Nsukka Today

Who takes over from Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State when he leaves office on May 29, 2015? This is the question that has been agitating the people’s mind since Chime announced that his successor would come from the Nsukka zone without mentioning who he would support.

Chime made this known during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders in Enugu in May 2013.

According to the governor, whose speech then was punctuated with thunderous applause from the audience during the meeting of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the arrangement was for the party to pick its next flag bearer from Enugu North (Nsukka).

The governor, from the PDP which has ruled the state since 1999, hails from the Enugu West Senatorial District and would be completing his eight-year tenure of four years each in May next year.

He took over from Dr Chimaroke Nnamani who also completed eight years in office from Enugu East Senatorial District, leaving Nsukka as the only zone which has not produced a governor in the state since 1999. Chime said there is an unwritten rotational arrangement in the selection of its governorship candidates within the PDP in the state.

The state caucus of the party has since endorsed Chime’s position, as emphasised by the former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, in Abuja weeks ago.

Low Level of Political Activities

However, despite the ovation which greeted the governors speech during the town hall meeting  supporting the zoning formula, no governorship aspirant from the zone has publicly declared interest in spite of the fact that several names are being touted as aspirants.

Before Chime made his declaration, many aspirants were believed to have been nursing governorship ambition. Those said to be nursing such ambition are Senator Ayogu Eze, who represents the area in the Senate, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Chief Vita Abba, Speaker of the state House of Assembly in the last eight years, Eugene Odo, a former member of the House of Representatives, Ambassador Fidel Ayogu, the proprietor of Peace Mass Transit Company, Chief Samuel Maduka Onyishi, two members of the House of Representatives, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwanyi and Dr Pat Asadu.

Others include Prince Emeka Mamah, a scion of the Ifesinacchi dynasty, and the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, under Chimaroke Nnamani’s regime, Dr Dan Shere.

It is believed that Chime’s proclamation that his successor would come from Nsukka zone has instead of enbolding aspirants to come forward with their programmes, doused the tempo.

An aspirant who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that some of the aspirants were showing interest to ensure that they would be remembered during the sharing of positions in the party. ‘’There is nobody in the PDP that does not know the powers of a governor produced by the party in the scheme of things. We are all waiting for whoever the governor would anoint”, he said.

Everybody waiting for Chime’s endorsement

Apart from Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the deputy Senate President,  who openly challenged Chime initially for zoning the position to Nsukka, no other politician of note has made his ambition open.

Every other political activity in Enugu is nocturnal.

Politicians would confront journalists at functions for not mentioning their names among those in the governorship race in their analysis but would not want to be quoted directly as saying they nurse such ambition. Political gladiators are watching with keen interest the political atmosphere and the body language of Chime who once said he would prefer somebody who had worked with the PDP political family to succeed him instead of outsiders.

Ebeano family factor

The former governor of the state, Nnamani, introduced the former Ebeano (the place to be) political structure under which he selected those that held positions at the state and federal levels.

It will indeed be correct to say that most political gladiators in the state today passed through the tutelage of the Ebeano god-father and they know the rules of the game.

While Nnamani held sway, it was sacrilegious for any member of the Ebeano family to struggle or aspire to any position as members waited for the leader to allocate positions to them. It was like a military formation where the most senior officer usually ‘’thinks for the rest and nobody thinks when the oga is around.’’

Chime emerged from the Ebeano political family. Others who belonged to the strange family include  Ekweremadu and  Ayogu Eze as well as all the present members of the National Assembly from the state.

Cracks in  Ebeano

However, a lot of water has passed under the Ebeano bridge in the last seven years. The cracks in the family started shortly after Chime won elections in 2007 and reached a climax when “Chimaroke  snubbed the governor at the Protea Hotel, Abuja sometime in June of the same year. Chime narrated his story:

Chimaroke invited me and pleaded that I should join his administration. I heeded the call because I wanted to contribute to the building of the state. I worked quite closely with him. At some point when the executive council was dissolved, I was the only commissioner for about a month.

