Chukwu’s controversial adoption Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki Since the adoption of the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Christian Chukwu, as the consensus candidate for the next governorship election in Ebonyi state by stakeholders of Ekumenyi, which comprises of Ebonyi Central and North senatorial zones of the state, there has been mixed reactions from the public. As it stands now, some stakeholders have kept mute and distance themselves in the purported adoption, which observers contended that it may be because they were not properly consulted or the choice of Chukwu did not go down well with them. The adoption, so to speak, has sparked off political rivalry, discontentment, side talks and opposing view of major interest groups, who least expected Chukwu as successor. In the other divide, pro- Chukwu’s group are busy endorsing communiqué in acceptance to his emergence. But one thing that agitates the minds of the people is the caliber of people, said to have endorsed the adoption. Many in the lists of the signatories were not actually seen as the true representatives and decision makers in the state. The major stakeholders, who are supposed to be the arrow head of the adoption, were conspicuously missing in the adoption. Beside, critical stakeholders and genuine leaders of thought were said to have threatened to scuttle the arrangement, for not being consulted before taking the decision. The adoption, however, has balkanized the stakeholders in the state, crippling also into the state leadership of the party, even though what was done had no party interference. But people are insisting that the position of the governor, Chief Martin Elechi, who presided over the meeting of umuekumenyi, where Chukwu was adopted, is a leader of PDP in the state, and by implication, the party has to align itself with the position of the governor. The adoption came on October 6, after Elechi had met with stakeholders of Izzi, Ikwo clans and Ebonyi Central zones to convince down why power should shift to the south. Having insisted on the zoning formular, anchored on Charter of equity, though unwritten, the choice of Elechi’s successor became another bone of contention. Despite the permutation for power shift, contestants from Central and North zones said charter of equity has never be respected and would not be enforce on the people now for Elechi’s interest, rather it should be deliberated after the election, when the people are ready for it. But Elechi, had maintained that it was morally justifiable that the people of the south should produce the next governor. Not deterred by the stiff opposition of rotation, Elechi in a meeting which lasted for many hours in governor’s lodge Abakaliki, which was attended by stakeholders from the area, after comprehensive analysis of the political situation and careful consideration of factors of succession, transition and power rotation resolved that all sons and daughters of Ekumeyi, who are interested in the position of governorship should shelve such ambition in the collective interest of the state. Elechi, according to a source at the meeting was said to have adopted Chukwu, after in-depth search and therefore requested the Minister to make himself available for the governorship position in the 2015 general election as a consensus candidate. The state Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Dr Chike Onwe said that the resolutions were taken in good faith, for and on behalf of the people of Old Abakaliki zone. Onwe noted that part of the resolution reached was that all Abakaliki people should support the power shift arrangement in the interest of peace and mutual co-existence of the various sections of the state. The adoption has overheated the polity with dissenting voices on why Elechi should pick an Afikpo man, who has “no regards” for Abakaliki bloc. Feelers alleged that Chukwu sacked many resident doctors from the bloc when he was the Chief Medical Director of the Former Ebonyi state University Teaching Hospital, now taking over by the Federal Government. This equally goes in tandem with the fear of subjugation by the people of Abakaliki, if Chukwu should emerge as governor. But, a former Senator of Ebonyi Central zone, Dr Emmanuel Onwe, through his group, Ebonyi Equity Forum, EEF, has dismissed the insinuation as baseless and of no effect and equally coordinating other stakeholders from various parts of the state to be part of the adoption project. The forum, EEF, was the first to publicly back Elechi on power shift to the south and equally on a front burner to ensure the emergence of Chukwu as the next governor in the state. In a communiqué signed by the Chairman, Hon. Daniel Ogiji; Secretary, Mr Monday Eze and the Patron, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, which was made available to THISDAY in Abakaliki, the group also pledged to use all the law machinery at its disposal to reach out to all Ebonyians in the