Date Published: 08/14/09
Battle for the Soul of Enugu North Senatorial Zone
By Ezugwu Benson Whyte
Ever since Enugu state in the South-East geo-political zone was created by former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Enugu North Senatorial Zone has remained the hotbed of political activities in the state. The zone which has six largely populated Local Councils is arguably, the most beautiful bride for any ambitious political party in the state. The zone is also homogenous due to the socio-cultural and linguistic affinity of the people. It is no wonder therefore that every administration in the state always take cognizance of these factors in the governance of the state.
The immediate past governor of the state, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani was once said to have described the people of the zone as, ‘sectional and tribalistic’ due to the level of oneness and unity of purpose of the people. The former governor did everything to woo the Nsukka people to his side but some of his anti-people policies left him completely ostracized by the zone. The people vowed never to have anything to do with that administration for the eight years it lasted.
However, events have since changed and a new regime is now in place with some convincing attitudinal changes. And as humans, the people of the zone are not left behind in this giant stride by he new administration to rebuild the ancient capital of the defunct eastern region of Nigeria. They want to forget the past and tap from the abundance of the present. But as the people surge forward to breeze the new air of freedom, a new power block is beginning to emerge and becoming thicker by the day. With the emergence of the new order. there is also a surreptitious attempt to counter this new political order by some interested parties, in what political analysts see as a battle of who controls the political machinery in the zone come 2011 and beyond..
Facts of what may emerge in 2011 or later began to emerge recently, precisely on Saturday, 1 st Aug. 2009, after the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ parley with the Executive Governor of the state, Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, at the Old Government Lodge Enugu.
The parley which centred on the party’s preparation for the forthcoming local councils poll slated for December 5, 2009, had in attendance all the who is who in the party in the state, including the old and the new, except two former governors of the state, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo and Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo.
Those in attendance were, the state chairman of the party Engr. Vita Abbah, Senator Ayogu Eze, representing Enugu North, all the serving commissioners in the state, national members from the state, all the state house of assembly members, all the party’s ward executives in the state, all local government Chairmen, Councilors and elders and leaders of the party in the state.
At the end of the parley all the party’s bigwigs from Enugu North senatorial zone trooped to the Enugu residence of the adjudged political leader of the zone, Senator Ayogu Eze. In the senators abode were all the National Assembly members from the zone, state Assembly members, all commissioners, all the local council chairmen, and all the elders and leaders of the party from the zone.
While addressing the gathering of about fifty party members from the zone on the way forward, the senator spoke as the undisputed political leader of the zone, highlighting several problems plaguing the Nsukka nation, after which several of those who spoke acknowledged the dire need by elected representatives from the zone to move closer to the grassroots
Meanwhile, unsubstantiated reports have been making the rounds that the state chairman of the party Engr. Vita Abbah has been uncomfortable with the towering political image of the senator in the zone. Reports even went further to suggest that the Aba based electrical Engineer turned politician was largely instrumental to the return of the erstwhile National Secretary of the party Dr. Okwy Nwodo back into the party with the view to downplaying senator Ayogu’s ever growing influence in the zone.
At the end of the meeting in sen. Ayogu’s residence, the Aba millionaire was said to have been furious about the large number of people that attended the parley that day, such that the following day, Sunday 3 rd August, he called a caucus meeting in his Edeobara residence as a counter to the one convened by senator Eze.
Several political analysts are however of the view that there is no reason for friction as there is a gulf between the two.
Barrister Mbadiwe Odo, while commenting on the situation said that, there is no need for fighting on who leads the zone; “Actually, I don’t see the reason for anyone to try to outwit another over who controls Nsukka political zone. Politically, Ayogu is the senator representing the entire people of the zone, irrespective of political cleavages. He represents the entire population, including the oppositions as well as non-politicians. In this case he has an edge over Engr. Abbah who only controls the party (PDP) in the state”.
Emeka Ezugwu was more succinct in his submission, he said that, Ayogu represents the new generation of leaders in Nsukka and seen as a replacement of the old order. “Senator Ayogu is undoubtedly the political leader of the zone. We are tired of the old brigade. We need people like Ayogu to take our people out of the woods. The way he is going, he will definitely liberate the people from the shackles of oppression, injustice and poverty.
One of the opinion and political elders of the zone, who was in the senator’s residence for the kitchen parley and who craved anonymity, said; “As far as we are concerned, Ayogu is the current political leader of the Nsukka zone, period!
As the controversy over who controls Enugu North continues to rage analysts are unanimous that the younger generation should be given the chance to mature into real leaders of tomorrow for the benefit of the people of the zone and the younger generation.