No other commissioner was appointed until later. But unfortunately when it comes to some ideas, I may not always have my way. If the head doesn’t share your view, what do you do?’’

According to Chime, the situation, however, came to a head when Chimaroke invited him to Protea Hotel, Abuja, shortly after returning home after several months outside the country.

Chime stressed that on the occasion, in June 2007, his former boss invited him to his suite at Protea Hotel, Asokoro,  Abuja. He went on: “When I got there, I met him and we exchanged pleasantries. He was sitting with some other people. Before I could sit down, he got up, picked his phones and said he didn’t want to see me and that when he was ready to see me he would send for me again. I thought it was a joke. But he went inside his room. We were there still wondering what was happening.  When he came out of the room he repeated it that he was not prepared to see me.

And he walked out on me, went downstairs and entered his car. He said he would tell me when I would come to see him when he was ready. So, the other three gentlemen followed me downstairs and we even attempted to see if we could catch up with him, but by the time we got downstairs, he had driven off.

I also entered my car and drove off. That was my first meeting with my predecessor. That was someone I spoke with on phone earlier that day. I didn’t just go there; he invited me over. We agreed that I was coming. So, do you want me to force myself on him? Then, I was still fresh as governor.

He had been there as governor and knows what being a governor means. You invited me as your governor and I came. And the next thing you do is to walk out on me. How do we describe such a behaviour? It is on record that I went to meet with him. That was the treatment I got from him the first time I met him. Can you imagine the treatment, as governor? I am still waiting for him to say `I want to see you!’.

Politicians queue

However, in the last few months, there have been indications that politicians have been lining up behind Chime and Ekweremadu, who is obviously fighting to avoid being prematurely retired from politics.

Chime is said to be interested in contesting the Senate seat for Enugu East which Ekweremadu, a former local government chairman, chief of staff to the governor and Secretary to the State Government, currently occupies and, with the governorship seat already zoned out of Enugu East where he hails from, there is no other higher position for him to contest, hence he is afraid of premature retirement from public glare.

Dark horse

A dark horse may emerge as governor of the state in 2015. Although Chime has kept his preferred candidate close to his chest, whoever he eventually anoints will likely face Ekweremau’s preferred candidate. The Deputy Senate President has been spending most of his days in Enugu State at Nsukka where he is believed to be mobilising support for his candidate.

This was even as the former Minister for Information, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was quoted as asking politicians from other zones to allow Nsukka people chose a governor of their choice for the state. Nwodo spoke at a party hosted for Ekweremadu at Nsukka by one of his supporters, Mr Chinedu Onuh.

However, political developments in the last few months indicate that none of the present crop of aspirants embarking on nocturnal campaigns would occupy the Lion Building as the Enugu Government House is known.

Apart from Ekweremadu, a cold war is currently raging between the governor and those the local PDP supporters refer to as Abuja- based. The governor was alleged to have incurred the wrath of the Abuja politicians when he was quoted as saying most of them who had spent two terms would not be re-elected. Chime was said to have made the declaration in view of the zoning arrangement in most of the constituencies in the state.

If the governor’s threat sails through, it would mean that almost all the members of National Assembly would lose their positions for fresh blood, hence the no-love-lost between them and their leader in the state.

SOURCE VANGUARD

Agitation by the people of the South-East for creation of an additional state in the area to put them at par with other zones of the federation received huge support yesterday when the demand received the unanimous backing from members of the National Conference Committee on Political Reforms and Forms of Government.

Members of the committee who took turns to make submissions on the contentious matter unanimously agreed that there was need for creation of one more state in the region in the interest of justice and fair-play and to give the people of the South-East a sense of belonging.

The Political Reforms and Forms of Government Committee, however, submitted that every other region demanding the creation of more states would only get it on the basis of merit.

