Rivers Assembly Approves N100bn Bond For Amaechi

The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday approved N100billion bond for the smooth running of the state government.

The approval followed a letter from Governor Chibuike Amaechi requesting the House to authorise issuance of the bond.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan- Amachree pronounced the approval of the loan after a heated debate on the bond by the state lawmakers during the plenary held at the old Government House auditorium, Port Harcourt.

Dan-Amachree said the purpose of the bond was to finance ongoing infrastructural projects contained in the 2014 budget presented by Governor Amaechi.

According to the Speaker, the bond was included in the recently passed budget, which brought the total figure to N485billion, adding that without the approval of the House, the bond would not be issued.

Meanwhile, Rivers State governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has attributed the dwindling fortunes of the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state to the rising insecurity in the state.

Amaechi stated this  yesterday when officers and students of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, Plateau State paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The governor said the insecurity came when desperate politicians resorted to power play at the national level ahead of the 2015 elections and the recent influx of political thugs and miscreants that were chased out of the state when he assumed office in 2007.

In his submission, Deputy Speaker, Leyii Kwanee, urged his colleagues to approve the issuance, to enable the state government to complete numerous ongoing projects in the state.

He stated that notwithstanding the crisis rocking the state House of Assembly, no amount of intimidation would deter them from carrying out their legislative functions for the benefit of Rivers people.

Majority of the members argued against the bill, saying that the commissioner of finance should be invited for explanation on the last bond approved by the House.

The lawmakers including the Deputy House Leader, Robinson Ewor (Ahoada East I), Golden Chioma (Etche Constituency II), Josiah Olu (Eleme Constituency) and Victoria Nyeche (Phalga Constituency I), maintained that the House owed Rivers people an explanation on how their money was spent in order to avoid doubts.

However, the Speaker later appealed to his colleagues to approve the request and the House was divided. At last, they approved the bond.

The House also committed two bills, including the Bill on Waste Management and the Bill on Tax Harmonisation, to committee stage and deferred debate on the Bill on Customary Court.

Twenty-one members of the House, including the Speaker, participated in yesterday’s sitting, as the House later adjourned sine dine.

2015: Chime, Ekweremadu Move to End Feud, Hold Secret Parley

Strong indications emerged Wednesday that the lingering feud between Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, and the Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu, may soon be over as the two leaders met behind closed door last week in Abuja to explore possibilities of working together ahead of the 2015 general election.

The meeting which was reportedly convened by the National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-east, Col Austin Akobundu (rtd), was said to have taken place at the residence of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, in  Abuja.

Among those who were present at the meeting, were a former Governor of the old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo; Chairman of the state chapter of the PDP, Vita Abba and a personal friend of the governor from his Udi Local Government Area, Chief Tony Eze.

Although, no official statement emerged from the meeting, sources close to the two political gladiators revealed that both Chime and Ekweremadu were given time to freely express themselves on the reasons for the war of words between them in the media.

It was also gathered that the deputy senate president had told the gathering that he was not having any personal differences with his state governor but that there was need for them to openly relate with each other without unnecessary bickering which had become the case in the state.

After pleading with them to sheathe their swords, the meeting had prevailed on the two of them to ensure that the ongoing media war ended in the interest of not only the state but the party in view of the challenges it was currently facing across the country.

The PDP national vice- chairman, according to a source, had told the Enugu State political leaders clearly that he was not ready to allow any crisis within the party circle in the zone, insisting that any form of crisis would adversely affect the party in the 2015 election, a development that would not be good for all the stakeholders.

We gathered that after the meeting, both Chime and Ekweremadu were asked to go and sort out all issues concerning their individual ambitions and aspirations, but to ensure that whatever be their decision, it should not undermine the peace currently existing in the state and the zone at large.

“I can tell you clearly that both of them agreed after the meeting to stop the ongoing media war. The only issue remaining now is for them to sort out the issue concerning their 2015 ambitions. To show their commitment in ensuring that peace is achieved, you will have noticed that their aides are no longer exchanging messages in the media since last week,” the source, who pleaded for anonymity told newsmen.

