Enugu and the build-up to 2023

BY ONAH NWOBETA

Enugu state has stood out as one of the most peaceful and stable states in the country since the return to democracy in 1999.

This rare characteristic is borne out of series of variables that have played out in the politics of the state since the inception of democracy in this dispensation. Aside being run under one political party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the state has also benefitted from an unwritten understanding of the founding fathers that the occupation of the highest office of Governor should be among the three geo-political areas otherwise called the Senatorial zones.

In Enugu the three Senatorial areas include Enugu East, Enugu West and Enugu North. Enugu East started in 1999 with Dr Chimaroke Nnamani who completed the maximum eight-year tenure and handed over to Enugu West with Bar Sullivan Chime who also had no disruption as he completed his eight years’ tenure and handed over to the current incumbent Right Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu North. With his victory in the 2019 general election, Ugwuanyi like others is on the way to completing his statutory eight years.

Because of the peace and stability enjoyed in the state in the past 21 years which is largely attributed to this mutual understanding, most reasonable persons especially leaders of conscience believe very strongly that it would continue. It’s only naturally that what is working well should be encouraged to continue, but is it so in politics.

There are clear two school of thoughts already, those who believe that the state should continue the power rotation in the order it has been going meaning that from the incumbent of Enugu North it should revert to the East who started it in 1999. Most people believe that this is the reasonable thing to do if the state is to continue savoring its peace and harmony.

But the second school of thought believes that in politics things are not that mechanical that having completed the rotation, it can now start from anywhere afresh.

The implication of this second school of thought which may not have been considered by the proponents is that it can even begin with the current holder Enugu North. Given the influence of an incumbent in politics especially in Nigeria, Enugu North therefore stands brighter chance of getting it if it’s declared open.

But will Governor Ugwuanyi cherish this option? Feelers coming out of Gburugburu political family shows that he is not disposed to disrupting the arrangement that has given the state its envied peace and concurred. Meaning that Governor Ugwuanyi might eye handing over to somebody from Enugu East for the second round of the peaceful journey.

Notwithstanding this, there are serious underhand moves to thwart everything by some ambitious politicians who felt that they cannot wait. These people are either driven by inordinate ambition or indulging in self-deceit that their resources will take them to any length they desire.

This is already charging up the state as some of these men embark on recruitment drive preparatory to the contest. Possibly aware that they may not get Governor Ugwuanyi to follow their interests, these ambitious men are trying to follow their own part and go against the existing tradition of the party. They are even feeling that in order to drive through their agenda, the governor need to be run down and so as to position themselves as the true messiah in waiting.

Political watchers in Enugu are already concerned and are psyching themselves up for the worst while praying that the old and existing arrangement continues.
Men of peace are already cursing anybody or group building up trouble in the state as they desire the workable arrangement to continue.

Now political leaders from the East and the West are in each other’s throat over whose turn it would be and are even forgetting that if the old arrangement is disrupted the three zones including the North are eligible.

The People of the North with their command position electorally given that they are virtually 45% of the voting population in the state are sizing up the situation. Aside their number which is a huge advantage the power is presently in their hands and they are hoping that their patience of waiting for 16 years even with their potentials calls for compensation that the second round should starts from them.

The situation is such that if the political leaders of the state are unable to reach a compromise, they might be playing into the hands of the incumbent Governor Ugwuanyi who although disposed to returning to the East would not mind the North if need be.

This is the unfolding political situation in the state as they look ahead 2023. It’s the prayer of good minds that this struggle for power do not distract Governor Ugwuanyi to meet up a number of his lined up projects.

Nwobeta wrote from Lagos.