The 30-member committee further submitted that without prejudice to states constituting the federating unit, those that wish to merge may do so in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria subject to three conditions, namely:

•That a majority of the two-thirds of all members in each of the Houses of Assembly of each of the states, in which such merger is proposed, support by resolution, the merger;

•That a referendum is conducted in each of the states proposing to merge with 75 per cent of the eligible voters in each of those states approving of the merger; and

•That each House of the National Assembly, by resolution passed by a simple majority of membership of each of the Houses, approve of the merger.

Addressing journalists after the committee adjourned its sitting yesterday, the chairman, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu (rtd.), said by supporting the creation of an additional state in the South-East, delegates have shown that everyone can have a win-win situation.

He said: “I must thank my committee members for their maturity and ability to discern the needs of Nigerians to have more states based on merit, particularly the South-East, thereby bringing the zone at par with others.

“I want to indeed say to my colleagues that they have shown great understanding and they believe in a win-win option. That is the spirit we should maintain in this Conference.

“At the end of the day, we will be recommending that there should be equality of states in the various zones of the country, and then allowing the zones that have agitations across the country to decide which state should be created.

“Those who make the request for the creation of more states do so because they feel marginalised where they are.”

Before arriving at the resolution ahead of the commencement of debates, the committee had proceeded on a five-minute coffee break following a motion by Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed ostensibly to allow the delegates and members of the committee to confer with each other.

At the resumption of session, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey while making a case for the South-East, pointed out that the zone which had only five states among the 36 in the country stood at a disadvantage which, according to him, was a great challenge to the people of the area.

“We don’t want to be more than other zones; we just want to be like others. I appeal to this committee to strongly take into consideration the need to bring the South-East at par with other zones in this country,” he said.

Senator Femi Okurounmu, in his argument, said there should be creation of more states to meet growing demands.

He said there should be the same number of states in every zone in the spirit of fairness. He, however, warned delegates to be mindful in order to avoid the abuse of the process.

Binta Masi Garba advocated for the creation of Amana State in the North. She also supported the creation of an additional state in the South-East in the spirit of fairness.

Chief Benjamin Elue from Delta State, while supporting the call for the creation of an additional state in the South-East, begged delegates to consider the long agitation of the Igbo-speaking people in his state who want their own state. He said Anioma State should be carved out of the present Delta State in the interest of justice.

Senator Ahmed Aruwa argued that it was outside the purview of the committee to create a state.

He said the panel could only make recommendations and create an enabling environment for those agitating for more states to have their way. He said the South-East zone deserves an additional state based on merit.

Yinka Odumakin said states have become tenants to the Federal Government. He said states must have the capacity to look inward and create its own revenue base instead of becoming slaves to the Federal Government. He said the practice where governors come to Abuja at the end of every month to collect salaries must be discouraged.

Lawrence Agubuzu, a South-East delegate, said every region should get an additional state. He, however, argued that in the new arrangement, his region should be given two states. He said the creation of additional states in the six geo-political zones will create a better balance.

Also fielding questions at the end of session, co-Chairman of the committee, Mohammed Ukara Kumalia, said in the interest of justice and fair-play, the South-East should be given an additional state.

He said every other region agitating for more states must be given based on merit. He said this is needed in order to avoid abuse of the process.

He said that genuine demands for the creation of states from all the other zones will be looked into and disclosed that decisions will be taken based on the merit of such demands looking at their viability, contiguity and a host of other factors that usually determine the creation of states.

Kumalia further disclosed that the committee will revisit the issue of local council creation next week, and specifically address other elements such as the mode of funding, among others.

Meanwhile, members of the Conference Committee on Political Matters have agreed to expunge the contentious immunity clause for the president, his vice, governors and their assistants from the constitution.

They, however, gave an exception to the rule, adding that in case of civil offences, the president, vice, governor and his deputy are protected by the law.    

The delegates argued that detractors might take advantage of the removal of the immunity clause to institute unnecessary civil cases against executives.

In a related development, members of Conference Committee on Judiciary want the government to separate the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of the Minister of Justice.

If this recommendation is adopted by the general house during the adoption of committees’ reports, years of agitation by lawyers and other activists who have persistently called for the separation would have succeeded.