We also gathered that the crisis rocking the PDP in Udi Local Government Area culminating in the alleged removal of the party Chairman, Uche Ogbodo, as well as the purported suspension of some top government functionaries including, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Patrick Okolo; state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Chijioke Agu; Commerce and Industries counterpart, Jude Akubuilo as well as three other officials would soon be resolved.

A source said the national leadership of the party had already waded into the matter and reportedly asked the state chapter to ensure that the matter was resolved amicably without blowing the matter out of proportion.

thisday

National dialogue commences February

The national conference being planned by the Federal Government will commence from the third or last week of February, The PUNCH has learnt.

A competent Presidency source told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday that the government had concluded work on the framework for the conference.

He said the framework was arrived at after marathon meetings between the government team, personally led by President Goodluck Jonathan, and members of the Senator Femi Okurounmu-led National Advisory Committee on National Dialogue.

In December, Jonathan, while receiving the report of the committee, had given an indication that the conference would hold early this year.

The Presidency source, who spoke to our correspondent, said Jonathan had directed the relevant government officials to make the details of the conference framework available to Nigerians as soon as possible.

The source said, “The national conference should be up and running by third week or latest last week of February.

“The first two weeks of the month (February) will witness activities such as the nomination of delegates and so on.

“Work had been completed on the framework. President Jonathan has been presiding over meetings aimed at developing the framework since. The President has also given directives to those concerned to make the details of the framework available to Nigerians. I guess that may be done on Friday or latest early next week.”

When asked whether the President, who is currently in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the 22nd Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government, will return to the country on Friday before the announcement can be made, the source said, “Not necessarily. Directive had already been given to those concerned to make the announcement.”

Jonathan had on October 1, 2013 in his 53rd Independence Day Anniversary broadcast, announced the setting up of the committee to design the framework for the national dialogue.

He said he decided to set up the committee because he believed it that made sense for parties to discuss when there are issues.

He said, “Our administration has taken cognizance of suggestions over the years by well-meaning Nigerians on the need for a national dialogue on the future of our beloved country.

“When there are issues that constantly stoke tension and bring about friction, it makes perfect sense for the interested parties to come together to discuss.”

punch

Beware of our political enemies, PDP govs warn Mu’azu

vernors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have cautioned the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, against  romancing their political enemies.

The governors, at a   closed-door meeting with   Mu’azu at the Wadata Plaza  national headquarters of the party in Abuja on Wednesday, were said to have reminded him of  the agreements that brought him to office.

The agreements  that paved the way  for the former Bauchi State governor to the Wadata Plaza  include non -interference in  the party structure in the state  and that he (Mu’azu) should   not romance some of   former governors who were serving when he  was  in charge  in Bauchi State.

Our correspondent gathered that the  governors  did not mention the enemies during the meeting which  a source  described as “historical.”

The governors   that  met with Mu’azu  were  those of  Delta, Akwa Ibom,  Niger,  Cross River, Kogi, Abia, Katsina, Kebbi, Bayelsa,   Gombe, Plateau and Kaduna states. Taraba  State was represented by its acting governor while Sokoto  and Jigawa states were represented by  their deputy governors.

Those of Bauchi, Enugu, Enonyi and  Benue states were however absent.

Barely 24 hours ago, one of them, the Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio,  warned Mu’azu to be wary of politicians that he described as “Metropolitan politicians.’’

“Those who have access to the (Presidential) Villa  and Wadata Plaza are not those that will get the votes that will put the PDP in power in 2015,”Akpabio had told the PDP national chairman.

One of the governors,  who was at the meeting  confirmed to   our correspondent on condition of anonymity,  that they    reminded  Mu’azu  of  “our deal that brought him to power.”

He  said, “We know that as a former governor he is still relating  with those who were his colleagues between 1999 and 2007. Some of them are our political enemies.

“But in doing that, we asked him not to do that to our detriment because we know those former governors would also want to get across to him.

