The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has reiterated his administration’s commitment to fight insecurity through the deployment of modern technology, job creation, massive infrastructure, engagement of youths and provisions of social services across the state if elected governor in the March 11, 2023 elections.
Dr. Mbah, who gave this assurance on Thursday at Unadu and Ibagwa-Aka, headquarters of Udeze and Igboeze South West Central Development Centres, in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, at town hall meetings where he interfaced with the stakeholders of the different communities in the area, stated that he had put in place the required apparatuses for the transformation of the state.
The governorship flagbearer maintained that security is at the core of his governance and strategic policy that will make the state envious and attractive to investors.
According to him, modern technology, intelligence gathering, strengthening of community policing, and engagement of youths in productive enterprises will eradicate insecurity across the state, saying that he would leave no stone unturned in harnessing the abundant resources in the area which will create more wealth for the people.
While reacting to the demands of the development centres, Dr. Mbah said new infrastructure, such as road construction that will link communities in the state, functional primary and secondary health care facilities, skills acquisition and vocational training centres, total overhaul of the education curricula and installation of information and communications technology for pedagogical learning are all key to his administration’s development agenda as contained in his manifesto.
Reiterating that the state, under his leadership, will witness unprecedented development that will attract workforce from other states, the governorship hopeful vowed that he would grow the economy seven-fold, open up rural areas for industrialisation and create economic zones that will make the state the food basket of the nation.
“Our industrialisation policy will discourage our youths from migrating outside the country in search of green pastures because we will constructively and productively engage them.
“Agriculture is going to be a profitable business because we’re going to invest massively in the sector such that we will be producing, processing, packaging, marketing, exporting and creating more value chain in the process,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the administrators of the development centres, Hon. Ernest Ayaogu and Hon. James Obiora, chairman of the council area, Hon. Vitus Okechi, member representing the people at the State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Madu, and candidate for Igboeze South/Udenu federal constituency, Engr. Vita Abba, applauded Dr. Mbah for embarking on the impactful town hall meetings initiated to reach out to people in the grassroots, promising to vote for him en masse.
On their part, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Hon. Emma Ugwu, House of Representatives member for the constituency, Rt. Hon. Pat Asadu, Director General, Enugu G 17, Hon. Emeka Ajogwu, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Chief Chuks Ugwuoke assured the gubernatorial flagbearer that their people had already concluded to deliver bloc votes for his electoral victory.
While underscoring that Mbah’s development trajectory would redefine governance in the state, Ajogwu expressed optimism that Udeze and its environment will be liberated from dearth of infrastructure under the next administration, adding that his proposed 10,000 kilometers of roads had brought hope for his people.
Asadu, extolling the uncommon leadership capacity the business mogul is bringing to the state, stated that Dr. Mbah epitomized virtue and success having managed his business to an international status.
“We believe in you and we are audacious that you’re going to work for the state. I can sign for Mbah with my blood. I can vouch for both Mbah and Ossai any time, any day. If I was given the opportunity to pick the next governor of the state, I will pick Dr. Peter Mbah for the job,” he added.
Lending his voice, a ranking stakeholder from the community, Engr. James Ajebo disclosed that the local government had met and agreed to vote for all the PDP candidates across the zone, including the governorship candidate.
He noted that the council has arable lands for agriculture and other raw materials which should be activated to yield exponential revenue, adding that Dr. Mbah should build skills acquisition and vocational training centres to address the issue of restiveness among the youth.
Further dismissing the presence of opposition parties in the area, the oil and gas magnate stated that PDP would sweep the entire development centres, leaving less than five percent votes for the opposition. This, he argued, was possible because of the excellent programmes presented by Dr. Mbah as encapsulated in his statement of purpose.
The Enugu State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Geoffery Uche Nnaji, has highlighted the three challenges bedevilling the growth of the state’s economy, while noting that the state can only break away from the stranglehold of poverty and unemployment through solid collaborative governance with the organized private sector.
Nnaji made these revelations, Friday, November 4, 2022, at the ongoing governorship candidates interaction with the business community organized by the Enugu State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, at the ECCIMA House, Abakaliki road, GRA.
Reeling out the challenges, the governorship candidate identified the first one as the high rate of poverty of about 58% and an underlying poverty mindset, such as the admittance of Enugu state as a civil service state. The others are the deficient levels of industrialization and entrepreneurship, majorly responsible for the state’s high unemployment conditions totalling approximately 53%, with poor governance accounting for low levels of exploitation of our vast natural potentials, particularly in agriculture and agro-driven economic expansion.
Nnaji expressed his “determination to change this sad socioeconomic scenario by prioritizing the following: agriculture and agro-based industrialization, entrepreneurship growth and market access, particularly at the rural level, drastic poverty reduction and massive improvements in youth employment opportunities, highly improved water supply conditions, the revamp of the education and health sectors, sustained road infrastructure expansion and maintenance and an enhanced electricity generation”.
He noted that “if the current government had paid adequate attention to the provision of entrepreneurship-supporting infrastructure, it would have been able to significantly cut down on the high level of poverty and unemployment conditions.
“For instance, capital expenditure as a share of the state’s total budget consistently, albeit regrettably, shrank from 65.6% in 2014 to 31.5% in 2021, while the current expenditure, which used to be 34.4% in 2014, rose to 69% in 2021, making way for fiscal mismanagement and the heightening of poverty and unemployment”.
He vowed that his administration would “create a minimum of 590,000 jobs within four years from 16 sectors.”
Nnaji whose campaign catchphrase is “Enugu shall rise again” noted that the choice of the catchphrase was predicated on the “quality of handshakes with the organized private sector, improved ease of doing business and the sustained stimulation of entrepreneurship and enterprise growth”.
Labour Party was almost nowhere to be seen in the build up to the 2023 political scene before May 27, 2022, when Mr Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State and 2019 PDP Vice Presidential candidate, formally announced his decision to join their fold after exiting the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
Since that move, the rejected stone, arguably, appears to be the rave of the moment.
Such rapid and geometric growth comes with its attendant issues. It would later go on to reveal itself, first, in the Labour Party Presidential race.
At the Asaba, Delta State, presidential primary election, Mr. Pat Utomi stepped down for Mr Peter Obi to emerge as the party’s sole presidential candidate, unbeknownst to them that a then factional presidential candidate, Jude Ezenwafor, would later go on to challenge the emergence of Obi. However, possibly by divine orchestration, Ezenwafor, after a while, willingly withdrew from the LP presidential ticket claims, citing personal grounds and offered an apology for causing discomfort.
As the campaigns for the 2023 elections draw closer and going by the swelling patronage of the Labour Party by, majorly, Nigerian youths and in recent times, Nigerians from all age brackets, the struggle for who clinches the gubernatorial ticket of the party is almost throwing its different state chapters into serious confusion.