The judiciary committee also recommended that the government should create constitutional courts across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, similar to Wednesday’s recommendations that Supreme Courts should be created in all the 36 states of the federation.

•Pieced together from separate reports in The Guardian. Photo showsChairman of National Conference Committee on Political Reforms and Forms of Government, Ike Nwachukwu.

Source News Express

For those not conversant with the story of Medusa in the Greek mythology, there is a need for a refresh.  Medusa, the Gorgon, was once a very beautiful, lily-haired priestess that worshipped Athena, the Greek supreme goddess.  When she overstepped her bounds by failing in her celibate vows, Athena turned her into a terribly ugly woman, transforming her once-alluring hair strands into tiny snakes.  So odious was Medusa that anybody, who cast eyes on her was instantly turned into a boulder of stone.

There is this beautiful, hard-working young woman in Enugu State, who the fretting and unprincipled politicians, through their sponsored articles in the media, have tended to paint, as the modern-day Medusa. Nothing adequate­ly prepares for the sense of disappoint­ment, which one experiences at encoun­tering this woman about whom so much venom has been spilled by a voracious, but small section of the political class of Enugu State. Yes, disappointment, be­cause after reading all the evils that Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo, the Chief of Staff to the governor of Enugu State, is said to have visited on whatever she touches, one would believe that anybody who as much as sights her even from a distance, would be struck with a plague.  Yet, the image of this young mother and the wife of Justice Afam Nwobodo, as painted by her traducers in Enugu State, is such that one could easily go past her on the street without imagining that this is a simple, humble, if ordinary hard work­ing young Igbo woman.

In fact, the first day that I saw Mrs. Nwobodo at a function, she cut the image of Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, another very efficient woman some love to hate, not for any evil they have done, but rather because they are sticklers for efficiency and hard work.  Before then, I had heard and read a lot of things about how wicked, ambitious, intractable and power-drunk Ifeoma Nwobodo, a former accountant at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, was, to the extent that she was accused lamely of being the real power behind the throne in Enugu State.

But from my findings on the Chief of Staff at the Enugu Lion Building (the other name for Enugu State Government House), she knew zilch in politics before the inception of the Chime administra­tion but as the saying goes, a chick that would become a cock is known from the very day the egg hatches.  As an ordi­nary woman, who went about her duties in the best ways she knew how, what she saw as her normal roles of keeping the books and instilling tight financial and administrative discipline helped to transform the fortunes of the ailing Nike Lake Resort to the extent that the keen eyes of people, including the man that was to become the governor noticed.She was also reputed for her resolute­ness and sense of duty.  So, no sooner did Chime become the governor than he was to have invited Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo to serve as his Chief of Staff, as inexperienced in politics as she was then. From what I also reliably learnt, Ifeoma did not as much as understand what a chief of staff does, not to talk about seeing herself as being qualified for the most difficult crucial position around the state’s chief executive.  But as a family that takes spiritual guidance very seriously, she and her husband were said to have consulted God for guidance and got firm affirmation.

Not only did she learn very fast, aided by the fact that her boss is said to be a man who places a lot of premium on delegating duties to the competent, she soon got such a firm handle on her job that the laxities that characterise public service, especially in the previous dis­pensation in the state, were thrown out through the window, as she inculcated the sense of urgency honed through the application of her private sector experi­ence, which had inculcated in her the culture of striving to achieve set goals.  This culture automatically affects the people and environment around which she operates.Her boss has turned out to be one of the greatest achievers in Nigeria today, hav­ing positively transformed the fortunes of his state beyond expectation, without making much noise.  Today, the rest is history, as the sense of urgency, which Ifeoma Nwobodo has inculcated in the seat of power in her state, has become a whirlwind that has swept away those too lethargic to change while invigorating the state of affairs in the state.  She has become a veritable partner in progress to Governor Chime, to the extent that she is widely regarded as the power behind the throne, while, indeed, she sees her­self and carries on as a humble servant of a goal-getting boss.

