Enugu 2023: Nwobodo insists on Nkanu East governorship

Senator Jim Nwobodo has insisted that justice would be seen to be done if an indigene of Nkanu East local government council is chosen to become the next governor of Enugu state.

Nwobodo had in recent time made several statements where he said that the backwardness of Nkanu East council area demands that a governor should be produced from the area so that development could go to the area.

Nkanu East is among the six local government areas that make up Enugu East Senatorial district, a zone being canvassed for to produce the next governor of the state, in line with the zoning principle of the state.

Receiving a number of traditional rulers from the Akwunanwu clan in his country home, on Tuesday, Nwobodo said that he will not be swayed by emotions, insisting that he has given his nod for the next governor of Enugu state to be produced from Nkanu East local government area.

The traditional rulers were in his home to find out if Nwobodo was serious about abandoning an aspirant from Akwunanwu clan for other aspirants from outside the clan where Nwobodo hails from.

But Nwobodo in his response to the Monarchs said that going forward he has decided to put whatever statement he makes on the issue in writing, to avoid misinterpretations.

He recalled that in 2019, a similar delegation of traditional rulers had visited him on the matter and he advised them that it was too early since Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was then sworn-in for a second term.

Nwobodo said that his second advice to the Monarchs was that “When time comes, the people of Nkanu, in general, should lobby the Governor, Enugu Stakeholders, and the voting general public in Enugu state to support an aspirant from Nkanu East, and I gave the same reason of equity and fairness. This is democracy and I am today re-confirming my stand on this issue.”

One of the Monarchs and the traditional ruler of Amoha Akwunanwu, HRH Igwe Obiora Igwensi said that the opinion of Nwobodo as an elder statesman should be respected, adding that since Nwobodo has settled for Nkanu East to produce the next governor, they were behind his decision.