Isn’t it quite interesting that since noon of November 1, the media reports on the Ward Delegates Congress in Enugu State have been profoundly confusing. Some hold that there were no ward congresses; and these were a couple of minutes before further reports that the Ward Congresses went without hitches, as reported.
Hm! Enugu can be bizzare. Touted as Regional Capital; host to persons and families from across Nigeria. Home to persons, families and groups from across old Eastern Region. Call it a whore of a state. Call it the political capital of the Igbo. But it is a State harbouring the raw Wawa man, of which elements of the present government would snapp their fingers and scream ‘tufiakwa’. But Wawa we are!!! And as can be befuddled as any emerging political culture, it is time to battle and get some heads to roll. Heads have always rolled in Enugu, any way!
By popular political arrangement, the governorship of the State ought to, and should indeed, move up north of the state – the Nsukka axis. There is no doubt that it is quite agreed on. The governor, Mr. Chime, has taken the lead and pre-posted Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, a.k.a Gburugburu, as the guy to savour the tasty stool. Yet, person viewed as close associates of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwdremadu, have declared open interest, suggesting clear refusal to accept Mr. Chime, the governor’s anointing. This had taken the sail from the earlier stalwart position that virtually every leading element is in agreement. So, Ugwuanyi , may not actually be a done deal. I wish and hope he is!
But you would ask, as I am asking: What exactly is now the problem? Some say Ike Ekweremadu is irked by Mr. Chime’s interest in his senatorial seat. And you ask, why not? You would add, if you know; and i concur; Mr. Chime, the aloof, vindictive governor, (who beguiled the people of Enugu State by repeated painting and polishing of urban roads, without as much as a glance to the rural areas) is entitled to his ambition. And Ekweremadu, the treacherous guy who worked with others to ensure the political demise of his boss, Chimaroke Nnamani, cannot run away from the keg of hemlock he administered on his mentor.
Wow! Harsh? I must have sounded. Sorry! Historians take no hostages and they have no resources to keep prisoners of war!
But that is not even the issue now.
The issues are matters for the national front burners:
1. Is it proper for Chime to seek to unseat the same Ekweremadu who made it possible for him to survive the Election Petition Tribunal and general onslaught, immediate of post 2007?
2. Isn’t it deceitful for same Chime, who swore at an Abuja Peace conference in 2009 that he would never take a second look at politics after governorship to turn around for the simple surface pleasure of showing power of a governor in unseating Ekweremadu, who is perceived to have impacted astoundingly on the people of the Zone more than the governor who is from the same political region?
3. Despite Chime having served as governor for eight years, would his entry into the National Assemble compare with the gamut of national and global experience and influence garnered by Ekweremadu (in 12 years of legislative and diplomatic exposure) to warrant unseating a first grade legislator just on the whims of ego?
4. Is it possible for a governor – for eight years – who relied entirely on a certain woman adept at political chicanery as principle of governance, and who has never done a State round tour – either for campaigns or thank you visits – to present a better argument for the PDP than a Senator who has lifted to pleasant art form the practice of grassroots connection and influence?
Of course, there are more questions and these would come from sources, including yours truly, but what is germane at the moment is the viability or otherwise of a full blown war, which I strongly believe would take sub-culture-zone dimensions as the storm gathers. At the present, the formal configuration is that there are three political zones in the State. Yet, I have heard people say that there is a fourth strand: the distinctiveness of Greater Awgu (Awgu, Aninri and Oji River). That is to say that they are of the same senatorial zone with Agbaja (Udi South/Ezeagu) and Odozo (Udi North), they were not represented in the Chime governorship. To some extent, they may be right, but if I take on the issue as a historian, I can prove, with ease, that there are further strands of variation. At least, with my interest in the Unele culture as the spring board of the Aro oracular theo-political flash, the presence of elements of Aninri beholding to Abia and Ebonyi is never lost in my notepad. Relatedly, Udi North, being fringe or peripheral points of the so called Agbaja has had its season of political and economic denials in the hands of Governor Chime, a supposedly kinsman.
But that is not even the issue!
One of the issues is that Mr. Chime is sweating profusely and reasons for his headache are clear. Ekweremadu is spilling his glass of wine, in all nervousness, and his fears are confirmed.
But since I have decided to take up these on the pages of national media, as available to me, I must keep to the tenets of the profession – balance and objectivity. I will pose questions at Chime or his spokesmen, and I will demand audience with Ekweremadu or his nominated representative/s.
But that is not to say that I would let anybody becloud my vast knowledge and experience in politics of Enugu State.
Let’s meet, soon, on the pages of some national dailies in a couple of days – no matter whose ox is gored!
And do not be surprised to hear that Chime has, once again, ordered the destruction of another of my property. His Chief of Staff caused my property to be buldozed in March of last year. Ekweremadu? We wait and see!
Just be on the lookout!
Ogazimorah, a seasoned journalist, was the spokesman of former Governor Chimaroke of Enugu State during his tenure between 1999 and 2007.