“We know he would still be in discussion with some of these men. That’s why we asked him to be careful and tread softly.”

He said that Mu’azu promised not to betray them in whatever form and that he urged them (the governors), not to listen to rumours.

It  is a known fact  that some of the serving governors are not in good terms with their predecessors.

The governors include  Akpabio  and his   predecessor,   Obong Victor Attah;  Babangida Aliyu(Niger) and   Abdulkadir Kure;  Theodore Orji(Abia) and Orji Kalu;  Ibrahim Dankwambo(Gombe) and   Danjuma Goje; Sullivan Chime(Enugu) and  Chimaroke Nnamani.

Mu’azu later spoke at the National Working Committee room of the party  in  Wadata Plaza.  He  again appealed to the  PDP  governors  to  beg their colleagues  who  defected to the All Progressives Congress  to return.

Mu’azu said that he would be happy to see the five governors, who had vowed to remain in their new party,  back in the PDP.

The five governors are  Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers);  Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Rabiu Kwakwanso(Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).

Mu’azu said he was happy with the visit of the governors, which came a day after  Akpabio  led a delegation of the PDP stateholders in  Akwa Ibom  State to the Wadata Plaza.

He said, “As you know, our governors are our garrison commanders  in our various states. We are very happy with them and we are very proud of them.

“But we want to appeal  to  them to particularly be patient at this moment of our history. You will see and hear what you do not like. Rumour mongers  are around  working but God will always guide us.

“Secondly, I want to appeal to you all to continue to appeal to your colleagues that had decided to leave home  for  an unknown destination to please come back home. Our  doors are still wide open and our house is big enough for all of them to come in.

“In a family like ours, there is bound to be conflict but the ability to resolve it, is what will stand us out. I, therefore, want to appeal to you, to please speak to your colleagues to come back home.”

Earlier, Akpabio  had  expressed the  hope that the  five defected governors would return to the PDP.

He said, “We are here as PDP governors’  forum to pay a congratulatory visit. We are about 18 and we hope to have more by bringing back some of our members who crossed over to the other side.

“The opposition is even happy with your emergence as  the national chairman of our great party. We hope that the party will be stronger. We, as field commanders, assure you of our support. We shall win the election in 2015 by the grace of God.”

punch

2015: Jonathan To Return As President In A Landslide Victory – Cleric

President Goodluck Jonathan will win Nigeria’s presidential election in 2015 with huge margin, Pastor Bassey James of the Royal House of Faith Ministry has said.

Speaking in Lagos, Bassey explained that prophecies were from God while predictions were framed from environmental, economic, social and political factors.

“Lots of people have given predictions that something terrible will happen to Jonathan and that he will not win the 2015 presidential election. But Jonathan is God-sent and, therefore, will win the 2015 contest with a very wide margin. He will overcome all the political and economic issues,” Bassey said.

Fmr. Kano Governor, Shekarau Defects To PDP

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, on Wednesday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, with his loyalists.

Shekarau, backed by his supporters from the 44 local government areas of the state, made the declaration at his Bompai GRA residence in Kano.

According to him, the decision was to satisfy the aspirations of the people of the state who felt left out and deserted by the APC.

“We intended with the merger to form a solid foundation for entrenchment of democracy.

“The Legacy Group sacrificed all interests for the merger, but for the past six months all agreements reached had not been met.

“No clear leaders, no registration of APC members at any levels. This shows a clear lack of commitment, transparency and accountability to all concerned,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the supporters participated in the declaration with each group of stakeholders affirming the decision to defect to PDP. (NAN)

11 PDP Senators Defect To APC

Eleven senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), bringing the number of senators in the opposition party to 44.

Fourteen senators have earlier been speculated to be leaving the PDP for APC.

Among the senators that defected are Senator Bukola Saraki-Kwara Central, Senator Umaru Dahiru-Sokoto South
, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe -Rivers South-East, and Senator Wilson Asinobi Ake-Rivers West.

