it was reported that more than ten people were indicating interest. It is important to observe here that since 1999 this ‘gentleman’s agreement’ has never been respected by non-benefiting zones and this has the tendency of making anyone or group of people who could thwart the arrangement do so. Chimaroke Nnamani was challenged by candidates from other zones and so was the incumbent governor, Sullivan Chime. This could be explained away on the ground of party arrangement, however, it is the beauty of democracy. Goodwill or popularity of candidate/s from the benefiting zone has always guaranteed victory for them, and some confirmed or rejected by a court of competent jurisdiction. To put a seal on his promise to the people of Enugu State in general and Nsukka zone in particular, H. E. Sullivan Chime on September 26 2014 invited all PDP stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District to a meeting to take a decision on who would eventually become the party’s flag bearer at 2015 governorship election. It is a public knowledge that over 100 persons were in attendance including everyone that indicated interest to vie for governorship, no one was left behind in this all inclusive parley. As would be expected in such gathering, emotions were high but at the end of the day, amicable decision was reached. Ugwuanyi – The man in the eye of the storm At the meeting of 26th September 2014, there was no gagging or inhibition as every attendee freely expressed his/her opinion. Everyone who wanted to speak was at liberty to do so and as the meeting progressed, the aspirants started withdrawing for one man. Those who withdrew included Dr. Osita Ogbu former Economic Adviser to President Obasanjo, Evangelist Sam Onyishi (CEO Peace Mass Transit Ltd), Chief Okechikwu Itanyi former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, Engr. Vita Abba state PDP Chairman, Ikeji Asogwa among others. At the end of the day, motion for adoption of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, three time member of House of Representatives as a consensus governorship aspirant was moved by Ambassador Fidel Ayogu and was seconded by Chief Okey Itanyi. No single individual opposed this adoption at the floor of the meeting. This it was gathered was because everyone was satisfied with the choice of Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi whose humility marks him out as a bridge between every interest both within Nsukka zone and the entire Enugu State. Hon. Ugwuanyi is as eminently qualified for the job as others who had nursed same ambition but sometimes, providence plays a bigger role in determining who and what we become, where we are coming from notwithstanding. Enugu East and Enugu West Senatorial Districts have all endorsed him as their consensus aspirant so let all good people of Enugu state support him. A rare feat This process that threw up Hon. Ugwuanyi is somewhat novel. Here you have PDP stakeholders from each of the senatorial districts after due consideration of his qualities, unanimously threw their weight behind him. This is yet to be heard of anywhere else in the country other than impositions here and there. It is kudos to Governor Sullivan Chime for allowing the PDP members/stakeholders in Enugu State to peacefully make their choice. Enugu State had never had it this peaceful. To this end, it will not be surprising if Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the end of the day stands unopposed in February 2015 Governorship election in Enugu State. In the words of Dr. Maxwell Ngene, a public affairs analyst in an online post “Let the people continue to rejoice. Finally the good Lord has heard d cries of Enugu People and a Daniel is finally coming to judgment. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi aka Gburugburu is a workaholic. He is above all, a very compassionate and God fearing man. That is precisely what Enugu needs”. Hopefully, his candidature will be formally ratified by the PDP in Enugu State next month and the voting population will give him their mandate by February 2015. While we wait for these, Please note that this piece is not a campaign material. At the appropriate time, Hon. Ugwuanyi will unveil what he had done and how he intends to build on them for the overall good of Enugu State. Chijioke Ogbodo, a public affairs commentator writes from Enugu Contact – chijiokeogbodo@yahoo
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 18:29:57 +0000
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