Perhaps the saying that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown could not have been better described than what the incumbent occupiers of political positions in various states of the federation are currently undergoing. The permutations and horse trading as to who gets what and at what level come 2023 have gotten to an all time fever pitch. Politicians and their shenaniganism. While some state chief executives are restrategizing to secure the mandates of their parties for another term in office irrespective of their performances, others who have completed or about to complete their constitutional tenures of two terms have been receiving serious bashing from their immediate Constituencies either to get the attention of such chief executive to do their bidding or to cajole him into making a promise that might not be in the best interest of the people in the end. Such posturing and manoeuvres have always have the tendency to derail government policies and programs even while the tenure of the incumbent is yet to formally end. The distractions and it’s consequent breach on the running programs of government can be quite humongous.
Enugu State has been on this trajectory for as far back as the inauguration of Governor Ugwuanyi for a second term in office. Political horse trading as to who takes over from him at the Lion Building was commenced albeit in the background and within hushed tones. With the closing in of another general election in not too distant future, the murmurings has blossomed into a babel of sort with the decibels from such threatening to asphyxiate the rest of us. It is important to stress that from the beginning of his first term to the second, Gov. Ugwuanyi has remained as resolute and focused in delivering that which brought him to power to the good people of the state. Without sounding immodest, his calm mien, carriage and high sense of approach to issues has helped to whittle down the many distractions which his government had encountered and still do courtesy of his political associates and opponents alike.
Today, Enugu state is unarguably the most peaceful state where everyone is regarded as an equal stakeholder in the governance of the state. Again, without exaggeration, Enugu state is today a state in Nigeria where political opposition is virtually non-existent. I for one, do not regard the cacophony of voices from those who want one political patronage or another or from those with vaulting ambition to occupy the Lion Building as being existentially oppositions. It is still part of the horse trading to get a part of the booty while the cooking is going on. However, I am concerned by the potentiality of such horse trading harming our governor in a manner that might leave a scar on his physique. May God forbid! After all, he is a human like the rest of us.
Governor Ugwuanyi no doubt have become a beautiful bride that many politicians are falling head over heels to woo and inadvertently marking him for a crash. May God continue to forbid, Amen.
In 2020, the Ebeano political family powered by the former governor, Dr. Chimaoke Nnamani stormed the government House to pledge his total loyalty to Governor Ugwuanyi stressing their readiness to abide by the discretion of the governor in his choice of a successor. Recently, the former Deputy Senate President, Dr. Ike Ekweremadu also visited the governor in his office for the same reason while decrying the machinations of the political jobbers to put a wedge in between him and the governor. Not quite a few read in between the lines when the former DSP made his presentations before the governor. Few weeks down the line after the visit which seemed like an after thought on the part of the distinguished legislator, the political jobbers are still rife. One wonders like many others before me why a fellow in the person of the Governor who is constitutionally billed to step down as chief executive of the state in 2023 would have to be excoriated for the simple reason that another is after the job he would eventually leave behind. How would such outlandish attacks akin to what is often regarded as a PULL HIM DOWN SYNDROME(PHD) help one’s efforts to ascend an upper level in the political process.
It is therefore important to counsel these political gladiators to embark more on confidence building, building bridges of trust among those they planned to govern and conducting perception surveys to determine their acceptability or otherwise. It is important therefore at this critical time in our march for an enduring democracy to let our governor be. Give him reasonable space to concentrate more on achieving many of his laudable projects and programs before the end of his tenure. More often, political officers are often imposed on the people rather than through a consensus of opinion. This has emboldened many of the gladiators to bulldoze their way into leadership by any means possible including physical and character assassination.
Interestingly, I am confident that the amiable governor is doing well and would continue to do well. He will triumph despite the ensuing challenges arising from the established zoning arrangements to select new governors from the existing zones in the state. Another issue I am also confident he will be able to surmount and where his aspect of sagacity will come to bear upon is his choice of a successor who will be able to co-own his vision and run with it no matter the zone God bring up such candidate from.
All said and done, Enugu state will remain firmly in the hands of God.
BIBIAN ANEKWE NEWS ADDED ” WHEN THE RIGHTEOUS ARE IN AUTHORITY, THE PEOPLE REJOICE BUT WHEN THE WICKED BEARETH RULE, THE PEOPLE MOURN( PROVERBS 29.2) HIS EXCELLENCY GOV IFEANYI UGWUANYI( MR FULFILMENT ) IS A GOD SENT TO THE PEOPLE OF ENUGU STATE AND NIGERIAN NEED HIM COME 2023.
Written by
Austin Okechukwu Chijioke
is a PR Practitioner and a member of ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT..
Writes from Abuja