In Enugu State, things are not different as two camps lay claims to being the authentic holder of the party’s governorship ticket.
On one hand is the Chijioke Edeoga camp, and on the other hand, the Evarest Nnaji camp.
Both Edeoga and Nnaji were governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party. While Nnaji formally announced his decision to withdraw from the PDP guber primaries in the early hours of May 25, 2022, the day the election was conducted, Edeoga participated, coming second with a total of 9 votes.
Many observers have wondered why the duo of Nnaji and Edeoga are re-launching their guber bid using the Labour Party, especially when both of them congratulated the PDP standard bearer, Peter Mbah, and even asked their supporters to channel their support to Mbah.
But the staunch supporters of the two camps wouldn’t hear of that, with the Edeoga camp claiming irregularities in the state PDP primary elections.
On the scramble for the Labour Party ticket, their supporters who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak, had a lot to reveal.
Evarest Nnaji’s camp
On August 4, 2022, a primary election was conducted and it announced Chijioke Edeoga as the winner and governorship candidate of the party in the state.
Speaking on the legality of the exercise, the campaign organization of Nnaji’s camp, in a publicly issued statement through the Director General, Okey Ezirigwe, wondered why Edeoga should “appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him”. He went on to emphasize that Nnaji fulfilled all the party guidelines and was issued the INEC nomination form by the party.
In his words “The questions Edeoga should answer are, did Nnaji purchase the Labour Party gubernatorial expression of interest and nomination forms or not? Was he given a waiver after he met the party’s conditions for waiver, and did Nnaji fulfill the requirements for becoming the party’s flag-bearer or not? Was Nnaji at any point disqualified from participating in the primaries he fully paid for and met all conditions to emerge the consensus candidate as contained in the party guidelines? How did he (Edeoga) appear as the sole candidate as seen in the amateur videos from the purported primary that produced him and why was the kangaroo primary secretly held in a beer parlour located at the back of his private residence?
“The purported INEC officials who claimed to have observed the fake election did not emanate from Abuja and INEC had since put a disclaimer. The security agents who attended the purported primary election were proven not to have been officially assigned to observe the process and there was no official memo stating that the party had fixed a primary election between the duo of Edeoga and Nnaji. If the party did, there is no way Nnaji would not be present and the venue would not have been in a beer barn located next to the home of Edeoga”, Ezirigwe stated.
Submitting that at first, Edeoga’s preferred interest was to contest for the Senate, Ezirigwe questioned why the outcome of the party stakeholders meeting held in Lagos and led by Prof. Pat Utomi, wherein it was made public that there were two governorship aspirants of the party in the state, wasn’t adhered to.
Chijioke Edeoga’s camp
Reacting to the claims, a key member of Edeoga’s camp who also spoke on anonymity was perplexed as to “why people believe in lies and folktales than truth and sense of reasonability”.
He wondered why Nnaji was raising the issue “after over one month of the conduct of the Labour Party primary election for its gubernatorial candidate for Enugu State”.
He said: “Labour Party conducted its gubernatorial primary election at the largest hall of Top 10 Hotels by SARS office, Golf Estate, Enugu. The place was chosen for strategic security reasons. Again, is it reasonable to hire a stadium for election involving 85 delegates at 5 per Local Government of the 17 LGAs in Enugu state? The hotel is there, whether beer parlour or not, and is verifiable, as our incoming President, Peter Obi will say.
“The primary election was conducted in line with the guidelines of our Labour Party and that of INEC. The election was by open secret balloting under the supervision of the National Leaders of the party led by the National Deputy Chairman, South East, State Party EXCOs, representatives of NLC, TUC and CSOs, including the Press and Security Agencies, and monitored by INEC according to the Electoral Act of 2022. At the end of voting and sorting, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga emerged victorious with 81 votes, and returned elected and announced by the Returning Officer, Asst. National Secretary of Labour Party. Edeoga’s Certificate of Return was subsequently presented to him by the National Chairman of our great party, Abure, at the party’s headquarters at Abuja”.
Asked why Edeoga participated unopposed in the primaries, he said, “Edeoga was elected unopposed because in an election where there is not more than one aspirant, the only aspirant automatically will be elected unopposed. Just like I said before, the Team for the conduct of the election announced to the delegates that Enugu State made their job easier by having only one aspirant in the name of Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga. In this situation, should we have manufactured more aspirants or faked some? There is therefore no truth in sidelining Nnaji as no one builds anything on nothing. Odengene (Nnaji) wasn’t an aspirant. The delegates couldn’t have voted for anyone based on rumours of Odegene’s aspiration for the LP’s Gubernatorial ticket for Enugu State”.
On the claim by Nnaji’s campaign organization that Edeoga first wanted to run for senate, the source said “Edeoga never aspired for anything like senate, except governorship position, which he believes is a better crown to do good and contribute his quota in building a better society in Enugu State devoid of class, state of origin, religion, including practical good governance”.
Twists
While the debate as to who the authentic governorship candidate of the party is continued to rage on, it was alleged that Evarest Nnaji was an agent deployed by Enugu State PDP to destabilize Labour Party, being alarmed and amazed by the wide acceptance of Edeoga’s emergence.
In severally forwarded whatsapp messages shared by Edeoga’s supporters and credited to Comrade Kennedy Iyere, a labour party chieftain and national mobiliser for Peter Obi, it alleged that Nnaji collected 2 billion naira from the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, in order to cause crisis in the determination of who becomes the LP governorship candidate in the state.
However, in a swift reaction, Iyere denied making such allegations. Iyere however said that Nnaji will surely emerge as the Governorship candidate of the party, adding that as it stands now, there was no Governorship candidate of the party in Enugu state which Mr. Chijioke Edeoga has been holding claim to.
Speaking during the “Charity Begins At Home” conference of Labour Party in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, on Saturday, Iyere alleged that three Chieftains from the state were behind the crisis rocking the Labour Party in Enugu state.
Denying the alleged indictment on Nnaji, Iyere said: “Would I have said such a thing? If they say I said such a thing, let them mention one or two persons who belong to that platform.
“There was actually no primary to produce Edeoga. What happened was that after a meeting of key stakeholders in Lagos, it was discovered that Edeoga was not fit to run for the Governorship because Edeoga is a political dependant. He is not grounded politically to fund himself. Edeoga does not have N10 million to even rent an office, he depends on people giving money to him, he doesn’t even have money to take care of the basic things. He lacks financial and moral capabilities, you see the way he hijack rallies organized by others, he can’t organise his own.
