I was fascinated going through the piece written and published in a daily by one Barrister Ken Eluma Asogwa with the above subject headline. For all intents and purposes, I am bona-fide citizen of Enugu state and being a political animal as all humans aught to be, I will naturally be drawn to any political cum social comments on the coal city state unarguably the capital of the Eastern region. Therefore, the aim of my piece in consideration of the subject headline written by Barr. Ken is not in any way intended to down play his line of thoughts but also to amplify such other line of thoughts expressed by others in this seemingly raging issues.
Although, Ken Eluma observedly pointed out to his readers including my humble self and apologized if his subject headline betrayed or was in conflict with what or how he had set out to discuss his subject. Nonetheless, every critical mind and ardent follower of Enugu state politics would be allarmed by the use of the word “tenterhooks” in the headline. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary “tenterhooks” means something or society in a state of uneasiness, strain or suspense.
While Ken could be forgiven for the choice of his words as it seems to have captured the frenzy currently playing out in the political arena not only in Enugu but the entire nation in the race for the occupation of various political positions in 2023, I’m constrained to admit that Ken played to the gallery when in one instant he seemed to support the zoning formulaic policies initiated by the elders of the state and in another, he was seen admonishing the peace loving Governor Ugwuanyi to jettison or deemphasize the entrenched policies or politics of “ke eshi emeride”. “Ke eshi emeride” if I understand Nsukka dialect well (although I’m from Enugu West, Udi to be precise) literally transliterated means “as it has always been done”. One’s estimation of the weight of the phrase should be that Governor Ugwuanyi we all know could choose his successor from any zone other than following established rules which is seen largely to be working and have set a catalysimc tone for the relative peace we have all enjoyed in Enugu. Elsewhere, it has not been that easy and fruitful.
A well thought out plan that is not only working but has proven itself should not be discountenanced just because there are scrambles for political power. I have noted in my previous article that politicians would always behave true to type and would stop at nothing to try new tricks to gain power or remain relevant. That politicians from other zones other than the Enugu East which is equitably supposed to produce the next helmsman in the Lion Building are at it again trying to outdo one another in the race for the occupation of the Lion Building is not a new thing. We are all used to that.
However, it is important to point out that it is to the eternal credit of God who gifted Rt. Honourable Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to Enugu state and under whose watch, governance has been made more alluring and attractive than ever before. No wonder the high level of scrambling for the occupation of the government house is playing out.
It is important to mention that every peace loving citizen of Enugu should support the clockwise principles of rotational governorship among the 3 main zones in the state. Since all the zones have had their go at the plum job, it is only natural to start all over again from wherever it started. It is an aberration to go anti clockwise and in the views of one time National Auditor of PDP, Chief Ray Nnaji “You don’t move anti-clockwise when a circle has gone round. Things are not done that way” .
In the light of the foregoing, Enugu state and by extension all the zones are blessed with politicians and people of excellence. Let the zone who is supposed to produce our next governor field their best of the best. My prayer would remain that God is His infinite grace and mercy should use Mr. Fulfilment, the Gburu-Gburu of Enugu state to discern in concert with the electorate among the pretenders and true visioners of a better Enugu state.
May God appoint for us the true politician that will not only be a better version of Mr. Fulfilment but who has the true attributes enunciated by Pope Francis…
Let every man or woman who is gearing to take up the service of government, ask themselves 2 important questions … Do I love my people in order to serve them better? Am I humble and do I listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path.
This has been the hallmark of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration. May Enugu state remain firmly in the hands of God, Amen.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED” HIS EXCELLENCY GOV IFEANYI UGWUANYI( MR FULFILMENT) WILL PROJECT OUR GOVERNOR COME 2023
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke.
A PR practitioner writes in from Abuja.
Member Enugu di n’aka Chukwu movement.