hope of convincing them to campaign and work for a shift of the governorship position to the south. The group noted that their concern for the adoption of Chukwu as the consensus candidate was for the need to arrest the unfolding controversy which, if not handled carefully, has ominous implications for the peace and unity of the state. However, many groups have indicated readiness to partner and toe the path of the governor on the choice of Chukwu to succeed him. Apart from radio, Television and newspaper advertisements, interest groups are really rallying round Chukwu for reasons still unknown. Observed noted that the supports were simply necessitated by fear of retrenchment, as there was a suspected threat that any political office holder that opposes the idea would be sacked from office. Stakeholders under Ebonyi South Consultative Forum (ESCF) ESCF in a communiqué issued after their meeting at Afikpo which was signed by stakeholders of the five local government areas in the zone, aligned itself with all efforts to strengthen the unity, solidarity and oneness of the people as envisioned by their Founding fathers. The group thanked the people of Ebonyi North and Central zones for their solidarity and good faith in adopting Chukwu as the consensus candidate. According to them, “in pursuit of the goal of furthering the bonds of brotherhood and accommodation in Ebonyi State, we subscribe to the noble idea of power rotation among the three zones of the State”. “We urge all our brothers and sisters in Ebonyi South Zone to close ranks and support the candidacy of Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to win the election and take Ebonyi State to the next level”. Similarly, a communiqué signed by stakeholders from Ebonyi North zone, made up of four local government areas resolved that the decision of sons and daughters of Ekumenyi to unanimously adopt Chukwu, as the most capable and suitable candidate among the impressive list of contestants for the governorship position, was an inspired decision based on sound judgment and excellent process of elimination. The communiqué, which was read by the member representing Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, Hon. Sylvester Ogbaga noted that the adoption would go a long way in eliminating bitter rivalry, rancor and bad blood amongst the contestants. On their part, Ebonyi Youth Assembly led by Comrade Chinedu Ogah stressed that there was no alternative on the choice already made, assuring that they would pursue the “noble’ cause to logical conclusion. EYA, the security backbone of Elechi’s administration, also identified Chukwu as a great gift to Ebonyi people and it was their rare privilege to offer him the opportunity to serve the state in order to “consolidate and advance the historic foundation that has already been laid by Elechi”. Already, Ebonyi Youth Assembly has kicked off Chukwu’s campaigns in the state with billboards and posters which have flooded the metropolis. Ogah noted that his group has all it will take to ensure victory, as the people are already anxious to deliver Chukwu on the poll. As the endorsement gathers momentum, the people of Okposi Ezinasato in Ohaozara Local government led by the Coordinator of the area, Hon. Magnus Eze met at Enukwa where the stakeholders commended the stakeholders of Abakaliki bloc for the adoption. The stakeholders in a signed communiqué declared that they unanimously align themselves with the endorsement and further pledged to work actively with other Ebonyians to ensure the realization of Chukwu’s aspiration. Chukwu’s support by Okwosi stakeholders was a huge surprise to political watchers as the current deputy Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, who hails from the area, is a major force in the contest. The communiqué read “we are not unaware of the fact that some prominent sons of Okposi in particular and Ohaozara in general had indicated interest in the position of governor, but we believe that the choice of Chukwu being a product of wide consultation with different segments of the state is the best in the larger interest of our people”. However, some categorized ‘pretenders’ in the governorship seat have equally stepped down, barely 24 hours after Chukwu’s adoption. They are Former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry under Dr Sam Egwu’s administration, Mr Ben Akpa and the son to the state Chairman of Traditional Rulers Council, Prince Sam Agom-Eze. The duo tendered their resignation letters to the governor at his office, which they said was for the peace and unity of the state and party, PDP. Their resignations did not move other contestants, who never took their aspirations seriously. Though the state PDP youth leader and National President of Ebonyi Youth Assembly, Ogah disclosed that five other top aspirants would soon stepped them like their colleagues but there was apprehension whether Chukwu will eventually make, owing to his low political popularity