“So, in Lagos, we decided there should be another primary election but Capt Evarest Nnaji (Odengene) was deceived out of Enugu without him properly being invited to participate in the primary election after paying all that needed to be paid and filling all the forms. Most people in Labour Party did not know there was a scheduled primary election. The Publicity Secretary of the party in the state didn’t know there was a primary election and he was the one that would have given the notice.
“Nobody’s name is yet with INEC as the Governorship candidate for Labour Party. Evarest Nnaji will be the candidate because another Primary election will be conducted before 17th September and Odengene will win. The matter is in court”, Iyere said.
Way Forward
A public affairs analyst, Orji Ken, who spoke to our correspondent, advised Edeoga, Nnaji and their supporters to thread carefully to avoid a boomerang on the Obidient movement in the state. He cautioned them to hold on till the October 2 date when INEC would publish the final list of governorship candidates in states of the country.
“It is necessary for Chijioke Edeoga and Evarest Nnaji to thread with caution. The PDP is still a strong party in the state and if this squabble continues, it could definitely affect the chances of Peter Obi in Enugu state.
“Why the unnecessary heating up of the polity by both of them? Did they not even congratulate and host the PDP governorship candidate, Peter Mbah to a reception at the end of the primaries and promised to work with him? Why did they renege on that? They should even be worried that this could affect their public view before the electorates. It shows their desperation to be governor, and at any cost.
“While I understand that they both reserve the right to vote and be voted for, they should exercise patience till INEC publishes their own list of candidates for all the positions in the country. Either of them whose name doesn’t make it to the list or feels cheated can then approach the court”.
Highlights of the Media ‘Meet & Greet’ with Enugu PDP Gov Candidate, Mbah & Deputy Gov Candidate, Ossai
…We envision a state that will become one of the top 3 states in the country in terms of GDP
Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship candidate, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah and the Deputy Governorship candidate, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, played host to members of the Enugu On-Air-Personalities and Online Publishers, in quite an interactive meet and greet session, held Monday, July 25, 2022 at The Base Landmark Event Center, Enugu.
Emphasizing that the interaction wasn’t an official unveiling of his campaign manifestos but the first in a series of such interactions which will continue, even when elected as governor, Mr. Mbah asked that the people hold him accountable when elected as governor.
In his words, “We are very pleased to have you honour this invitation. This sort of interaction is necessary for us to get our people informed so that they will know what to get from us as their government.
“The event of May 25, 2022, saw to my emergence as the PDP governorship candidate for the 2023 elections. It’s important that you understand the implications of that for Ndi Enugu.
“If you look at the last seven years, you would have observed an appreciable growth in a number of sectors. We have seen brand new infrastructures across the 3 senatorial zones. We are one of those few states where her workers receive their salaries promptly and fully. We’re also, arguably, the most peaceful and secure state to live in in Nigeria today”.
Harping on governance as a continuum, Mbah stated his willingness to, not minding the existential threat facing the nation, not only maintain the gains and achievements of the PDP government since 1999, but to also build on them.
“Three days ago, the Minister of Finance said that 6.7 trillion will be projected for the payment of subsidies next year. If we spend this amount on payment of subsidies, the rest of our revenue won’t be enough to service our debt. We may go to Abuja by next year and be told that there’s no money. As a government, we cannot come back and tell our people that there is no money to put food on the table.
“Someone with a good head is required to take our state to that point where we can insulate ourselves from the troubles of the federation and harness our natural resources to create wealth and employment. I ask our people to give us the benefit of the doubt because we know we can do this, we understand what we are talking about clearly”, Mbah said.
Here are some highlights of the interaction as curated by our correspondent:
Citizens Charter: We are making it clear that we have a mission to have a quality, people focused governance and to make Enugu state the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism and living.
We will provide and codify a Citizens Charter. It will contain a comprehensive plan of action. When elected, we want our people to hold us accountable on the things we have promised we will do. We hope to foster trust and participation by the citizens in the process of governance through the Charter. Social services like Education, Health, Water, Youth employment will abound in our administration.
Enugu’s Economy: We envision a state that will become one of the top three states in the country in terms of GDP.
We will grow Enugu’s GDP to 30 billion dollars from the current 4.4 billion dollars. We will do this by growing our economy in seven folds. It is neither a walk in the park nor a tea party. It would require an exponential growth, a quantum leap. We will not do this by doing things in a better way, we seek to do things differently. Doing things in a better way will only secure marginal or incremental growth but doing it differently through what we refer to as the disruptive innovation, as we did with my signature brand, Pinnacle Oil & Gas Limited, will amount to an exponential growth.
Strategic Objectives: We have clear strategic objectives. Coincidentally, our strategic objectives are also anchored on the acronym of our party, PDP, which stands for Peace, Development and Prosperity. These 3 items are integrated and mutually reinforced. We will sustain the current peace that we have and build on it. You cannot have sustainable development without peace, and cannot have peace without sustainable development. We will have a 3 pronged approach to the issue of peace and security. There will be 4 core values of our governing principles.
Community Policing: We will be deploying technology in community policing schemes to enhance security.
Oil, Gas and Coal: Enugu is a coastal state, not a land locked state. There is water in the state, there’s also a huge deposit of oil and gas. We have an Oil field jointly owned with Anambra and Kogi. OPL 905, 907and 914 can be accessed in Enugu state and we will explore these to get Enugu to become one of the oil producing states in the country.
We have the very best deposit of coal and our state have already obtained mining rights from the federal government. We will mine the coal and generate funds for the state.
Agriculture: We want to achieve a 0% rate in our poverty headcount index.
Our administration will scale up agricultural production in the state as a part of means to achieve it. Small scale and Large scale agriculture will be encouraged so that we can achieve a Net exportation. Agriculture is our crude oil and we shall attract investors in that sector despite the challenges in the land tenure systems and make sure investors go to the rural areas. We have an ambitious programme for agriculture where the state would be earning up to 10 billion annually.
IT: We will seek advancing Information Technology so that Enugu will be the Data centre of the Southeast. We will do this by enabling a favourable business environment to attract investors and allow the private sector to invest. A business environment that’ll enable Google, Microsoft, Facebook, to locate offices in our state. Our government will be government enabled-private sector driven.
We hope to Implement E-governance and offer quality, people focused governance to take the government to the people through their handheld devices.
Tourism: There will be an Afro Disney, a replica of what is obtainable in the US. We will seek the intervention and partnership of the Ministry of Aviation to resuscitate the International wing of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport which has been unused since construction.
Our Slogan: Growing up, we realize that as students, assignments given to us were always pushed to be done tomorrow. When tomorrow comes, we push it to the next day, delaying things till the last hour, until we are choked up. By saying ‘Tomorrow is here’, it explains that activities will no longer be procrastinated till tomorrow. They will be taken care of now, here, today.
