From Maurice Okafor,Enugu.
As the Count down to the February 25 and March 11, General elections in Nigeria are gradually drawing by, Enugu state appears to be one of the states in the country that will witness a peaceful but credible competitive election. This stems on the fact of atmosphere of conviviality without political intimidation and thuggery,provided by the Governor Ugwuanyi led administration in the state, which to a large extent has motivated healthy campaigns among the four major parties in the context in the state,with much of their respective esources and contact. The four major parties are the All Progressives Grand Alliance[APGA], All Peoples Congress[APC],Labour Party[LP] and the Peoples Democratic Party[ PDP], which is the ruling party in the state.
The Peter Mbah, the PDP governorship candidate in the state seems to be having an edge ahead of the three others, with campaign structures almost in all cranny of the state, but the three others are not yet giving up their fight amidst ineffective structure and internal crises.
One significant factor among the four contestants from the four major parties in the race for next occupant of the Enugu state government house,popularly known as ‘Lion building’ in March 11,2023 governorship election is the fact that they all hails from the famous ‘Nkanu cultural zone whose communities form the bunch of Enugu East senatorial district of the state..
Enugu East senatorial district of Enugu state comprises of six local government areas namely Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Enugu East, Enugu North, Enugu South and Isi Uzo local government areas
By the implication of the demand that it is their turn to produce the next civilian governor of Enugu state in 2023 based on the rotation/zoning principle reached by elders of the state, the All Progressives Grand Alliance[ APGA], the All Progressives Congress [APC], Labour Party[LP] and the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP],during their party primaries finally produced their governorship candidates from the zone.
The candidates of the four major political parties who all hail from Nkanu land are Chief Uche Nnaji with APC ticket, Mr Frank Nweke of APGA, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga of Labour part(LP) and Barr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, with PDP ticket.
In what appeared as a pre election verdict, Top political stakeholders from Enugu East senatorial zone irrespective of party of affiliation,the clergy, Professional bodies,traders,among others,gathered at Okpara square on Friday,January 20,to announce to the world that Hon. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, the PDP governorship as their only preferable candidate for the election.
The stakeholders who spoke at what is themed ‘ENUGU EAST SENATORIAL DISTRICT ENDORSEMENT RALLY FOR DR PETER NDUBUISI MBAH….Our choice for gubernatorial election’ include Chief Jim Nwobodo, civilian governor of old Anambra state, the immediate past chairman of APC in Enugu state. Dr Ben Nwoye, the union of Clergy men from Enugu East senatorial district led by the Enugu state CAN chairman, Rev. Osita Edeh, the Enugu East council of traditional rulers represented by Igwe Abel Nwobodo. With the exception of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, both old and currently serving members of the national assembly from the district led by Hon Offor Chukwuegbo, Members of the state legislator from the district and the six serving local government chairman within the district led by Hon Livinus Nze, the Enugu East local government chairman.
The Enugu East political stakeholders stressed that their decision of endorsing Peter Mbah as the soul candidate of Nkanu land stems on his sterling qualities and experience as a successful business man, coupled with his initial exposure in the art of governance, having served as chief of staff and a former commissioner for finance in the state, gives him an edge far ahead of the other candidates,who are equally sons of Nkanu land. . They also commended his philanthropy and humanitarian nature as very unique and an exemplar.
The Governor of old Anambra state, Chief Jim Nwobodo who was physically present at the endorsement rally told Dr Peter Mbah to consider his ambition to be governor of Enugu state as a done deal just as Governor Ugwuanyi will become the next senator of Enugu North Senatorial district.
The Council of Traditional rulers of Enugu East district origin who turned out in large numbers,recalled the resolve for Dr Peter Mbah was aftermath of the peace truce other sixteen guber aspirants on the platform of PDP and have remained resolute with it.
The chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria[CAN],Enugu state chapter,Rev Osita Edeh,who was accompanied by over fifty other clergy men of Nkanu origin to the podium,attested and glorified God for the choice of Dr Peter Mbah, as choice of their people.He disclosed that CAN, Enugu state chapter will hold special prayer rally for Governor Ugwuanyi and the state on February 16,2023.
The high point of the endorsement rally appears to be the declaration of the immediate past Enugu state APC chairman, Dr Ben Nwoye, to mobilise and vote for Dr Peter Mbah during the governorship election on March 11,2023 even though he is a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Committee[PCC]. Ben Nwoye said he will vote for APC in the presidential campaigns and will turn his support for Dr Peter Mbah,on the day of the governorship election.
Checks revealed that the Enugu East senatorial district endorsement rally for Peter Mbah,held at Okpara square on Friday,January 20,since thereafter has put jitters on the other three opposition parties. The APC seems to have developed cold feet with worsening internal crises over hosting of Bola Tinubu’s rally. The boycott of the Okpara square event by most major stakeholders like ex -governor Sullivan Chime, a former senate president,Chief Ken Nnamani,Minister of foreign affairs,Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, is a major set back on the moves of the Chief Ugo Agballah leadership of the party to challenge the PDP frontally.
However, the leadership of Labour Party in Enugu state still remains hopeful they will rock the boat against PDP controlled government of Enugu state. Basking on the ‘Obidient slogan’ which is selling fast across the South East zone of the country, a chieftain of Labour party in Enugu state in a chat with The Authority asserted that the party still has it’s stronghold in Enugu state.
He argued that the expected bloc votes from Nkanu land will be neutralized in the Enugu metropolis,with what he described as ‘undiluted Obidient Voters’. He further asserted that Labour party with Barr Chijioke Edeoga as it’s flag bearer will gain massive vote from Nsukka Cultural zone, just as the core Nkanu land are mobilizing massive support for Dr Peter Mbah. He claims that their party also has large follower-ship in Isi Uzo and Oji River local government areas,where it’s governorship candidate,Chijioke Edeoga and running mate, Dr Nwokeabia hails from.
