◾ Being a press release by the Enugu State Progressive Youths on Thursday, January 12, 2022 in Enugu
In Nigeria today, the agitation by the South East in particular and the entire South of Nigeria is that power should rotate so as to make every component part of the country have a strong sense of belonging and truly portray us as one. This is the reason the South East is strongly showing interest in Nigeria’s presidency come 2023.
Everyone in Enugu State agrees that though unwritten, the agreement on rotation of governorship position among the 3 senatorial districts in the state has brought unprecedented peace and tranquility in power transition in the state. This has to continue.
The circle and wheel of rotation of the position of governor in Enugu State which took off in 1999 with Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani from Agbani in Enugu East Senatorial District, has rotated to Enugu West Senatorial District with Barr Sullivan Chime mounting the saddle from 2007 to 2015, and now Enugu North Senatorial District is serving their turn in the person of His Excellency Governor Ugwuanyi whose tenure ends next year, 2023.
By 2023 the rotation wheel which is currently berthing in Enugu North zone is expected to seamlessly move to Enugu East Senatorial District where it started in 1999 under the present political and geographical structure of Enugu State.
We the members of Enugu State Progressive Youths, a body of all lovers of peace and progress as driven by the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, are proud of the activities of Nkanu East Consultative Forum (NECF) led by a world renowned robotic engineer, Prof. Bart Nnaji, in reaching out to Enugu State stakeholders, requesting that the 2023 Guber ticket for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, be ceded to the LGA.
We are in total support of the group’s initiative to consult with revered and respected Enugu State opinion molders ahead of the 2023 governorship election. This is a welcomed development, a right step in the right direction and we urge you not to relent one bit in toeing the peaceable footsteps of Governor Ugwuanyi in achieving this.
We are aware of the fact that power is not given rather it is taken, so we understand why every political grouping, association and LGA in Enugu East Senatorial District and beyond is somehow overtly or covertly pushing for their interest to be accepted by all. In the same vein, what Nkanu East Consultative Forum is doing is within the ambit of the law and we endorse it, and call on every good spirited and peace loving person in Enugu State to embrace it.
▪️Our Implicit Confidence In The Leadership Of The Forum
Nkanu East Consultative Forum parades some of the best brains in various fields of endeavour, hence, we are unapologetic crusaders and supporters of the eggheads leading the forum, credentials of some of whom are to say the least, intimidating. Let us mention just a few of them.
- PROFESSOR BART O. NNAJI
Professor Bart Okechukwu Nnaji is the Chairman/CEO of Geometric Power Limited, the first indigenously owned private sector power company in Nigeria.
Geometric Power develops and invests in powerplants, sub stations, electricity distribution infrastructure and gas pipelines.
Geometric Power is roaring to commence operations soon.
He is currently serving as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Bells University of Technology, Ota in Ogun State.
Prof. Nnaji served as the Federal Minister of Power from 2011 to 2012. Prior to that, he served as special Adviser to the President on Power & Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power from 2010 to 2011. During this period, he developed the Roadmap for power reform in Nigeria. He subsequently led the implementation of the Power Roadmap as well as privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the state-owned utility monopoly as Honourable Minister of Power.
During his tenure as Minister, he was a member of the National Economic Management Team, chaired by the President and includes Senior Ministers and select Captains of Industry. He served as a member of the presidential Advisory Council from March 2010 to January 2011 and was the Chairman of the Power committee of the Council.
In 1993, he served as Federal Minister of Science and Technology of Nigeria. Prior to his appointment, the Ministry had been abolished by Government. He re-established the Ministry to sustainability to date.
In 2009, he was appointed by then President Yar’Adua as a member of the National Energy Council (the apex decision making body on energy in Nigeria). He was the founding President of the Independent Power Providers Association of Nigeria (IPPAN).
Prof. Nnaji served on the Governing Board of the Nigerian Merit Board from 2008 to January 2014.
He was a Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst from 1983 to 1996.
He subsequently became the Alcoa Foundation Professor of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2003. In 2003, he served as the William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Engineering at University of Pittsburgh where he also spearheaded the creation of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Centre for e-Design as a multi-campus NSF Center of Excellence in the United States of America and served as its first director. He resigned as William Kepler Professor of Engineering and Director of the U.S. NSF Center for e-Design in 2007.
Prof Nnaji also served as Principal or Co-Principal Investigator on over $50 million research sponsored by the US National Science Foundation, NATO, US Department of Defence, NASA, General Electric GE, Boeing, IBM, Ford Motor, and many other major companies.
Prof. Bart Nnaji has published 5 books and over 100 technical articles.
His book, Computer Integrated Manufacturing and Engineering, won the 1994 world best text book prize for Manufacturing Engineering.
He was the founding Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Design and Manufacturing and has served as Editor of many professional journals. He has also served as Chairman of many conferences including the World Conference on Robotics Research (1991); the UN Institute for Training and Research Workshop for diplomats from various parts of the world at the UN headquarters on debt and financial management for developing countries (2001 and 2002).
Prof. Bart Nnaji has received numerous awards including: 5 honorary doctorates from prestigious universities; Nigeria’s highest intellectual national honour – the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM); the National Honours – Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) & Commander of the Order of Niger (CON); Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Science; Fellow of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (FAEng); The U.S. Secretary of State’s Distinguished Public Service Award (1995); Distinguished Scientist Award by the World Bank – IMF Africa Group (October 1998); West African Power Industries Life-time Achievement Award for 2014; among others.
Prof. Nnaji is conferred with numerous chieftaincy titles including but not limited to Onwa Nkanu conferred on him by all the traditional rulers of Nkanuland in 1993 in the presence of the then Governor of Old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Aka Ji Oku Ndigbo conferred on him by Eze Nri in 2010, Agunaecheibe conferred on him by HRH Igwe Greg Ugwu of Attakwu Akegbe-Ugwu.
- HRH IGWE ABEL NWOBODO
Igwe Abel Nwobodo, the traditional ruler of Umuawalagu in Nkanu East Local Government Area, is the patron of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council.
He was the pioneer Chairman of the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC.
He was an astute technocrat.
- RT. HON. KANAYO EDEH
Rt. Hon Kanayo Ede with avowed interest in the economic growth of the society, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Landown University, United Kingdom.
Hon. Kanayo is a business man and politician.
Rt. Hon Kanayo was a 3 time Member of the House of Representatives, MHR, who represented Nkanu East-West Federal Constituency in 1992, 1998 and 1999.
In Enugu East Senatorial District, Nkanu East Local Government Area with abundant human and natural resources is the most neglected and disadvantaged LGA and for equity and fairness, it should come to par with others.
The consultations of Nkanu East Consultative Forum, NECF, are yielding the required fruits, so we understand if any person or group of persons feels threatened. We wholeheartedly encourage you not to relent but continue reaching out to Ndi Enugu.
In an African parlance, It is only the “tree that bears fruits that stones are thrown at”.
Kingsley Ejinima
President
Uzodimma Nnamene
General Secretary
for Enugu State Progressive Youths
Great information