Enugu Guber: Group, Power Shift, endorses Frank Nweke II for governorship race
…vows to mobilize 100,000 voters towards 2023 general election
Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
As the political engines of the country continue to rev up, a political group, Power Shift, with structures in virtually all parts of the country, have thrown their weight behind the Enugu State APGA governorship candidate, Frank Nweke II.
In a statement made available to our Correspondent by the Convener of the group, Nonso Nnamani, he noted that “a Frank Nweke led administration will be filled with a new breed of young persons in government”.
Basing his argument on the antecedents of Nweke, a former Minister for Information in the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency, Nnamani said Frank Nweke will usher in a dramatic improvement in the state if elected as governor.
He went on to vow that the group would mobilize about 100,000 voters for the APGA Governorship standard-bearer towards the 2023 general elections.
The statement reads: “On the 11th of November 2021, Power Shift held a press conference to inaugurate the campaign, #PowerShift2023.
“This campaign was initiated primarily on the need to renew the political class, both in Enugu and nationwide. On the 26th of February, we organized an event for the youths of Enugu, to deliberate on the line of action we will take in order to move our state forward. In that meeting, we declared that the best way for us to ensure the renewal of the current political class is not by running for an electoral post only, but to also identify the best candidates in the various positions and dedicating all our resources to work for them and ensure the emergence of good and credible candidates in the upcoming 2023 general election.
“We have analyzed all the Enugu state gubernatorial candidates, and have come to the conclusion, that amongst all the flag bearers, Hon. Frank Nweke II, is someone we would solidly stand by and recommend to be the next Governor of Enugu State.
He is the candidate representing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Enugu, a two-time Federal Minister in Nigeria and the former Director General, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
“Hon Frank, is an ethical, exemplary and proven leader with over two decades of success in career roles that has traversed the public, private and civic sectors. He has a well-known commitment and dedication for accountability which will promote an atmosphere for transparency and accountability in Enugu state. A Frank Nweke led administration will be filled with a new breed of young persons in government, of this I have no doubt.
“His passion for entrepreneurship and good Investment stands him out for the new system that will stimulate job creation and development in the State. Being a leader with an innovative mindset, Frank’s antecedents proves that he’s someone who will not only promote technological advancement but will also help to invite foreign investment that will help the economic advancement in our dear state.
“Prior to being made the Chief of staff in Enugu state, Frank Nweke was the state coordinator Community County Council (CCC) and it was in this role that he came up with the rural development plan, Poverty Alleviation Initiative in the Chimaroke administration that helped alleviate poverty in the rural communities of Enugu, and we trust that with him in power, there will be an implementation of that scheme on an even larger scale for the people of Enugu State.
“The World has gone digital and here is a government to ensure that Enugu State is not left behind. This will not only include Youths in activities involving the development of the State but also an active engagement and public participation in the transformation of Enugu State. His voice, wisdom, experience, capacity, and articulation is needed for the emergence of the new Enugu State.
“Let’s be Frank, there will be a dramatic improvement in Enugu State with Frank Nweke in power.
“We are choosing to stand with Frank. We are endorsing a candidate with years of proven integrity and capacity. We are making a choice for a new and better Enugu, We are committed to mobilizing 100,000 voters, and we encourage everybody who has the vision of a new and better Enugu to join us and let us make this dream a reality”, he said.
Frank Nweke II will be running against Peter Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party, Geoffery Uche Nnaji of the All Progressives Congress, Chijioke Edeoga of the Labour Party, among others.
Technocracy in Enugu State Governance: Peter Mbah to the rescue (Opinion)
By Chike Anibeze
In the thick and thin of the upcoming party primaries to herald the 2023 elections, the unfolding scenario for the politicians appear to be anchored on the same old order, but the background expectations of the citizenry seem to suggest the opposite.
Representative democracy is important because it gathers the constituent representation of the entire citizenry. However, when representative democracy takes precedence in the functioning of the other power blocks, especially the ‘executive’; it often times creates knowledge gaps in the specific technical areas of function. Technocracy comes in handy to fill the void. There is little doubt that the Nigerian society has gone rudderless in the execution of tasks and clearly devoid of any modicum of technocratic input. Deliberately making wrong choices in fitting candidates for most sensitive positions. Even where the technical depth exists, factors such as sectionalism, religion, clannish instincts and tokenism have not helped matters.
A cursory review of the antecedents of some of the aspirants to the governorship position of Enugu state reveals Peter Mbah as a self-effacing personality with the pedigree to input the required technocracy in the governance of the state. Although, this article is not written to chronicle the flourishing exploits of this urbane entrepreneur and technocrat, a peep into his antecedents will reveal a man with the requisite capacity. Unlike most candidates who are exclusively career politicians whose source of income is the public fund, Peter Mbah is a wealth creator who has demonstrated his ability to engineer an economic progress which is not anchored on public treasury. To mention but one example, He has transform oil and gas from a zero base to number one position in the oil and gas downstream sector through his innovative and creative ideas.
An encounter with him has revealed a man with the thorough grasp of an innovative system that will transform the coal city state. A thorough bred ‘Enugu-boy’ in mind and body, he has traversed with grit and temerity through the public and private sectors emerging with outstanding achievements. His academic sojourn has returned loads of excellent rewards, his drive has seen him conquer the private and public sector with gusto and most importantly he is a gentleman of complete integrity.
Indeed, he is an embodiment of Warren Buffet’s personality to be trusted with a position of leadership possessing sound intelligence, astute drive and above all a person of trusted character. He possesses the gravitas to enact the ideals of good leadership that will engender responsible citizenry.
Enugu state must begin to understand the fact that it is the regional capital of the east and must endeavor to show some elements of true leadership that will provide a regional sanctuary for Nd’Igbo. We are aware that many top artists, Flavour, Phyno etc have constantly espoused their love for the coal city. Same with top business executives who see the state as a favored place of residence. The state must begin to thinker with excellence and harness the benefits therein.
Fair minded pundits are putting their confidence in Peter Mbah based on his antecedents irrespective of the machinations of political iconoclasts. However, the deep seated cynicism for politicians by the citizenry based on past political campaigns and eventual experiences have made the public somewhat circumspect. It is expected.
In all, we must understand that technocratic governance is not the application of abstract, theoretical concepts in governance but the strict observance of procedures in execution of programs. Of course the American philosopher, Edmund Burke was right when he said that ‘One sure sign of an ill-conducted state is the propensity of its rulers to resort to theories’.
I have given this piece not to promote a political aspirant nor to castigate existing structures but rather to draw insight on the need for anchoring on a personality who will use ideas and actions to create a special impact on the formation and development of a unique Enugu polity. In history most great civilizations have emerged from the coherent doctrines gathered from the ideas of their great leaders.
