2023: Enugu West Rally, Onuaguluchi And Serial Losers
By Charly Udeh
With the successful and well-attended Enugu North zonal rally tagged Odinmma Nsukka to Enugu East zonal rally tagged Oganiru Enugu East to the recently organized rally of Enugu West zone tagged Ifeemelumma, it is now clear that Ndi Enugu have unanimously and unequivocally agreed and affirmed that in line with the established and conventional zoning arrangement of Enugu governorship seat among the senatorial zones in the state, it is the turn of the people of Enugu East Senatorial zone to produce Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s successor in 2023.
That is the message now. It is very clear and loud. The people of Enugu state, who are known for their peaceful disposition, politics and power transition and succession have through the organised mega rallies across the Senatorial zones spoken their minds on where Ugwuanyi’s successor will come from in 2023.
There is no doubt that they are majority in number and have the political leadership and followership to see their position through in 2023. This is despite the fact that a particular man who has been part and parcel of decisions making on zoning of governorship seat in the state and greatest beneficiary of party politics and government patronages in the state is doing everything selfishly possible to alter the conventional zoning of governorship seat in the state to the detriment of the people and the peace of the state.
As could be clearly observed, the man is engaging on the 2023 wasted journey through proxies which include hiring of social media e-rats and hirelings to be peddling falsehoods against Governor Ugwuanyi’s government, distorting of facts about political events and government activities in the state.
After several and known failed attempts to desperately scuttle or abort the planned grand rally of the people of Enugu West, his zone which he saw as antithetical to his 2023 guber ambition, the man and his social media e-rats have since embarked on their known and usual social media distortion and propaganda to see if they can discredit the successful outcome of the Ifeemelumma rally just, because it was not in their favour.
In their usual desperation to score cheap political gain and hoodwink the general public, they have been peddling falsehoods on social media platforms that Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi berated Governor Ugwuanyi at rally and lamented marginalisation of the people of his zone Enugu West in the affairs of the state. They have been belabouring on social media platforms to use the statement they fabricated and credited to Chief Hyde Onuaguluchi’s at the rally to discredit the successful outcome of the rally, but to no avail. This is because Ndi Enugu have known their antics and desperations for Enugu governorship seat in 2023 against the wish and position of the majority of Ndi Enugu.
Why the drag of Onuaguluchi’s name to the mud, just to score cheap political gain that is inconsequential? Why? Onuaguluchi has been supportive of Ugwuanyi’s government and leadership style. He has unapologetically expressed it in different fora.
At the 2019 grand rally of door-to-door campaign for Ugwuanyi’s reelection in Udenu, Onuaguluchi, who spoke glowingly of Gov. Ugwuanyi at the event eulogized him for enthroning peace, enabling environment and security in the state, saying that they need to learn from him.
The people of Enugu West Senatorial zone have not and are not complaining of marginalisation in Ugwuanyi’s government, having benefited and still benefiting from Ugwuanyi’s government in many areas.
Those who are being sponsored or sponsoring social media e-rats to pitch the people of Enugu West Senatorial zone against Ugwuanyi’s government and destroy the governorship zoning arrangement hiding under the guise of phantom marginalisation of the zone have failed again.
This is because the people of Enugu West Senatorial District have declared at their rally that it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial District of the state to produce the next governor of Enugu State in 2023, based on the existing rotational arrangement, which was reaffirmed by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, during the State Caucus meeting of the Party in 2013.
The people of Enugu West Senatorial District took the decision during the well-attended solidarity rally tagged: “Ife-Emelumma Enugu West Unity Rally for Gburugburu”, held at Awgu Local Government Area Secretariat, on Saturday.
Speaking at the rally which was graced by Governor Ifeanyi #Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi, State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani, present and former members of the National and State Assemblies, Chairmen of Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, Oji-River and Udi Local Government Areas, Traditional Rulers, the Clergy, among others, the Convener and Chairman of the Central Organising Committee of the rally, Senator Ben Collins Ndu, told Gov. Ugwuanyi that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District have assembled to speak with one voice that the zoning of the governorship seat of the state favours Enugu East Senatorial District.
Senator Ndu who disclosed that the people of Enugu West Senatorial District are 100 percent in support of Gov. Ugwuanyi and his decisions in respect of his successor in 2023, maintained that they firmly stand by the decision of the State Caucus of the PDP in 2013, that the governorship position of Enugu State should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District after the expiration of the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District presently occupied by the governor.
The Convener revealed that he seconded the motion moved by Chief Hon. Dubem Onyia, at the said PDP Caucus meeting of July 7, 2013, that the governorship position of the state should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District in 2015 with an understanding that it should rotate to Enugu East Senatorial District in 2023, after the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District.
Senator Ndu pointed out that the PDP meeting of 2013 was attended by the party leaders such as the then State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, then Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime (from Enugu West Senatorial District), then Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, other members of the National and State Assemblies who were members of the Caucus.
He added it was based on the PDP decision on zoning of the governorship position that Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi from Enugu North Senatorial District emerged the governorship candidate of the party and thereafter the Governor of Enugu State in 2015.
“What we are saying in Enugu West Senatorial District is that in Enugu State, governorship position rotates among the three senatorial districts. You (Ugwuanyi) are a beneficiary of the motion I seconded that the governorship seat should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District. The motion was amended by Dr. Charles Egumgbe that after Enugu North Senatorial District, it would be the turn of Enugu East Senatorial District. The amendment was adopted by the Caucus at that meeting”, Senator Ndu said while displaying the minutes of the meeting.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee therefore reassured Gov. Ugwuanyi that “the entire people of Enugu West Senatorial District are with you”, stressing: “Wherever you go, we go with you…Odikwagi N’ aka.
This position which has the blessings and endorsements of other major stakeholders and leaders from Enugu West Senatorial zone had reaffirmed the popular saying that there is a conventional zoning of governorship seat in the state of which the particular man who is now desperate to alter was a participant. So where lies the integrity and sincerity of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is also a ranking political leader in the state?
Well with the successful conduct of mega rallies across the three Senatorial zones and the unanimity of the position of Ndi Enugu on 2023 governorship seat, it is clear that Ndi Enugu as one people and family have jointly prepared food for Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. He will eat to his fill, but the unfinished food will be staring at him.
Udeh writes from Ogui Enugu.
