From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
As the race for the Enugu state government house sit in 2023 continues to build up, political stakeholders from Enugu East Senatorial district have urged that the district should be allowed to produce the next governor to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi
The request is coming barely two weeks after a pressure group from Enugu North Senatorial district known as ‘Odinma Nsukka’ met and took a decision that Enugu North Senatorial district should retain power for the next eight years after their son, Governor Ugwuanyi completes his second tenure in 2023.
Speaking at a meeting which was held at the palace of Late Igwe Julius Nnaji, the foremost traditional ruler of Nike Land, former Governor of Enugu state and current senator representing Enugu East senatorial district, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani cautioned that agreement on power rotation and zoning principle in Enugu state must be maintained.
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani highlighted that going by the agreement, it is the turn of Enugu East senatorial district to produce the next governor of Enugu state in 2023,when Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi must have completed his second tenure in office.
Senator Nnamani harped that it is the zoning principle that has actually endeared peace in the political atmosphere of the state. He noted that the Enugu East senatorial district class must reach out to other political blocs in the state and build bridges.
Also speaking to news men at the end of the meeting, the Speaker of Enugu state House of Assembly, Hon Edward Ubosi, who is the convener of the meeting, expressed confidence that Governor Ugwuanyi will pave way for somebody from Enugu East senatorial district to take from him as Governor of Enugu state, with due respect to the zoning formula which has permitted power to rotate across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He recalled it was during the era of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani ad Governor of Enugu state that the zoning and rotational principle started in Enugu state, adding tha such arrangement has been respected by all
His words, “We want every other senatorial district to support us (Enugu East senatorial district).The zoning principle started with Senator Chimaroke Nnamani. At the end of his tenure, he handed over to Sullivan Chime, who is from Enugu West senatorial district zone. At the end of Sullivan Chime’s tenure, he handed over to Governor Ugwuanyi, who is from Enugu North Senatorial district. So at the end of Governor Ugwuanyi’s tenure, We are very hopeful that power will come back to us (Enugu East senatorial district)”.