Enugu 2023: Group Endorses Ifeanyi Nwoye for Governor
Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu
As the 2023 primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party draw near, an advocacy group with the mandate of job creation and self employment has called on the good people of Enugu State to elect business inclined leaders, with job creation mandates.
Speaking at a press conference held in Enugu, Friday, the group, Advocacy for Job Creation (AJC), a privately owned, non-profit, decentralized organisation, which is driven to monitor, assess, examine and track job creation, unemployment, under employment, growth dynamics of wages in the country, government performance on employment matters using the statistics of unemployment and the ease of doing business around the country, harped on the importance of electing a party with employment mandates, job creation, and the zeal for training youths on self employment.
They went ahead to identify and endorse Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye, a former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, as their preferred gubernatorial candidate.
They stated that their decision was based on careful consideration of his job creation record, experience, executive capacity, integrity and temperamental balance.
Nnadozie Kanu, an executive of AJC, bemoaned the statistics of the rising unemployment rate in Nigeria. He criticized the inaction and little action of some governments towards unemployment.
“Because of the inaction of the government towards unemployment, the group has taken it upon themselves to speak for the unemployed and cushion the effects of unemployment…” he said.
He also didn’t fail to commend the government of the day in the state on its achievements towards giving skill acquisition trainings through agencies like SME and others.
Continuing, another executive went further to laud Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye as the only candidate, out of all those vying for the top job, who is the highest employer of labour.
“For someone with a record like that, we agree that someone with a proven record of job creation and employment of alot of citizens is the best candidate for this position”, he said.
Part of the press statement read “Once again, we are at the season of intense politicking. Even more intense is the fact that 2023 elections is successive and transitional for Enugu State, and most other states throughout the country.
“Considering the relevance of the office of the Governor as the foremost executive office in the state, and its powers and responsibilities of creating employment opportunities, propelling the condition for better wages, and improving the general well being of citizens of the state, our advocacy partners decided to examine the credentials of gubernatorial aspirants in the major political parties, with focus on their job creating record for people in Enugu State.
“Having examined, and exhaustively deliberated on issues of job creation and overall executive capacity of different gubernatorial aspirants, we have decided to endorse The Revd. Ifeanyi Nwoye as our preferred gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State. Our decision is not a light one, but based on careful consideration of the following:
“Revd. Ifeanyi Nwoye has over time, created not less than 4,000 direct jobs and countless indirect jobs in Enugu State. The Ecumenical College under his leadership, recruits and trains between 300 to 400 people annually, providing direct jobs to graduands, and making people functional members of society.
“Revd. Ifeanyi Nwoye has a fine blend of experience in Private and Public service. He rose through the ranks of Christ Ascension Church Worldwide, to become its number 2 person, administering over 3000 branches of the church around the world, managing his private estate, served as Vice Chairman of Nkanu East Local Government Area, Chairman of Nkanu East LGA and coordinating Chairman of all local governments in Enugu State, Commissioner (Ministry of Environment), Chairman of Enugu State Pilgrims Board, and Deputy Governor. Also, the faith based organization under his leadership, runs Primary and Secondary schools across Enugu State and elsewhere around the world. In all of these, Revd. Ifeanyi Nwoye maintained stability and sense of direction in the discharge of his responsibilities.
“We believe Revd. Nwoye has the capacity to deliver on the mandate. With his educational background in Business Administration in the United States, a blend of his private and public sector experience, and vast international networks, Revd. Nwoye stands tall above other aspirants in the capacity to govern, create jobs, and attract substantial foreign investments to the state.
“We understand that Revd. Ifeanyi Nwoye has the integrity to function as Governor of Enugu State. All through his years in public service, he has never for one day been indicted by watchdog agencies for financial impropriety or misconduct at all. even any
“The Revd. has often shown his capacity to manage and balance competing interests. This is necessary to maintain stability in the state considering the nature of its politics, and to drive growth and development. Moreover, Revd. Nwoye has the temperament to maintain the peace cultivated by the current administration in the State”.
Enugu 2023 Guber Race: Profile of Likely Candidates-Final List
As the race to the Lion Building of Enugu State come 2023 commences, The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine x-rays the profile of the final list of likely contenders from all senatorial zones of Enugu State, having published three previous lists from Enugu East Senatorial Zone alone.
1. Sen. Ike Ekweremadu
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, PhD, CFR, Former Deputy President of the Senate, was born on May 12, 1962, into the family of HRH Igwe Matthias and Madam Esther Ekweremadu. He is from Amachara Mpu, Aninri Local government area of Enugu state.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu attended Community Primary School, Mpu, St. Dominic’s Secondary School, Ugiri Mbano, and later, Boys Secondary School, Umueze, Awkunanaw, where he finished his secondary school education in 1980.
He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degree in Law from the University of Nigeria, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He also holds Doctor of Philosophy degree in Law from the University of Abuja, Nigeria. Senator Ike Ekweremadu has attended courses on Leadership and Negotiations at Oxford University, U.K and Harvard University, U.S.A.
Ike Ekweremadu, also called Ikeoha Ndigbo, at the age of 10 was the President of his age grade. He later became Town Union President of his community, a position he occupied for so many years at the pleasure and insistence of the community.
In 1996, he was the secretary of the movement for the creation of Aninri LGA.
He was elected as the Executive Chairman of Aninri Local Government Council in 1997 and won the Award of the Best Council Chairman in 1997. Ekweremadu was appointed Chief of Staff to the Governor of Enugu state in 1999, making him the first Nigerian to hold such position in any state of the federation and served in that capacity till 2001. He was later appointed as Secretary to Enugu State Government in 2001 and served till 2002.
On April 12, 2003, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate. In 2005, he lost the contest for the Senate Presidency to Senator Ken Nnamani
In 2007, he became the Deputy President of the Nigeria Senate, a position he held for three consecutive terms (2007-2019). Having served as a First Deputy Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, he was also unanimously elected as Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament when it was Nigeria’s turn to occupy the office in 2011.
Presently, Ekweremadu is the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace and a member of the International 7-Member Task force on Coronavirus, set up by the Global Council on Tolerance and Peace. He also chairs the Senate committee on Environment.
Ekweremadu runs a Foundation, Ikeoha foundation, which has supported over 10,000 women to learn how to read and write, providing scholarship and bursary to over 12,000 Students.
Ekweremadu, who has declared to run for Governor of Enugu State, is married to Lady Dr. Nwanneka Ekweremadu, a marriage blessed with children.
