Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The race to the “LION BUILDING” the seat of power in Enugu State has become like the race to “Nikki” during the balkanisation of Africa by the colonial masters in the 18th century.
Enugu State has never, in its history since its creation in 1991, been divided as it is today with all divisive tendencies, Religion, Ethnicity, Tribal, Creed, Class, Hatred etc, coming into play.
It is very surprising that today in Enugu State, church denomination has become a criterion to vote for a candidate in a Governorship election.
Ethnic association has become a yardstick to vote in an election to select who governs Enugu State.
The electorate have become so confused that only their God and good conscience can direct them where to vote on Saturday March 11.
Another factor that will influence voting in Enugu State is the overwhelming victory of Labour Party (LP) in the Feb. 25, Presidential/National Assembly Elections in the state.
It is no longer news that many strongholds were broken and many were utterly shattered and destroyed.
Many politicians, who had hitherto been dubbed ‘untouchables’ were pulled down from their high places and their strongholds were taken by fire and by force without any of their imaginations.
This was made possible by the emergence of Mr Peter Obi into the political arena. However, that victory appeared to be an opportunity the people needed to express their anger against those who have held them captive, plundering and sharing their common wealth among friends and cronies, over the years.
That surprise victory opened the eyes of those who had hitherto viewed governance in Enugu State as their Birthright and made them to wake up from their haughty stands.
The failure of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to win his ward at Orba in Udenu Local Government Area and also failing like a park of cards in other areas, was like a Royal Rumble.
The brutal and inhuman murder of the Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party for Enugu East, Oyibo Chukwu, few days to the Feb. 25 election by yet to be identified assailants, had also heightened tension in the state.
The families, friends, party members, community members, sympathisers, his colleagues at the Bar and others have vowed to immortalise him through their votes by voting for his younger brother, Barr. Kelvin Chukwu for senate.
Also some unkind commentaries and outright propaganda by politicians from the different divides have further aggravated the hot political atmosphere in the state.
There have also been reports of gun proliferation in parts of the state preparatory to Saturday’s election. Some of the reports said the security agencies were on the trail of the criminal elements said to have been imported into the state from neighboring states to disrupt the elections.
There were also rumours of plans by the ruling PDP to use officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate the process on Saturday.
Incidentally, all these have heightened tension; increased panic, and ushered in suspense across the 17 local government areas of the state.
Ethnic Dimension:
Since 1999, Enugu State had maintained an unwritten rotational arrangements which started with Sen. Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East (1999-2007), Sullivan Chime Enugu West (2007-2015), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Enugu North (2015-2023).
Having completed the triangle, the position returns to the Enugu East.
However, the Isi Uzo Local Government Area which is non-Nkanu were denied any of the positions including Governorship, Senate and House of Representatives.
Ugwuanyi, who is the Leader of the party (PDP) in the state ceded the three positions to Nkanu ethnic stock, thereby leaving Isi Uzo with nothing.
This action of the governor did not go down well with most people, especially from the Nsukka ethnic nationality who felt sympathy for Isi Uzo.
Therefore, immediately Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, who was allocated second position at the PDP primary, picked form from Labour Party and subsequently emerged its governorship candidate, the whole Nsukka found favour with him and the Labour Party.
This angered the Nkanus who felt that Nsukka is coming from behind to take another short at the Lion Building to the detriment of Nkanu.
This has heightened tension between some Nkanu ethic stock and Nsukka.
That was also the fundamental reason for the failure of Gov. Ugwuanyi on Feb. 25.
As it stands now, all the political elders in Nkanuland are doing everything to ensure the emergence of Peter Mbah of PDP while the Nsukka nation is solidly behind the candidacy of Chijioke Edeoga.
Only recently, a solidarity group for Sen. Ike Ekweremadu from the Greater Awgu, comprising Aninri, Awgu , Ezeagu and Oji River Local government areas pledged their total support for the LP candidate.
This was expected because Ekweremadu was the only person who had been fighting hard to liberate the Enugu West zone from marginalisation by the Nkanu and Udi/Agbaja ethnic bloc.
Interestingly, while Ike remained in British gulag, Edeoga picked Dr John Nwokeabia from Oji River as his running mate.
This gave them a sense of belonging and the hope that Ekweremadu’s long time dream for his people will sooner or later be realised.
The people demonstrated this on Feb. 25 when they voted overwhelmingly for LP candidates and labour won the two Federal seats, Oji River/Aninri Federal Constituency and Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency.
One of the speakers of the group (Oganiru), said during the adoption of Edeoga that it has always been the wish of Ekweremadu that someone from the bloc would one day become governor of Enugu State.
The general mood in town:
The atmosphere is fully and highly charged to the brim.
While some residents of Enugu see the election as an opportunity to take back Enugu, some others see it as a case of Nsukka versus Nkanu, and yet some others say “it’s none of my business.”
Only time shall tell.