Others are Sen. Bindawa Muhammed Jibrilla-Adamawa North, Sen. Mohammed Danjuma Goje-Gombe central, Sen. Aisha Jummai Alhassan-Taraba North, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume-Borno South, Senator Mohammed Shaba Lafiaji-Kwara North, Sen. Abdulahi Adamu-Nasarawa West, and Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir-Sokoto East.

Their decision was communicated in a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark.

The defection regardless, the PDP maintains its majority in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

Mu’azu, Oyinlola Meet, Discuss Former Governor’s Reinstatement

Bafarawa storms party’s HQ today, blames defection on injustice by APC leadership

Chuks Okocha   and Mohammed Aminu

In line with his efforts at reconciliation within the party, the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has met with the suspended National Secretary of the party, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on how to resolve the drift in PDP.

Also yesterday, Mu’azu said the party would outsmart the opposition political parties at poaching its members.

He spoke when the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, advised PDP to concentrate efforts on how to retain the states held by governors who had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Mu’azu had on Sunday met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Otta, Ogun State, as part of efforts to lobby him and bring about effective reconciliation within PDP, especially in the South-west zone.

Oyinlola, who was removed from office as the national secretary in the aftermath of a Federal High Court order by Justice Abdu Kafarati, had the order quashed by the Court of Appeal.

But the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party ambushed the reinstatement order and refused to reinstate Oyinlola as the national secretary and consequently suspended him. The matter is currently in the Supreme Court awaiting hearing.

But in a bid to drive through its peace initiative, the NWC has decided to withdraw Chief Joe Gadzama as the lawyer to the party, since the party has a National Legal Adviser in the person of Mr. Victor Kwom.

The NWC believes that Gadzama was the personal lawyer to the former chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.

A source said with Gadzama’s removal as PDP’s lawyer, the national legal adviser would be expected to withdraw its case at the Supreme Court to enable the party resolve the Oyinlola saga out of court.

THISDAY gathered that with the withdrawal of representation, the road would be cleared for Oyinlola’s reinstatement as the national secretary of the party.

This was one of the issues discussed between Mu’azu and Oyinlola during their meeting on Sunday in Abuja.

Speaking yesterday when Akpabio came to pay him a solidarity visit, Mu’azu said: “We will soon show to the opposition that though they are master poachers, they are teaching us how to poach and we will beat them at it, because when two members of your family fight, you should settle them and not for you to come and pit them against each other. However, if that is their game we will learn.”

The PDP national chairman added that the party was planning a conference where the manifesto of the party would be reviewed to make it people-oriented, with the welfare of the people as its primary focus.

According to Mu’azu, “The world is dynamic, so is our manifesto and we will ensure that in each ward, local government and state, by our development, a foreigner would know we are PDP.  As you drive along in this country, immediately you enter a PDP state, the difference will be clear.

“I will soon call for a conference that will involve all stakeholders for the party to address Nigerians on what the party stands for.”

In his remarks, Akpabio urged PDP to concentrate efforts on how to retain the states of governors that had defected to the APC, saying: “Most of us are outgoing governors, so whether they come back or not, next year we must leave and in our places others must take over.

“So I think we should concentrate more on those ones who will take over from those governors and ensure that those states remain PDP.”

Akpabio who told the chairman to discountenance those he described as metropolitan or Abuja politicians, added, “Whatever you do, elections are won in local governments and not in Abuja. So if there is any politician here who feels he can win an election in Abuja he should know Akwa Ibom is different from Abuja.”

The governor, who restated his commitment and loyalty to PDP, said: “I am here very loyal to the leader of the party at the national level. Mr. President and you can all attest to that and I don’t make pretenses about it.

“So I will expect the same loyalty to be extended to me at the state level. Whoever wants to stay in Abuja and jump through the office of the NWC to take power in Akwa Ibom, I say Tufiakwa, it is impossible.”

Meanwhile, the former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has said his defection from APC to PDP was not borne out of the quest for position but as a result of the injustice meted out to him and his supporters by the APC national leadership.

