From Maurice Okafor, Enugu.
As most political stakeholders from Enugu East senatorial district of Enugu state insist that it is their turn to produce the next governor of Enugu state in 2023, upon the completion of Governor Ugwuanyi”s second tenure,based on the rotational/zoning principle which started from the zone and have favoured the other two zones on equal terms, a former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo ,who hails from Enugu East senatorial district has thrown his weight behind the government on the search and choice of his successor to Nkanu East council area, which is one out of the six local government areas that makes up Enugu East senatorial district.
Other local government areas that make up Enugu East senatorial district are Enugu North,Enugu South,Enugu East,Nkanu West and Isi Uzo local government areas.Since the past four months or there about that the issue of Enugu East district perceptions of producing the next governor of the state in 2023 has been renting the political waves innthe state,several pressure groups from different communities and local governments within Enugu East senatorial district,have been mounting pressures while the choice should be narrowed to their own local government.
But Chief Jim Nwobodo who addressed press men on the issue for a second time under a week yesterday said he is reaffirming his support for Nkanu East to produce the next governor of Enugu state, to overcome the high rate of under development in Nkanu East council area.
Nwobodo said when hebdeclared that it was the turn of Nkanu East local government area to produce the next governor of the state a few days ago, because of years of neglect, he has received lots of criticsms from some quarters but said he want to reaffim his stand.
He stated, ” Going forward, I have decided to put whatever statement I make on this issue in writing to avoid mischievous misinterpretation of my statements.
“As early as 2019, a delegation of traditional rulers, including these ones with me here, visited me. In the course of our discussion, the issue of producing a governor from Enugu East Senatorial Zone came up and as a politician among them, I offered two advice.
” I said the incumbent governor had just been sworn-in for his second term, and it was too early to start the discussion on where his successor might come from and that when the time comes, the people of Nkanu in general should lobby the Governor, Enugu stakeholders, and the general voting public of Enugu State to support an aspirant from Nkanu East, and I gave the same reasons of Equity and Fairness, ” Nwobodo said.
He reiterated that why he is bent on supporting Nkanu East is that they might be at par with other local governments in terms of development.
To maintain his stance, he said that should any other aspirant from other local governments other than Nkanu East, “I’ll tell him to try but I’ll tell him that my interest is on Nkanu East for equity and fairness.”But on the contrary, Some political pressure groups are mounting pressure that Isi Uzo local government area is the most backward local government area within Enugu East senatorial district and also the least favoured with political appointment in the zone, therefore other local government areas in the zone should give them a chance to produce the next governor of Enugu state in 2023, as a measure of redressing the imbalance.
Many sign posts with inscriptions “Enugu 2023—- KA ISI UZO JEE” (literally meaning,Let Isi Uzo take the chance) is currently mounted at strategic locations within Enugu metropolis and beyond.Equally Some political pressure groups are canvassing for Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa from Nkanu West local government area,who retired from the federal service as a permanent secretary last year,should be allowed to take the slot of Enugu East senatorial district to become the next governor of Enugu state. They are counting on his experience to ginger good governance in the state.
