Communities and politicians in Enugu, strategise for key positions in the state and federal level in the run-up to the 2015 general elections. Special Correspondent, OKEY MADUFORO, reports.
With the tenure of Governor Sullivan Chime gradually drawing to an end, there have been efforts at throwing up new set of men and women that would ultimately take the saddle of leadership in Enugu State from 2015.
While the exercise peaks, Enugu people are also taking stock of how the Chime administration has been able to keep to its campaign promises since coming on board in 2007.
This assessment comes on the heels of speculations that the governor is nursing a senatorial ambition for Enugu West District.
While his critics spoil for war against him over the recent impeachment of Sunday Onyebuchi, his erstwhile deputy, his supporters celebrate him over what they describe as the political and administrative strides he has attained since he came into office.
Chime’s toasters
Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, is easily counted among those that credit Chime with focused leadership.
Nnamani had on several occasions toasted Chime’s administration as a departure from the past when, according to him, government was totally disconnected from the people, adding that the achievements of the government are not merely animated and make-believe pictorial of projects that were only earmarked but are “eye-marked”.
Aside the comments by the former Senate president, other admirers of Chime had, in interactions with TheNiche, claimed that his administration has instilled the culture of fiscal discipline and responsibility in the management of public funds and offices, they say this constitutes a major factor in the success of his administration.
Critics
Opposition politicians in the state, however, disagree, accusing the governor and his administration of lacking in vision.
South East spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, for instance, insists that Chime’s administration is as unprogressive as his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming the trend on the culture of high-handedness in the state. Among these instances, he alleged, was the impeachment of the deputy governor.
More support
State PDP chairman, Vita Abba, however put a lie to Okechukwu’s allegation, insisting that Enugu is one of the states in the federation that has successfully conducted four very peaceful and credible local government elections in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013, he thinks that the development strides of the administration remain unequalled in the state.
Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Chukwudi Achife, argued in the same direction. According to him, Chime had developed and encapsulated his vision for the state in the now famous four-point agenda which, essentially, is a road map and programme of action for physical infrastructure, economic expansion and employment, rural development, service delivery and good governance.
“This document, which was printed and widely distributed, was the basis of the governor’s campaign as well as the mandate given to him by the people. It, thus, took the form of an agreement between the governor and people,” he said.
Success story
Chime’s success story, according to his admirers, had been made possible by his team that includes his Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo.
Nwobodo has particularly been described as a staunch ally of the governor who had stood with him in the most trying moment of the administration.
Chime’s critics, however, see her as willing tool by the governor to dislodge and stampede his perceived opponents to submission.
Paradoxically, Nwobodo has always come out gaining more political mileage to her credit and that of the administration.
She is currently said to have eyes on Enugu East senatorial seat in the 2015 general election, though she is yet to make public pronouncement on the permutation.
Zoning
Elsewhere, the wind of zoning, which is fast sweeping across other states in South East, is not skipping Enugu following the insistence of Enugu North Zone (Nsukka) to produce the next governor of the state.
This is said to have pitted Chime against the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, whose supporters are calling upon to go for the plum job.
Chime is also said to be interested in Ekweremadu’s seat in the Senate.
Aside the issue of the senatorial slot between the governor and Ekweremadu, the zoning politics in the state seems more contentious in Chime’s federal constituency of Udi-Ezeagu where there have been claims of marginalisation by some constituents.
The people of Udi North are set to produce the next member of the House of Representatives to replace Ezo Mbachi from the Ezeagu quarter, who has spent two tenures at the National Assembly.
Udi North agitators anchor their campaign on equity and fairness, contending that Udi South has, since the creation of Enugu State and Old Anambra State, occupied most of the elective and appointive positions zoned to the two areas.
Udi North is sub divided into Udi North A, Udi North (B) and Udi North C. The sub zone A is reportedly highly-favoured by this zoning formula.
According to the appointment chart made available to TheNiche, Udi North sub zone C has occupied a total of 16 political offices, both elected and appointed, while sub zone B has occupied a total of nine positions, while sub zone A has had four positions of Special Assistants on Vocational Education and Women Mobilisation. The other two positions are Deputy Chairman of Udi Council Area and member of the House of Assembly.
Zoning and cultural permutations
In apparent bid to wrest power from Udi North zone C, a body known as Odo-Ozor Peoples Assembly is angling to present an aspirant for governorship which the rest of the gladiators are kicking against.
A government appointee, who is also nursing ambition to go to the National Assembly, is reportedly behind the move.
But their opponents have dismissed the moves by the body, contending that the members do not enjoy the mandate of the zone.
According to them, Odo-Ozor Peoples Assembly is nothing but an assemblage of persons that have never secured the mandate of Udi North indigenes to act on their behalf or represent them in any capacity whatsoever.
They add that the association is not properly constituted and does not have equal geographical spread across the communities in Udi North to, at least, attract sympathy or confidence of the people it claims to be acting on behalf of.
Activities of the group, it was further alleged, do not have the collaborative support of the traditional rulers or town union presidents of the communities to, at least, enjoy the benefits of representation and delegated authorities.
This zoning politics in Udi-Ezeagu Federal Constituency is also being replicated in most parts of Enugu where some communities in the old Awgu-Aniri sub zone are contending that they have not produced the governor of the state.
Within Enugu East, Mrs. Nwobodo and Onyebuchi are reportedly entangled in similar tussle.