Bafarawa made the remark yesterday while receiving PDP leaders and supporters from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States, who paid him a solidarity visit at his residence in Sokoto.

He maintained that his resolve to join PDP was not because of any political position or favour but as the last option to ensure justice and fairness to his supporters.
According to him, his defection to the PDP was the only solution following the injustice meted out to him and his supporters by the leadership of APC after suffering along with others to build APC in the state.

“I am not seeking any political position, it is not what encouraged me and my supporters to decide on our political survival by leaving APC to PDP.
“It is true, we are politically conscious and believe in justice and fairness, anything short of it, will not be accepted.

“So I have no grudge against any particular individual or group, my political destiny comes from God, only God can decide my future and I trust His judgment for our political destiny and direction,” Bafarawa said.

He urged his supporters who followed him to the PDP, to respect those they meet in the party and work together with unity of purpose for the attainment of the set targets.
In order to present themselves to the leadership of the PDP, Bafarawa, along with his supporters, are expected to visit Mu’azu at the PDP secretariat in Wadata Plaza, Abuja, today.

Thisdaylive

Nwabuikwu claims Okonjo-Iweala was left traumatized by online publication

 

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance on Media and Communication, Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, told an FCT High Court that the U.S.-based online news publication traumatised, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Nwabuikwu testified in the N10 billion libel suit filed by Okonjo-Iweala against a U.S.-based online news medium, Pointblank News Communication and its directors on Tuesday.

Okonjo-Iweala is claiming exemplary and aggravated damages from the Editor-in-chief, Jackson Ude and editor, Churchill Umoren, from the story titled: “Okonjo-Iweala buys N1.2 billion Abuja mansion’’ .

The story was published on Jan. 10, 2012.

Nwabuikwu said that the said publication carried the information about Okonjo-Iweala with intent to hurt and tarnish her reputation.

“My Lord when I saw the publication against the minister, I immediately printed it from the said Pointblank website and showed same to her.

“She was traumatised and emotionally stressed with the defamatory statement against her.

“My Lord, I am the special adviser on media and communication to the minister and I have known her for more than 10 years, even before she told me that the publication was not true, I knew that they were false,’’ he said.

He told the court during cross examination by counsel to the defendants, Mr Aleato Maxwell, Ude was identified as the publisher and editor-in-chief of the online publication.

The Judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, adjourned to the case to April 3, for defence to open its case. (NAN)

2015: Zoning policy tears Enugu PDP Apart

Written by Dr. SKC Ogbonnia

A zoning policy of the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party of Nigeria (PDP), is tearing Enugu State apart. The issue of zoning was largely dormant until Governor Sullivan Chime announced that the Enugu North Senatorial Zone would produce the next governor. Chime’s pronouncement carries weight for an obvious reason: Given that the opposition is historically

disenfranchised in Enugu State since the 4th Republic, a saddening consensus seems to be that a PDP governorship nominee would ultimately prevail in the 2015. Although the state had adopted some form of arrangements for sharing political offices in the past, the current zoning debate is uniquely different. Not only does a section of Governor Chime’s zone believe it is its turn to rule, the zoning issue has drawn the governor against his fellow party heavyweight in Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Here are the main items and in alphabetical order:

Old Awgu Division: This zone has a deep history with cries for marginalization. They cry, and rightly so, that it should have been a separate senatorial zone. They cry that, considering its overflowing population, the area should have produced more than its current three local governments and more council wards. Further, they drum that, whether by national or Enugu State average, they should be accorded more than one representative at the National Assembly. More relatively, the people are miffed at the fact that (even after they added some towns that used to belong to the present Anambra State) Awgu is the only old Division that has never produced a democratic governor in Enugu State. Their main argument has been that the State is a product of three old divisions: Awgu, Nsukka, and Udi, which is so true. While Nsukka had produced a democratic governor in Okwesilieze Nwodo, old Udi Division has already given the state Jim Nwobodo, C. C. Onoh, Chimaroke Nnamani, and Sullivan Chime. The Awgu people should also say that while the only two public universities in the state (UNN and ESUT) are located in old Nsukka and old Udi, respectively; Awgu has another none. More worryingly, granted that the current Deputy Senate President of the Senate hails from this area, Greater Awgu should argue, and very persuasively, that it is probably one of the few old divisions—if not the only old division—that is yet to produce an indigene as federal minister or an ambassador in a democratic setting.

