Have Enugu stakeholders voted on zoning yet?

Group challenges claims by Sen Chimaroke Nnamanu (PDP, Enugu East) that Enugu Stakeholders have voted on zoning the 2023 governorship ticket to his district.

The Senator who was former Governor of Enugu State made the claims in a statement he issued and personally signed today.

He dropped the names of former Governors and a former Senate President as those that have agreed to zone the governorship ticket to Nkanu East.

In a swift response, a group calling itself the Enugu Rescue Group wondered who made the Nkanu-born Senator a spokesperson of the leaders he mentioned.

Here are the fireworks released today and sent to Enugu Metro for publication.

Have Enugu stakeholders voted on zoning yet?

‘Yes, We Have Agreed’

Ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election in Enugu state, key political leaders have asserted that the zoning of the plum position to Enugu East senatorial zone is irrevocable.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, old Anambra state governor Jim Nwobodo, former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Senate President Ken NNamani, former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani and his successor Sullivan Chime affirmed that it is the turn of Enugu east to produce the next governor in 2023.

The principle of zoning of key political offices have been sustained in the state since 1999.

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu east zone was the governor of the state from 1999 to 2007, followed by Sullivan Chime from Enugu west zone from 2007 to 2015, while the incumbent governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from 2015 to 2023 is from Enugu north.

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani in a statement in Abuja today  commended the political leaders; Ugwuanyi, Nwobodo, Nwodo, Ken Nnamani and Chime for their independent positions  affirming the zoning principle as well as the turn of Enugu east zone to produce the next governor.

Chimaroke Nnamani reiterated that justice and fairness demanded that the zoning principle be respected by the political players in the state, stressing that ” it  has fostered peace and harmony while giving every zone a sense of belonging”.

He said: “after reviewing the principled stands of the respected elders and statesmen which included four former governors and a former Senate President, I am convinced more than ever before that Gov. Ugwuanyi and the political leaders in the state will be guided by keen sense of history and conscience in picking the next governor of the state from Enugu east zone”.

Sen Nnamani described zoning as a major selling point of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu state, reiterating “it has ensured peace, balance and even development”.

He expressed hope that other political parties including All Progressive Congress (APC) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) will follow suit in upholding zoning and ceding their governorship tickets to Enugu East zone.

The latest position of Enugu elders may have put paid to the governorship ambition of the former deputy President of the Senate, Sen Ike Ekwerenmadu from Enugu west senatorial zone.

• Signed: Senator Chimaroke Nnamani MD, FACOG;
• Sunday 20 February 2022

Have Enugu stakeholders voted on zoning yet?

‘Gang-up politics doesn’t work in Enugu’

A political pressure group, Enugu Rescue Group, ERG, has faulted former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, on his claims that a purported zoning arrangement had knocked former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, off the 2023 Enugu governorship contest, saying there was never a time the people of Enugu State zoned their governorship.

It warned those preparing to bandy a purported zoning document to remember that forgery remained a serious offence under Nigerian laws as such document ever existed in the state.

The group, while describing the purported zoning agreement as fictitious and elites conspiracy to grab power to deny the people of Enugu State quality governance, reminded the former governor, that gang-up politics does not work in Enugu State.

But in a swift reaction on Sunday through its National Coordinator, Hon. Ejike Iloh, ERG wondered when Dr. Nnamani became the spokesperson of former governors and elders of the State.

The group said: “We have observed the reckless utterances and claims of Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani and wonder when he became the spokesperson of all former governors and Enugu political leaders, including those he does not see eye to eye with.

“Nnamani is back in his usual air of arrogance and playing God.

“We make bold to say that by verifiable records on the contests for the governorship of Enugu State since 1998/1999, there is nothing like zoning principle in the state. Power has gone round the three geopolitical zones, but not based on any predefined zoning principle, as Nnamani seeks to sell to unsuspecting Nigerians.

• “Where was the purported zoning principle when himself from Enugu East was sponsored by Senator Jim Nwobodo to snatch the gubernatorial ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Chief Nduka Agu from Enugu West, who was sponsored by another former governor, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo in the 1998, in an epic battle?

• “Where was zoning when Nnamani contested against Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu of the All Peoples Party (APP), who hails from Enugu West in the main election in 1999?

• “Where was zoning during the highly volatile 2003 governorship election that became a straight fight between Nnamani of Enugu East and Ambassador Fidel Ayogu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), who hails from Enugu North?

• “Where was zoning when even Nnamani’s deputy, Dr. Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi from Enugu North contested against Nnamani’s anointed successor, Sullivan Chime, from Enugu West, in the 2007 PDP governorship primary and only lost by a narrow margins?

• “And above all, where was the so-called zoning in 2011 when Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani formed the Peoples Democratic Congress (PDC), fielded Dr. Dan Shere and waged a ferocious political warfare to dislodge the then incumbent governor Chime from Enugu West?”

ERG reminded Nnamani that political gang-up does not work in Enugu State, no matter the potency of the forces behind it.

“We are surprised that Nnamani has forgotten that there was a gang-up against him by virtually all the political heavyweights in Enugu, including Nwobodo, Nwodo, and a majority of the Enugu State House of Assembly, leaving virtually just him, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and a few others standing on one side. We wish to remind him that the gang-up failed as he could neither be impeached nor stopped from his second term.

“Also, a gang-up by Nnamani, Nwodo as the National Chairman of the PDP, and several others to deny Chime a second term in office failed, as God used men of goodwill and principle like Ekweremadu to see Chime through.

“Likewise, the gang-up to stop Ekweremadu in 2015 did not succeed. God saw him through, as he eventually played determinant roles in that election season.

“We therefore wish to remind Nnamani that that same God is still alive to teach people, who take pleasure in playing God, some bitter lessons”, ERG added.

The statement also wondered when Nnamani would champion the zoning of other political offices in Enugu.

• “Why is it good to talk about the zoning of Enugu governorship seat while he, Nnamai, holds fast to the Enugu East senatorial seat for two terms even as he plots to return?

• “When will that seat be zoned to backwaters of Enugu East politics like Nkanu East and Isi Uzo?

• “Why is nobody talking about zoning the Enugu North senatorial seat to Igbo-Eze South in 2023?” they queried.

ERG said that the governorship having gone round the three zones, it was more interested in the best hands emerging the governor of Enugu in 2023, not minding who he or she is or where the candidate comes from.

• Signed: Hon. Ejike Iloh, National Coordinator, ERG;
• Sunday 20 February 2022

Enugu stakeholders voted on zoning yet?

Share this knowledge