Her competency and principles have unfortunately become her bane.  She has made many enemies of unprincipled people, especially sit-tight politicians from the state.  The PDP stakeholders in the state, led by Governor Chime, had agreed on a formula that would consolidate the sense of justice, political peace and amity that had characterised Chime’s era in the state. The crux of that doctrine is that the tenure of every elected political figure under the PDP banner would be limited to two terms, after which (s)he would make way for other citizens.  The formula, which was enthusiastically accepted by the preponderance of the citizens, who saw it as a way of ensuring that everybody would have a sense of belonging, also prescribed that the governorship should move to the Enugu North zone that had not experienced it.  The deliberate deci­sion of the party to make Nsukka zone get the next governor was, therefore, unanimously hailed.

However, this formula was rebuffed by the camp of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who, after serving for three terms as a senator, seemed not yet satisfied and believes that he deserves another term, failing which he should be ‘rewarded’ with the governorship position, even when he does not come from the Nsukka zone.  Most of the other National Assembly members, like Senator Gil Nnaji, who has served in both chambers of the Na­tional Assembly, do not also seem to be comfortable with the new PDP doctrine.  All these should never have concerned Mrs. Nwobodo, yet it has become con­venient for some to malign and serially accuse her of being the person, who is behind ensuring that the party’s doctrine on power sharing is executed to a logical conclusion.

She is being accused of habouring the interest to contest for the senatorial posi­tion for Enugu East, the seat currently occupied by Senator Nnaji, who, apart from a generally acknowledged lacklus­tre representation, should have become satisfied after serving for two terms in the House of Representatives and currently in the Senate.  To compound matters for Nnaji, he is said to lack the support and favour of the local govern­ment bosses in the zone.

While Ifeoma Nwobodo is yet to make any such aspiration public, there seems to be a unanimity of opinion in the state that after an obvious insipid representa­tion at the upper national chambers, the zone that houses the capital of Igboland deserves a senator of proven intellect, dedication to duty and the type of com­mitment that she has shown and which has acquitted her creditably to many and made her an enemy to those who want business as usual.  The way it looks in Enugu today, the more the political des­peradoes accuse her of all manners of things, the ordinary people of the state hail all that as an endorsement, know­ing that the bad-mouthing translates into saying:  “you are serving the state too well…” The logic, therefore, is that “this woman is the right ‘man’ for the job.”

Ordinarily, the aspiration to the Sen­ate, the ‘crime’ that Ifeoma is being ac­cused of, and judging from her sterling performance in her present role, is even being regarded as inadequate enough, as many have suggested that had she come from the Nsukka zone, she should have been encouraged to vie for the governorship to ensure the perpetuation of the good job of her boss.  As at the time Governor Chime was inviting her to become his chief of staff, two former chiefs of staff had become governors of their states – Babatunde Fashola and Theodore Orji, who served Governors Tinubu of Lagos and Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia, respectively.  It is clear that none of those had put in as much, nor earned as much acclaim, as Mrs. Nwobodo in their days.

So, why all the fuss that this Amazon, who has stricken so much terror in the incompetent and the inordinately-am­bitious as well as great love and respect in people of principles, should aspire only to ‘mere’ senatorial position?  The people of Enugu State should feel proud that Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo should as­pire to become a senator and give them the type of robust voice they demand – and deserve

.• Nwokolo contributed this piece from Enugu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State has announced the recall of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Amechi Okolo and two commissioners who were suspended from the party in January.

The recalled commissioners are Chijioke Agu, Commissioner for Sports and Dr. Jude Akubuilo, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry.

Others are two Special Advisers to the governor, Sunny Agu and O.A.U Onyeama.

Chairman of the PDP in Udi Local Government Area, Uche Ogbodo, who addressed a press conference in Enugu yesterday said it was in compliance with the decisions and directives of the National Working Committee (NWC)of the party. Ogbodo also announced the withdrawal of a law suit between Uche Ogbodo and the PDP, instituted in the wake of the crisis in the party in Udi Local Government Area.

He thanked the National Working Committee for resolving the issues in the Udi L.G.A PDP stating that he now has more confidence and is re-invigorated to lead the party to greater success in the next elections.

