Enugu 2015: Nsukka to produce Chime’s successor ---------------------------------------------------------- As part of this year’s Democracy Day celebration on May 29, Governor Sullivan Chime held a town hall meeting with the citizens of Enugu State at Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, where he fielded questions from almost everybody and gave answers to all the questions posed to him. One of the questions he treated very well was on the issue of which senatorial zones of the state will produce the next governor. In his response, Chime affirmed that his political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has zoned it to Enugu North Senatorial District also referred to as Nsukka zone. Although that was not the first time Chime would declare that Nsukka zone will produce his successor, the May 29 proclamation received more acclamation probably because the 2015 electoral tempo was beginning to build up in Enugu State, especially with the “distraction” of Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President, who is rumoured to be interested in the occupancy of the Lion Building seat of the state governorship. Ekweremadu is said to have preferred to descend from his Abuja Olympian height as the number two man at the Senate, to superintend over the state. Governor Chime had in no less than three occasions, including during his second term campaign in 2011, said that as far as he was concerned, the next governor of Enugu State should come from the Nsukka area. Chime’s assertion is based on an understanding in 1999 that governorship position should rotate among the three senatorial districts of the state. Though people like Senator Ekweremadu, who feel they have gathered enough financial muscle and probably have some Abuja connections, are now trying to challenge that unwritten political understanding, but the fact on the ground, which remains indisputable is that Chimaroke Nnamani, from Enugu East Senatorial District occupied the governorship slot for a two term of eight years. Chime from Enugu West Senatorial District will complete his two terms of eight years by 2015 and naturally the third tripod of the state, being Enugu North senatorial zone, should automatically take over the mantle of leadership in the state. The Enugu State Roots Initiative, ESRI, a political pressure group has commended Governor Chime over his determination to allow Nsukka zone to produce his successor. ESRI in a statement signed by Barrister Joni Icheka (Chairman); Chief Uche Nwegbo (Secretary) and Barrister Emma Nwodo (Treasurer), stated that they were “compelled to commend him (Chime) for this forthright and honest statement which portrayed him once again, as a man of honour and integrity.” According to the group, “for the avoidance of doubts, the governor stated that there was an understanding among Enugu State PDP stakeholders and chieftains that Chime’s successor should come from Enugu North Senatorial Zone, since both Enugu East and Enugu West senatorial zones have taken their turns. “After deliberating on the positive implications of the statement especially coming from no less a person than our number one citizen, Governor Chime, ESRI is compelled to commend him for this forthright and honest statement which portrayed him once again, as a man of honour and integrity.” The group noted that the governor’s position has deflated unnecessary tension and acrimony which would have bugged the Enugu State polity and by implication, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, if any political permutations to the contrary is allowed. Hence, ESRI called on politicians and interest groups in Enugu State to take a cue from Governor Chime by not engaging in any activity that could bring back tension and uncertainty which have been pushed to the back burner since 2007. However, the problem right now is that Governor Chime may not have settled for any particular candidate as his preferred choice, even as different political gladiators from the favoured Nsukka zone court his attention, using different methods of approach. Chime was, however, quoted as saying that he was confused and is praying for God’s intervention to choose an Nsukka man as governor who would not be so clannish as to concentrate his attention on the development of his people and zone alone. But National Mirror gathered that despite the posture of not settling for any candidate yet, Chime may have pencilled down some politicians in the state he would retire with in 2015. According to the story presently making the rounds, Chime was quoted as saying that all those who have been in the corridors of power since 1999 would have to step aside in 2015 for others. This position has however engender fears among those affected by this decision and has culminated in some underground gang up going on now in the state, especially, among some Abuja-based politicians, who have been in power since the beginning of the present democratic dispensation in 1999. Meanwhile, some Nsukka-born politicians are believed to be positioning themselves for the plum job, come 2015. They include but not limited to: Eugene Odoh, Ikeje Asogwa, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Senator Ayogu Eze, Sam Onyishi, Chief Okey Ezea, Okechukwu Itanyi, Peter Okonkwo, Emeka Mamah, and Vita Abbah, among others. Eugene Odoh: He is the speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly; a lawyer by profession. He marked his 40th birthday in November 2012, attracting the crème la crème in Enugu State. It is believed that Odoh used the birthday celebration to test his popularity. He is a third term lawmaker in the House of Assembly and is serving his second term as Speaker of the Assembly. Ikeje Asogwa: He is an estate manager, who has carved a niche for himself in the private sector. He was recruited by Chime as the Managing Director of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation and is responsible for Chime’s successes in the numerous housing estate developments in the state. He is not very conspicuous, but pundits insist that Chime may have his eyes on him as the man for the job. Ifeanyi Ugwanyi: Better known as ‘Gburugburu,’ he has been in the House of Representatives since 2003 and has remained as the chairman of the House Committee on Maritime. He is popular even beyond his Nsukka zone. Ayogu Eze: A veteran journalist, Eze was a former state publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a former commissioner and two term senator and flexible politician hails from Enugu- Ezike, the most populous single community probably in the South-East. Ayogu is working towards clinching the governorship and he is currently the political leader of the Nsukka zone. Sam Onyeishi: He is the Chairman/ CEO of the popular Peace Mass Transit Ltd. He is currently not a member of any political party, but a businessman and philanthropist. He won election into the state House of Assembly for Nsukka West in 1993 but his tenure was aborted by the military. After that foray into politics, he shunned political activities and consolidated on his business. Some people say he may emerge as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, even when he has not identified with any political party. Okey Ezea: Better known as ‘Ideke’, he is a lawyer and a shipping merchant, whose passion to rule Enugu State has made him traversed several political platforms, but right now, he has pitched his tent with the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Twice he contested for governorship and twice he lost to Governor Chime. Okey Itanyi: The former deputy governor to Nnamani was denied the governorship ticket in 2007 by his principal, who gave it to Chime. This time, it is said that it is the Nnamani group that is drumming up support for his candidature. Emeka Mamah: The son of the owner of Ifesinachi Transport Ltd is young and innovative. Chime once appointed him as Adviser on Transport, but he had to leave because, contrary to what he was used to in the private sector, he could not cope with the intrigues and political bureaucracy associated with public service. Political watchers of events in Enugu State believe that the race to Enugu Government House is for the PDP to lose or win, as any wrong choice may give the opposition the opportunity to snatch the state from the grip of the ruling party. It was also the consensus opinion of stakeholders that any attempt to deny the Nsukka zone the opportunity of producing the next governor of the state may spell doom for the PDP at the election.
Posted on: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 15:10:57 +0000
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