Ike Ekweremadu
2. Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor
Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor, a TV personality, Media Entrepreneur, Brand Management expert and an income generation strategist, hails from Amoli in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Tor read Law at the University of Jos, Plateau State. She is the CEO of Accolade Media Co. which was the Event Consultant and Manager for the Enugu State Fiesta by Enugu State Government. Her company, in collaboration with Kogi State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, successfully managed the Kogi State carnival 2013 and successfully managed and concluded the Trade Union Triennial Delegate Conference that played host to over 1,000 delegates and dignitaries at NAF Conference Centre & Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Abuja.
Ginika Tor ventured into politics in 2018 as a member of the of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State. Mrs. Tor contested for the House of Representatives seat and later emerged as the Deputy Governorship Candidate, Enugu State, on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress. She sits on the boards of many companies and is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Chieftaincy title of AdadiOraNma 1 of Amoli.
Hon. Ginika Tor is presently the Honourable Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission, Representing Enugu State, as appointed by His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Amb. Mrs. Ginika Florence Tor is a wife and mother of four lovely children.
Ginika Tor
3. Prof. Bart Nnaji
Professor Bart O. Nnaji is Chairman/CEO, Geometric Power Limited, the first indigenous private sector power company in Nigeria.
He was the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh, and spearheaded the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Center of excellence for E-Design and Robotics. He was Professor of Engineering and Director of Automation and Robotics at the University of Massachusetts, USA.
He served Nigeria as Minister of Power; Minister of Science and Technology; Special Adviser to the President on Power; and Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power.
He has also served as General Chairman of many International conferences including the World Conference on Robotics Research (1991).
His national awards include Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) by Nigeria’s President; and Nigeria National Order of Merit (NNOM) (Nigeria’s highest intellectual merit award); U.S. Secretary of State’s Distinguished Public Service Award; Distinguished Scientist Award by World Bank-IMF Africa Group; Baker Distinguished Research Award (highest research award by the International Institute of Industrial Engineers IIE), amongst others.
He has been awarded honorary Doctorates in Engineering, Science & Technology from 5 universities.
Prof. Bart Nnaji
4. Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga
Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga is a Legal Practitioner and Historian. Born on 15th January 1961, in Plateau state, he is a native of Agbani, in Nkanu West Local government, Enugu state.
He obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in History in 1985 from the University of Nigeria Nsukka. Nwoga enrolled in the University of Ibandan to study Law and acquired his LL.B (Hons.) in 1989. He proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, where he also acquired the BL. He holds a Masters degree in Law, LL.M, from the University of Lagos. He specializes in Labor Law, Corporate Law and Criminal Law.
In 1993, Nwoga joined the Federal Ministry of Justice as a Senior State Counsel. He was elevated and posted to the Federal Ministry of Defense as an Assistant Legal Adviser. Nwoga worked under the Federal Ministry of Communication and also shared his wealth of knowledge in History as a Deputy Legal Adviser with the Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Abuja. After the establishment of National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, he was Head, Monitoring Centre of NAPTIP.
Nwoga spent a few years in the Ministry and was later recruited by the Nigerian Communications Commission where he served as the Head, Licensing documentation Registry (NCC), Abuja.
Between 2005 and 2006, he was appointed a Special Adviser on Legal Matters to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State. He subsequently was appointed the Attorney General of Enugu State from January to May 2007.
Ifeanyi Nwoga is a member of the Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. He finds delight in soccer and playing table tennis. He is a devout Christian and is happily married. The family of over 25years is blessed with four children.
Barr. Ifeanyi Nwoga
5. Barr. George Ogara
Barr. George Tabugbo Ogara was born at Nsukka on the 10th April, 1974 to Late Chief Simeon Ogara and Mrs Euphamia Ovute Ogara, both from Unadu community in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
George had his elementary school at Ireti primary school, Lagos, and his secondary school at Ovoko Boys Secondary School, in Igboeze South LGA.
He studied Law in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State where he graduated with a second class honours degree and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where he graduated with a second class upper division grade and was subsequently called to the Nigerian bar in September 1999.
Ogara founded Law Edge (LEGAL PRACTITIONERS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a partnership that thrives and flourishes till now. George’s practice areas cut across Maritime Claims, Oil and Gas, Environmental Litigation, Community Rights and general claims. He is a household name in environmental litigation in the Niger Delta.
In 2011, he made his debut in politics when he vied to represent his Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency at the Federal House of Representatives under PDP.
Until February 2019 when the Court of Appeal of Nigeria decided otherwise, George Ogara was the Enugu State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 electioneering period.
George is happily married with children.
Barr. George Ogara
6. Sen. Gilbert Nnaji
Senator (Prince) Gilbert Emeka Nnaji is reputed for his profound passion for community development, philanthropy, human capacity building and legacy projects.
He served as a Senator of the Federal Republic between 2011 and 2019 where he was the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications, spanning eight years. He also served as a Member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2011, during which he served as Deputy Majority Leader at first term and Chairman of House Committee on Commerce, in the second session.
Born on July 18, 1966, Gilbert Nnaji hails from Umuenwene, Iji-Nike, Enugu East LGA. He was a 3-term Chairman of Enugu-East Local Government Area of Enugu State, under both the military and the democratic regimes between 1996 and 2003.
Also added to his numerous landmark investments in human capital development in the Enugu East Senatorial District and even beyond, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji facilitated the government’s provision of classroom blocks and several other facilities including, hospitals, rural electrification, roads, water projects, etc.
Senator (Prince) Gilbert Emeka Nnaji is reputed for his profound passion for community development, philanthropy, human capacity building and legacy projects. In appreciation of his tremendous contribution to the development of education, selfless service to humanity and competitive public service credentials, the Godfrey Okoye University in 2015, presented Senator Nnaji with the prestigious Honourary Doctorate Degree in Political Science.
Gil Nnaji is the Chief Executive Officer of Dun-Gee Hotels Limited, Senator (Prince) Gilbert Nnaji is presently in the hospitality business.
A Christian and married with children, he has a bachelor degree in Banking and Finance from University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus.
Sen. Gil Nnaji has formally declared his interest to run for Governor.
Sen. Gilbert Nnaji
7. Prof. Jehu Nnaji
Prof. Jehu Onyekwere Nnaji was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nnaji of Amurri kingdom in Nkanu West LGA of Enugu State.
Jehu attended his primary and secondary schools in Aba, Abia State, and Universities at University of Benin, Benin City, where he obtained Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics, Master’s degree in Business Administration (Marketing Option – MBA), from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and Master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD in Comparative Constitutional Law and Integration Processes from University of Naples II, Italy, among other numerous honors.
Onyekwere is a Judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC), The Hague, Netherlands (2007-date), in collaboration with the International Bar Association, London, UK. He is a Professor and Consultant in Civil and Criminal Matters at the Italian Ministry of Justice and at the High Courts of Naples and Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE), Italy.