Old Nsukka Division: The people of this area have two zoning propositions. The first is that the current Enugu State is made up of two senatorial zones of the 2nd Republic—Nsukka and Enugu, which is very true. Their point here is that whereas the old Enugu Senatorial zone has given birth to the present Enugu West and Enugu East; Old Nsukka Division (now Enugu North) has remained one senatorial zone. To them, power should be rotating between old Nsukka and old Enugu senatorial zones, period. In that case, there is nothing so strange that two universities are located in Enugu State—one in old Nsukka zone and the other in old Enugu zone. While the people of Nsukka should not ignore the different powerful positions held by Dr. Okwy Nwodo in the national ruling party and a couple of ambassadorial postings in the current democratic dispensation; like their Awgu counterparts, they should also add that, of all the ministers thus far produced from Enugu State since army gave way in 1999, none has been considered from Nsukka area. In the same vein, come 2015, the present day Enugu State (after Ebonyi State) might have seen 16 years of democratic rule, with old Enugu senatorial zone retaining the governorship through that long period. The second proposition is that, even if the zoning is viewed on the basis of the current senatorial structure, the Enugu North then becomes the only area that is yet to produce a governor in the reigning 4th Republic. The latter was potent in Governor Chime’s decision to finally zone the PDP governorship slot in 2015 to Nsukka senatorial area. (But that is PDP. Other parties may have their plans).

Enter Old Udi Division: Old Udi Division is made up of the present Enugu East (Nkanu) and Udi/Ezeagu portion of Enugu West Senatorial zone and has seen more political opportunities than its counterparts. First of all, it begot a separate senatorial zone in Enugu East (Nkanu). Second, the Udi/Ezeagu area of the Old Udi Division has produced the only two governors associated to its new senatorial zone (Enugu West)—a zone it now shares with old Awgu Division. So why complain? Actually, the people (particularly Nkanu—now Enugu East) care less. The Enugu East seems contented for having produced Governors Jim Nwobodo, Chimaroke Nnamani, and Senate President Ken Nnamani. But the citizens of Udi/Ezeagu axis are saying something different. A good number of them are angry with their brother governor, Sullivan Chime. In terms of distribution of resources, Chime is widely viewed as polar opposite to Chimaroke, which ordinarily should be hailed. However, his people are craving for more in terms of infrastructural development. They are fuming that, instead of using part of his eight years in office to makeup for marginalization of Enugu West and North under Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, Brother Sullivan is focusing again on Enugu East (particularly the state capital). For example, despite its well-known hunger for education, Enugu West (including Greater Awgu) is the only zone without the presence of a university in Enugu State. This lack of infrastructural development apparently explains why a number of Udi critics have objectively pointed out that the present Enugu West could be doomed if by Chime’s calculation Nsukka produces the next governor. Not that these critics are against their brothers and sisters from Nsukka. None of that!  They only worry that the main purpose of zoning is already dashed, especially considering that Governor Chime did not overly concentrate developments in his native Udi talkless of Enugu West. In other words, should an Enugu North PDP governor emerge in 2015, which is likely, and becomes another Chimaroke and focuses in his native village and Nsukka area, which is very possible; what then becomes the fate of the people of Enugu West of Udi/Ezeagu and Greater Awgu? This question should not be difficult for Governor Chime.  Sullivan has over one year left and can proclaim a university in a New York minute. (And His Excellency can be rest assured that towns in Enugu West will be most willing to volunteer their prime hills for a befitting site. Even better, any location in Greater Awgu sufficiently addresses in particular the marginalization sorrows of Old Awgu Division and potentially answers critics who have maintained that Enugu West as a zone deserves a university).