in the state. Already, serious and nocturnal meetings have been going on immediately the news of the adoption was leaked to the public with wide jubilation in Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu’s camp that Elechi and PDP have made a wrong choice that would help his aspiration for the governorship position. A source from Nwagu’s camp told THISDAY on telephone that Chukwu’s adoption has rekindled their hope of wining the position in 2015 because, according to him “Chukwu is totally off point”. Analyst argued that Elechi may have settled for Afikpo born Politician to immortalize the late dogged fighter for the creation of the state, Chief Akanu Ibiam, by choosing from the area. Chukwu’s adoption, sources said have fueled opposition and beef up conspiracy and strong alliance from Abakaliki bloc to thwart the choice of the governor, as his candidature was seen as plot to witch-hunt the people of the zone. One of the major stakeholders in the state was said to have been sidelined by Elechi on the choice of his successor without consulting them, which prompted the directives of the National Working Committee of PDP to issue a statement warning all their governors to desist from adopting any consensus candidate. A source mentioned that Elechi’s predecessor, Egwu, national assembly members (past and present), Former Ministers and top national, zonal and state political office holders were not part of the adoption. Consequently, a cross section of stakeholders from six local government areas in the Old Abakaliki political bloc of Ebonyi state has faulted the purported adoption of the Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu as the consensus gubernatorial candidate for the bloc in the state. The leaders described as laughable how a negligible number of the Abakaliki bloc would be led into the government house and presented with the personal choice and opinion of the governor, Chief Martin Elechi as his successor. In a statement signed by stakeholders drawn from the areas, the group warned promoters of purported adoption to desist from polarizing the state along ethnic blocs capable of encouraging marginalization and divisiveness. “This act of brigandage and intimidation has no place under our democratic setting in line with the principles of PDP. The National Working Committee of PDP had warned states to desist from the unwholesome practice of imposition of candidates through disguised consensus and adoption of aspirants which is a negation of the principles of internal democracy in PDP” the statement read. It contended that core stakeholders of the bloc were never consulted or allowed to express their opinion on who becomes the next governor, as only few persons were “commanded into the Government House and later in a radio announcement said they have spoken for the Abakaliki bloc”. The group therefore urged all Ebonyians to discountenance the purported adoption and all distractions of “all those angling to manipulate the process and truncate tenets of democracy in Ebonyi state”. Already, serious and nocturnal meetings were going on yesterday, immediately the news of the adoption was leaked to the public with wide jubilation in Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu’s camp that Elechi and PDP have made a wrong choice that would help his aspiration for the governorship position. To this end, a twist of Chukwu’s adoption had it that, Elechi was not sincere to his undaunted task of power shift to the south, otherwise how would he had nominated a candidate that is still alien to politics and anti-Abakaliki people. The people see his emergence as plot to witch-hunt the bloc. Feelers disclosed that Abakaliki bloc is more disposed to support old Ohaozara for governorship, than dreaming of power shift to core Afikpo bloc. Beside the adoption, the uncommon supports of the people to Umahi’s aspiration are an indication that Elechi’s adoption may not be business as usual for people to be forced into accepting it. Many groups have beckoned on the deputy governor, not to be deterred by the purported adoption, as Abakaliki bloc may prefer old Ohaozara than Afikpo. However, the success of Elechi in this project depends on how he solves his personal aspiration of going to the senate, because Igwe Nwagu’s governorship ambition may play worst game to Elechi’s emergence. Igwe Nwagu is representing Ebonyi Central and chairman senate committee on Police Affairs. He hails from Ezza, the most populous clan in the state, claiming to have been maltreated by Elechi’s administration. If Elechi insists on senate, Igwe Nwagu may pitch tent with Umahi to ensure that Elechi’s candidate fails. Other contestants like former Commissioner for Environment, Engr Paul Okorie stressed that there was no going back on his ambition, as nobody will cow or pressurized him to discontinue his ambition.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 13:11:00 +0000
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