▪️By Onziike Orji
Enugu – As preparations for the 2023 polls begin to gather steam in Enugu State, the question on every lip has turned to “which area should take the governorship ticket?
This question arises principally because of the saying that power is not given, rather it is taken and some have taken the opportunity more than once under different military and civilian regimes in the old Anambra and Enugu States.
To find an answer to this divisive question, Chief Gideon Dubem Onyia, former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in the government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has suggested a round table discussion involving all opinion and political leaders of the state.
Chief Onyia made the call while responding to an appeal for support for the agitation of Nkanu East local government area in Enugu East Senatorial District to have the ticket to themselves in the 2023 governorship race.
Nkanu East leaders, led by Former Minister of Power, and currently the Chairman, Advisory Board for Nigeria Liquidfied Natural Gas (NLNG) Prize for Science, Professor Bart Nnaji, had visited Chief Onyia in his Enugu residence in the new year to solicit support for their request for the ticket to be ceded to them this time around.
In an argument in support of their position, Prof. Nnaji posited that the ticket having gone round the three senatorial zones of the state and returned to Enugu East zone, it should rightly go to Nkanu East which is one of the councils in the six-council areas yet to have a go at the coveted office.
According to him, since the ticket would be going to Enugu East Senatorial District, it should go to an area that has not had it once so that the wind of development will go round and blow on everyone.
He said Nkanu East has been neglected by previous administrations that have been in power in the state.
“There is no single government presence in the council area. There is no serious appointment given to people of the area.
“We are not asking for our son to be made governor so he can divert and concentrate development projects to our area. No. We are asking for even distribution of amenities to every area of the state including our own.
“Nkanu East is a rich agricultural bed and has a lot of untapped mineral deposits but there is no government presence in the vast area. If good all seasons roads are put in place, mineral and agricultural potentials in the area will be exploited for the benefit of the state”, Nnaji explained.
The former minister also said that some individuals from sister local governments areas in the zone (Enugu East Senatorial Zone) have been governors in the state at different times.
In his replies Chief Onyia assured Nkanu East leaders of his support if his party (the People’s Democratic Party) chooses its gubernatorial candidate from Nkanu East.
Other Nkanu leaders in the Prof Nnaji-led consultative forum include HRH Igwe Abel Nwobodo of Umuawalagu kingdom, HRH Igwe Felix Nwatu of Ihuokpara, HRH Igwe Moses Idenyi of Umuode former Secretary to the State Government, Dr. G.O.C. Ajah, Chief Anayo Edeh, Hon Ejike Ani among others. GMTNews