A governor versus a senator: Combined with the current zoning palaver, the individual political ambitions of two princes-turned-politicians have created a social upheaval and serious political conflict in Enugu State. On the one side, reminiscent of Abacha style, unfolding events clearly show that the Executive Governor and leader of PDP in the state, Prince Sullivan Chime, has zoned to himself the senate seat presently held by the Deputy Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Ike Ekweremadu—on the basis of a new norm that the Nigerian Senate is a resting lounge for ex-governors toward retirement. After all, former governors from the state: Jim Nwobodo and Chimaroke Nnamani both took that route before finally bowing out from heated politics, and many governors from other states are also warming up for the upper chamber. On the other side, as if Nigeria’s democracy has suddenly advanced like that of the United States of America or was designed as a monarchy like Saudi Arabia; having been schemed out of the governorship ticket now zoned by his party to Enugu North, Prince Ekweremadu now believes that going back to the senate for an unprecedented 4th term offers an important compromise.

As seen above, the two men occupying the two positions overheating the polity are both from Enugu West Senatorial Constituency. Even as the people should fervently pray that opposition is born again in Enugu State, if by any chance the original Ebeano clique of PDP dominates again in 2015; which zone then produces the next senator from Enugu West?  If the logic of Governor Chime is to truly hold, and there are three principal zones in Enugu State (Enugu East, Enugu North, and Enugu West Senatorial zones) as stated in the Constitution, which is the truth; it also goes to say that there are five constitutional zones in Enugu West senatorial district (Aninri, Awgu, Ezeagu, Oji-River, and Udi local governments). Since zoning is supposed to be based on equitable distribution of offices, and a governor and senator from two different local governments are at war over a senate seat, it is necessary to review the number of years each local government (zone) of Enugu West has produced governors and senators in democratic settings since independence:

Aninri LGA (2006 census: 133,723): Governor: Zero. Senate: 17 years (approx.)—5 years of Senator Michael Chukwubuike (1st Republic); and by 2015, 12 years of Senator Ike Ekweremadu (4th Republic).

Awgu LGA (2006 census: 390,681—most populated local government in Enugu State): Governor: Zero; Senator: Zero

Ezeagu LGA (2006 census: 169, 718): Governor: Zero. Senate: 9 years (approx.)—5 years of Senator Pius Ndu (1st Republic); 1year and 6 months of Senator Collins Ndu (3rd Republic); and 2 years and 3 months of Senator Collins Ndu (4th Republic).

Oji-River LGA (2006 census: 126,587): Governor: Zero. Senate: 6 years—4 years of Senator B. C. Okwu (2nd Republic); 3 months of Senator Sydney Mgbejiofor (2nd Republic); and 1 year and 9 months of Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi (4th Republic).

Udi LGA (2006 census: 234,002): Governor: 8 years and 3 months—3 months of Governor C.C. Onoh (2nd Republic); and by 2015, 8 years of Governor Sullivan Chime. Senate: Zero.

Some grumblings are expected here. Governor Chime’s team will attempt to eat their cakes and still have it. They will prefer to shift from the criteria used at the state level and argue that zoning of offices in Enugu West is rotated between the cultural divide of Greater Awgu and Udi/Ezeagu. Assuming that wish is granted, they should also not forget that there are zones within Greater Awgu as there are zones within Udi/Ezeagu.