The suspension of the key government personalities by Ogbodo in January led to a lot of controversies as the governor’s men announced his removal as party local government chairman.

But in a letter from the National Working Committee of PDP dated April 14th and signed by National Secretary Prof. Wale Oladipo the NWC called for all suspensions to be lifted and for the chairman to withdraw his court suit within 14 days.

The letter which was addressed to National Vice Chairman PDP South East and copied to Udi and Enugu PDP chairmen the NWC noted that it will hold a meeting Ekweremadu and Chime to resolve all issues.

 Culled: SUN

Despite the Enugu State government’s warning to traditional rulers in the state not to give chieftaincy titles to anyone until December 31 this year, Oduma community in Aninri local government area of the state over the weekend conferred a chieftaincy title on the deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Governors of the South East geo-political zone yesterday met in Enugu behind closed doors apparently to put finishing touches to arrangements for the proposed visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to the zone on Friday, April 11, 2014.

Anambra State governor Willy Obiano, Enugu State governor Sullivan Chime, Ebonyi State governor Martin Elechi and governor of the South East Governors’ Forum and Abia State governor Theodor Orji attended the meeting which took place at Enugu Government House Lodge.

Although the governors refused to disclose their resolutions to journalists, a competent source told LEADERSHIP that they discussed how they would give President Jonathan a befitting welcome.

LEADERSHIP gathered that president,  who is expected to be in Enugu on Friday this week for the South East Zonal Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)Rally, might use the opportunity to talk with some aggrieved members of the party in the South East that have defected to opposition parties.

Meanwhile, ahead of the 2015 general elections, All Progressives Congress (APC) has set a target to take over Enugu State Government House, popularly known as Lion Building.

Speaking with journalists in Enugu yesterday, chairman of the Congress Committee in Enugu, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, insisted that APC was not only prepared to make an impact in Enugu State in 2015, but had set a target to take over the Lion Building from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He stated that it was wrong for anybody to assume that APC had no ground in Enugu State, adding that the party had seasoned politicians who had contested elections at the national, state and local government level, but lost because security agencies aided PDP to rig the elections.

“We have people like Okechukwu Ideke. We have people like General J.O.J Okoloagu. We have people like Osita Okechukwu. These are people who have contested several elections but only lost because they were rigged out and we have many more who are still coming in, who have obtained membership cards.

Culled Leadership

ABUJA — FORMER Senate President, Nnamani Ken, has disclosed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will fill a candidate for governorship of Enugu State in the 2015 general election from the northern part of the state.

Nnamani said all stakeholders in the party from the state had already reached a consensus that Governor Sullivan Chime’s successor should emerge from Enugu North senatorial zone.

The former Senate President, who is a delegate at the ongoing National Conference, told newsmen, yesterday, that settling for someone from that part of the state was aimed at ending the controversy surrounding the 2015 governorship election in Enugu State.

He said the development was the outcome of a reconciliatory meeting among PDP stakeholders in the state.

He said:  “Enugu State does not seem to have any succession problem because we have a conventional understanding that when Enugu East completed its eight years, it went to Enugu West and after Enugu West, it is only proper that governorship power should go to Enugu North. It is not written anywhere, but it is conventional.

Culled: The VANGUARD

First was Sen. Ike Ekeremadu's thesis: “There is no zoning in Enugu. I am not aware and nobody is aware". But now comes Gov. Chime Sullivan's Antithesis: "That going by an internal arrangement of the PDP, it is the turn of Nsukka to produce the next governorship candidate of the party". As we await a synthesis of these polemics, one thing is certain and that is:

Nsukka—Apparently miffed by the distribution of the Deputy Senate President, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu’s posters for the 2015 guber race in Enugu State, traditional rulers in Nsukka Senatorial District have concluded plans to invite Ekweremadu’s coordinators in the area for a meeting.

As the long established rotational governance or in a lay man's parlance, turn by turn governance beckons, the politicians are now at it again.