Nnaji is a Professor and Conference Convenor/Chair of International Political Science Association (IPSA), Montreal, Canada, a Professor and Scientific Member of Group of Researchers in International Law. He is equally, the Professor and President, Globe Visions Network-A Migration and Integration Organization, not to mention that he is a Visiting Scholar at the School of Law, University of Kansas, USA., a Professor and Research Scholar at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), London (2010-2012) and a Professor of International Law, Politics and Integration, University of Naples II, Italy (2009), and countless other places.
Jehu has earned several honourable awards and is a member of numerous notable professional international organisations.
On the flip side, Professor Nnaji has had a fair participation in the sports and entertainment industries, as he has actively featured in soaps in the 90s. Prof. Jehu was a boxing trainer to Bash Ali – a former African Heavyweight boxing champion and saw to his victory over his Cameroonian counterpart in a fight that took place at the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium Lagos in 1995, and more.
He was a Senatorial Candidate of Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the 2019 General Elections. Prof. Jehu is always easily defined by his strong and refined willingness to work so hard to cause a positive change everywhere he finds himself. He’s a son his people called Nwa eji eme-onu.
Prof. Jehu Onyekwere
8. Pst. Donatus Ozoemena
Pastor Donatus Madubuike Obi Ozoemena was a governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections under the platform of United Democratic Party, UDP.
He hails from Onoli in Awgu local government area and is a United States Based Pastor under God’s Anointed Live Ministries. He has continued to organize football competitions among youths of Awgu local government.
At the end of the 2019 elections, he filed a case at the election tribunal against Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi but later withdrew the petition and went ahead to congratulate and pledge support to the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Ozoemena has declared to run for Governor of Enugu State in 2023 under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA.
Just In: Awkunanaw Traditional Rulers visit Jim Nwobodo; discuss Enugu 2023 Guber Race
As the race for who occupies the exalted position of the Governor of Enugu State in 2023 continue to gather momentum, some Royal Fathers under the auspices of Awkunanaw Traditional Rulers Council, led by the Chairman of the council, HRH Igwe Dan Nnamani, on Tuesday, February 1, paid elder statesman and former Governor of old Anambra State, Sen. Jim Nwobodo (Anyanwụ), a visit in his Amechi home, to discuss issues around the 2023 governorship race, as well as confirm the authenticity of his reported stance by the media.
As the discussions went on, journalists were not allowed to take records of the details of the meeting but at the end, in a press statement titled “My Position on Nkanu East Local Government Remains the Same”, signed by the elder statesman, Sen. Jim Nwobodo, and made available to the press, Jim stated that when a delegation of Traditional Rulers, including some of those in today’s meeting visited him in 2019 to discuss the issue of governorship, he advised that the incumbent governor had just been sworn in for his second term and it was too early to start discussing where his successor would come from and that when the time comes, the people of Nkanu should lobby the Governor and other relevant stakeholders, including the general voting public in Enugu to support an aspirant from Nkanu East.
When asked whether the Traditional Rulers were there to seek his support on the Guber candidacy of candidates from Awkunanaw, he said they didn’t visit him solely to seek his support but to also confirm the authenticity of the media reports on his stance on issues around the governorship race.
Our correspondent tried to get the response of some of the Royal fathers on why they visited Jim Nwobodo and whether they, as a group, were satisfied with the outcome of the visit but it was unsuccessful. However, one of them, HRH Eze Barr. Igwesi Igwesi, Eze Chinawaeze III of Obuoffia, who spoke to some of the journalists on phone said “The meeting was meant to be private but we don’t know how the press came in, although I’m not in support of the meeting being private in view of the issue to be discussed.”
Going further “We came to prove to the world and reassure Jim Nwobodo that he is too big for anyone to toy around with. We traditional rulers have our respect for him. He gave the WAWA man the image he wields today. Personally I am of the belief that If he says that a thing is his opinion, it should be respected. If he stands on Nkanu East, he shouldn’t be lampooned for that” he said.
While some candidates continue to make both open and clandestine declarations of their intention to run for Governor, two sons of Awkunanaw, Rt. Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo from Amechi in Enugu South LG and Sir Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa from Obuoffia in Nkanu West LG are tipped to be Frontline candidates for the governorship race from the Awkunanaw bloc of Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
Enugu 2023: Isi Uzo’s Self-Pity and Attempts to Distort History
By Prince Ejeh Josh
Moments ago, a friend adverted my attention to a certain mind-numbing article written by one Ifeanyi Ogenyi from Isi Uzo local government area with the caption: *Enugu 2023: Give Isi-Uzo A Chance To Occupy The Lion Building; Don’t Treat Them As Politically Displaced People*.
It was interesting reading through the title which had appeared like an appeal to the political conscience of the people of Enugu East Senatorial zone, and indeed, the entire people of Enugu state. I had expected Ogenyi would do justice to the topic by pointing out, with facts and figures, why the people of Isi Uzo deserved the top job, and who is knowledgeable, competent and ably qualified enough from that side to fly the ticket, and move the state forward. There must be a substantial, convincing and realistic evidence laying credence to that.
It’s, however, to my chagrin and that of other feelers that had dedicated their pricey time to run through the lengthy article, that the author had superficially embarked on a voyage of perpetual discovery, wandering in his search to hurl blame game and present the people from the other divide in a bad light. Ogenyi had accused the good and loving people of Enugu East Senatorial zone to the exclusion of Isi-Uzo enclave of “greed” and wanton discrimination in his opening paragraph. From the prefatory lines, one could feel the bitterness and anger bottled up against innocent people who daily mind their usual, legal and constitutionally guaranteed businesses.
The lines read: “Justice has been wounded in Enugu East Senatorial Zone against Isi-Uzo people. How long will justice, equity and fairness in sharing of political positions in Enugu East Senatorial Zone be crucified? How long will Isi-Uzo be marginalized in the zone? The subjugation of Isi-Uzo people in their senatorial zone appears to have left us standing bare, naked and dejected like orphans. Has the gate of justice perpetually closed against my people?” The above was an extract from the author. In his desperate attempt to take recourse to self-pity—a notoriously known destructive vice—and demonise a people who are even more occupied with their own worries in order to browbeat the state into ceding ticket to the council area, the author has brazenly undone himself and did his people no good.
The questions are: How are the people of Isi-Uzo being marginalized? Who is marginalizing the Isi-Uzoars? What is the author’s understanding and definition of justice, equity and fairness? Must the author join the gullible bandwagon of those blowing the false flute of injustice even without understanding the basic tenet of the word? That, it appears to me. The sneaky trick of the author and his bed-fellow alarmists is that, by accusing the other councils of oppression, they would be forced or browbeaten to relegate their interest and allow the people of Isi-Uzo to have the democratically and constitutionally universal right on a platter.