Greater Awgu (Aninri, Awgu, and Oji-River LGAs): With an interesting exception of the large town of Nenwe, which is lately largely ignored, most powerful positions zoned to Greater Awgu in the 4th Republic (e.g., Chief of Staff to Governor, Secretary to State Government, Chairman of the State ruling party, Speaker, and Senator, and other juicy board memberships, etc.) are disproportionately concentrated in Aninri LGA, particularly at the ancient triangle of Mpu/ Oduma /Okpanku brotherhood. Therefore, since Ike Ekweremadu of Mpu in the same Aninri Local Government Area might have stayed 12 years in the Senate by 2015, the most equitable thing (under Governor Chime’s constitutional zoning formula) is to ensure that the next juicy political office from Greater Awgu (including the senate) is zoned to Awgu Local Government—being the most populated but most marginalized area in Enugu State.  If the people then resort to the long-standing cultural template of rotating positions between old Awgu LGA and Oji-River, though piebald, Oji-River Local Government Area should be considered. (The position of Member Federal House of Reps is purposely left out in this report because, apart from Aninri, every Local Government Area in Enugu West has at one time or the other sent someone to sit at the lower house in the current republic).

Greater Udi (Udi and Ezeagu LGAs): Perhaps the present Udi LGA has never smelled the senate seat per se. However, apart from other various powerful state appointments, Udi LGA alone might have enjoyed 8 years of governorship by 2015 in Sullivan Chime and produced three ministers in Chief Dubem Onyia, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze, and Prof. Chinedu Nebo—all in the current republic—as compared to Ezeagu’s mere 2 years and 3 months in the Senate. Thus, the most equitable thing is to ensure that the next major political office in this area (including the senate) is zoned to Ezeagu LGA.

The apparent gist is that zoning in Enugu State is a paradox. If zoning has become the name for internal democracy within PDP and based on principles, which Governor Chime has sworn to profess; regardless of the angle one views it—be it on the prism of Greater Awgu and Udi/Ezeagu cultural equation or on the governor’s rationale for adopting current political divisions; both the governor (His Excellency Sullivan Chime) of Udi Local Government Area and the Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu of Aninri Local Government Area are (and should be) zoned out in 2015. In fairness, they should brotherly step aside and allow more deserving zones or towns to produce the next senator from Enugu West.

Perhaps this writer has never been an ardent proponent of zoning. Under normal circumstances, citizens should emphasize leadership qualities and effectiveness—and not what zone produces who or how long the who stays in office. But our cases are not normal. Nigerian politicians are something else and definitely not known for equity and fairness in terms of distribution of opportunities. The objective fact in this case is that both Sullivan Chime and Ike Ekweremadu are original Ebeano protégés and have not disappointed in promoting its core principles of hegemony and nepotism. Of course, we appreciate Governor Chime’s footprints, such as a first-rate road network across the state. We also recognize his efforts to centralize amenities in Enugu State (with particular attention to the state capital). But what has consistently escaped the minds of the people is the fact that, like Governor Chimaroke Nnamani before him, Chime’s plum appointments are palmed in his native area. Take away the lone case of Prof. Barth Nnaji of Enugu East, which the governor had stoutly opposed; the other Enugu State indigenes appointed federal ministers during Chime’s regime are his epigones from Udi LGA. Today, the governor, the minister, and the sole level A ambassador from the state, the Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein—are all filled from the same Udi LGA. Similarly, his storied accomplishments (including constituency-wide projects) notwithstanding, the star attractions of Senator Ike Ekweremadu while in the Senate are best sighted from Mpu, being his native town in Aninri LGA.

Stepping aside of these two politicians will do themselves as well as the state some good. To start with, both Chime and Ekweremadu have been in power for too long without any semblance of opposition talkless of the essential checks and balances. “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  More frontally, their stepping aside will create an atmosphere of peace. It will also help for even opportunities and in the process facilitate the long anticipated emergence of a new generation of leaders from this state. Besides, these Ebeano brothers should not be gasping like fish out of water; for there is life after elective office. We pray that they can go on to become something bigger—far beyond the primordial politics of Enugu State—and they should. After all, Bola Tinubu of Lagos State stepped aside but will be better remembered for his post governorship efforts in helping to create what is shaping to become the much awaited two-party system in our country. Likewise, even though he stayed only 4 years in the senate, Senator Ken Nnamani has found ways to sustain the visions and attributes that have continued to endear him to the Nigerian masses.

Dr. SKC Ogbonnia