Sadly, as Dale Carnegie would bluntly submit: Feeling sorry for yourself, and your present condition is not only a waste of time and energy but the worst habit you could possibly have. Self-pity has kept many people immobilized to the extent that their future is no different from the past. Whingeing while standing akimbo, expecting people to spoon-feed you is the height of laziness a people could ever entertain. Shelling a bombardment of political campaign of calumny against a peace-loving people would only boomerang, and depict the wailers as unserious and lethargic.
While Mr. Ogenyi dabbled on the Communique recently issued by Enugu East Senatorial Zone on the preservation, defence and continuation of the zoning tradition in Enugu State which has enabled development and political stability in the state, the author had exhibited a mortifying and strange act of suspicion about the people behind the meeting even when he appeared to have concurred with the letters of the resolution. That’s a yet to be reconciled confusion and self-contradiction Mr. Ogenyi has mired himself with. Probably, he needs some help and direction. He needs some lecture too.
It’s on record that the said Enugu East Senatorial zone “Stakeholders’ Meeting” was well attended and had the presence of the major players from the six local councils making up the zone. The questions Ogenyi, then, refused to clarify are: What did he mean by: “Notwithstanding the body languages and political posturing of some of the stakeholders within the senatorial zone?” Whose body languages and political posturing? Who are the stakeholders from the zone with such behavioral incongruities? The shallow submission could have borne out of collective suspicion and propelled through the author to the public. The allegations made by Ogenyi and his sponsors smack of reality, and could have been conceived out of spuriousness. It’s just a conception from the figment of imagination. The people of Nkanu and Enugu East senatorial zone in general are staunch believers in democracy, and will not do anything to pervert anybody, however the minority posture a group or community may be. Level playing ground has always been the core article of faith for the people.
Notwithstanding the above, nobody or group of people will fold their arms and plead with Isi-Uzo people to take what belongs to the people in general. It is time for the pampered bride to wean herself and become mature. In Enugu East senatorial zone, there are three local government areas yet to produce governor—Nkanu East, Enugu East and Isi-Uzo. Statistically, Nkanu East is the lest developed but—most qualified out of the three councils. The reason is crystal-clear: protracted abandonment. So, why are the people of Isi-Uzo crying more than the bereaved?
Interestingly, Ogenyi wrote: “The history and facts about the state of power distribution in the zone are glaringly up there for anyone to see and pass judgment in favour of Isi-Uzo….But more than ever, we are optimistic that there is always an end to every ugly situation faced by a man or a people. The injustices of yesteryears can be rederess (sic) now of which conceding the governorship position to Ndi Isi-Uzo by our brothers from the other parts of the zone by 2023 would naturally soothe our ill-feelings”. Such a comical hypothesis! In terms of power distribution and appointments in the zone, the people of Isi-Uzo have been floating atop most of the other parts. In terms of development in infrastructure, successive administrations have given them a large chunk of the projects meant for the zone. Yet, these people are basking in infamous sense of entitlement. Typical of fulanization attempt of other parts. That’s weird and absolutely unfair. The purported ill-feelings being rigidly nursed is as a result of their inability to take eclectic view of the state of affairs and appreciate that the zone belongs to all.
Each time these set of travelers present distorted facts in a desperate but calculated step to attract sympathy to themselves, I feel ashamed and confounded by their deliberate act of mendacity. That won’t help them, anyway. So, no matter how many times a lie is told, or multiple of times falsehood is propagated, it does not negate the truth to become false. False is false, twist it. According to them, the other councils have been enmeshed with “indiscriminate share of positions in the zone” to their exclusion. Such a brazen audacity of lie.
They could have forgotten that Isi-Uzo once had Hon. Late Senator Isaiah Ani from Isi-Uzo as the representative of the people. Whether he represented the people under the whatever Republic is no issue. He was a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Their attempts to limit their arguments to the Fourth Republic have given them away as co-travellers paddling with lies. It’s an effort to distort history and hoodwink those with a “slanted sense of history”.
They would deceitfully refuse to tell the world that Festus Ugwu from the council area was once appointed a Managing Director, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, or that Hon. Ejike Eze was a Federal Commissioner at the National Population Commission, or that Hon. Chijioke Edeoga was a Presidential Liasion Officer to the National Assembly, or even that His Excellency, Hon. Kingsley Ebenyi has had to serve Nigeria as a super Ambassador to Spain and the Vatican. This is in addition to the many times they’ve been elected to the National Assembly to represent the zone in the Green Chambers. All these gigantic offices were meant for the people from the zone. Yet, their “brothers from the other parts” are not complaining, instead, they have been supportive.
Embarking on a journey induced by self-pity will not do Ogenyi and his cohorts any good. That reminds me the time-tested pronouncement of John Gardner that self-pity is easily the most destructive of non-pharmaceutical narcotics. It’s addictive; gives pleasure and separates the victims from reality. Indulging in the voyage of treadmill instead of the people presenting a viable candidate, capable of matching qualifications and competency with their “brothers from the other parts” will only end in self- annihilation and regrets. We should all be our brothers’ keepers.
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Enugu APC Registers Over 180,000 members, As Party Zones 2023 Guber Ticket To Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu state has zoned its governorship ticket to Enugu East Senatorial Zone. Making the announcement in an event to mark the end of the membership registration and revalidation exercise at the state party Secretariat, the party chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye noted that the party was positioned to occupy the Lion Building of the Enugu State Government House come 2023. He added that the APC is not as confused as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state which according to him, was still struggling with the issue of zoning.
He said, “In 2015, the governorship ticket was zoned to Enugu North and Chief Barrister Okey Ezea ran and later in 2019, Senator Ayogu Eze flew the party’s flag. “In line with the spirit of fair play and equality, APC have zoned its governorship ticket to Enugu East and the 8 years for Enugu East will manifest come 2023.”
He thanked the chairman of Enugu state membership registration and revalidation committee, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, saying that his efforts has united members of the party in the state.
“You met us as a united party and leaving us more united than we’ve been. We have quadrupled the number of our members all to your leadership. You have prepared the party in the state for election. We don’t have any rancour, we’re united in spirit and in pursuit for leadership of Enugu state.”
Senator Zwingina earlier in his address said the party registered one hundred and eighty thousand, two hundred and ninety one members during the registration exercise, with three local government areas of Awgu, Nsukka and Igbo-Eze North taking the first, second and third position, respectively in the exercise.
Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, Hon. Ejike Eze, Retired Custom Comptroller, Chief Tony Mbah, Permanent Commissioner, Bida Polytechnic, Madam Kate Offor, Chairman Alvan Ikoku Polytechnic, Chief Regina Nwamaka Emena, Chairman APC Peace Committee, Ebubeagu Okafor, Former local government chairmanship candidates and other party leaders and supporters were present at the event.
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