With the preparations towards the forthcoming 2011 elections in top gear, Jude Ossai examines the political climate of Enugu State and the individuals who could determine the outcome of the governorship election in the state.AHEAD of the 2011 general election in the country, there is no gainsaying that some people, who are in the frontburners of today’s politics largely because of their vantage positions, command a lot of influence, both within and outside their immediate constituencies.

In Enugu State, the situation is not different, as there are politicians who have made their marks in the political history of the state and still have a stake in its affairs.

Here are some of these political gladiators, who possess the necessary political influence and could as well dominate the political scenery in the forthcoming 2011 governorship election in the state.

Governor Sullivan Chime
Arguably, Governor Sullivan Chime remains the greatest beneficiary in Ebeano family, a political structure nurtured and sustained by former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani, now a member of the upper house of the National Assembly.

Ironically, it was alleged that the incumbent governor had since distanced himself from the group, on whose crest he rode to power in 2007.

Prior to the election and pronouncement of Chime as governor, many people in his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), did not give him a chance But as events unfolded, the Udi-born lawyer warmed himself into the hearts of the people with his aggressive development of infrastructure in the state, particularly roads in the Enugu metropolis, which, many have said, remained unparallel in the South-East geopolitical zone.

But critics of Chime have argued that the governor is a weak leader because he was not able to stand his ground during the last local government election in the state, where his perceived close associates lost out in the power game.

For instance, it was said that the governor bowed to pressures from the stakeholders in his local government council, Udi, denying a return ticket to Chief Walter Oji.

A similar story was told in Oji Rivers Local Government Area, where it was, again, the governor could not allow “internal democracy” to take place in other council areas of the state.

However, the pro-Chime group contended that the governor’s actions were anchored on the principle of participatory democracy and rule of law, adding that the governor did not want his personal interest to override that of the majority during the local government polls, where all the 17 chairmen in the state emerged from the PDP stable.

Truly speaking, if the governorship election is held today between the incumbent and any other candidate in Enugu State, Governor Chime would likely triumph as he still holds the ace in the state.
The seemingly opposition that could pose serious threat to the governor could come from his party and that would be on the condition that Ray Nnaji wins the PDP chairmanship tussle, which he instituted at the Federal High Court, Enugu.

Chief Okey Ezea
Perhaps, Chief Okey Ezea, a business mogul, is the strongest opposition leader in Enugu State. He is like a storm in the teacup. No matter the decision of the PDP in the state, Ezea’s factor must be considered, as he constantly keeps the ruling party on its toes.

As the last man standing since 2003, Ezea had proved to be a formidable force and remained critical of the Chime’s government, even after losing his bid to upturn the election of the PDP governor in 2007 at the election tribunal.

In the 2009 local government elections in the state, the former governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP), now in the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA), single-handedly supported the PPA to provide formidable opposition, prompting the ruling party to bring power of incumbency to bear.

Perhaps, if not for the way politics is run in the country, Ezea might have won, at least, one local government council. Even with the arrays of heavy weight politicians in his Enugu North Senatorial zone, Ezea’s PPA remained highly felt in the area. And with the alleged plot by Nnamani’s Ebeano group to join forces with Ezea, the alliance could spring surprises in the 2011 general elections in the state.
Be that as it may, Ezea’s incontinency in political parties appears to be his greatest undoing.

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani
Since he left office as a governor in 2007, he has remained relatively silent on issues concerning Enugu State politics. Though he was a key player in the enthronement of the present administration in the state, he has not shown interest in the affairs of the state. Nnamani’s seemingly indifference, some observers believe, is ominous and should not be swept under the carpet, as his antecedent showed that he is like a cat with nine lives.

To this group, Nnamani knows the right time to strike. It could be recalled that Nnamani, as a governor, was able to transverse the length and breadth of Nigeria effectively, and participated in series of national discourse.

Even with the alleged eight-year misrule, the Agbani-born medical doctor still has pockets of die-hard supporters scattered all over the state. Not even with the tremendous achievements of Governor Chime had made these Nnamani loyalists to loss faith in him.

But critics of Nnamani said that his frosty relationship with his erstwhile political god son (Governor Chime) might cause him his return ticket to the National Assembly in 2011, stressing that, except the presidency intervenes, a fresh candidate for the Enugu-East Senatorial zone election might emerge. Already, one Everest Nnaji is being said in certain cycles as the person to replace him at the upper house in the next political dispensation.

Senator Ayogu Eze
Chief Eze, a former Associate Editor of Newswatch Magazine, came into political limelight in 1992, when he was appointed as a Special Adviser to then Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo of Enugu State.
Eze, currently Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, has gradually succeeded in carving a niche for himself, especially in his Enugu North Senatorial zone, through aggressive development of infrastructure in the area. Presently, Eze’s quest to return to the Senate seemed not to be under threat, more so, as he enjoys a good relationship with Governor Chime since the beginning of this political era.

Apparently to consolidate his political stronghold, Senator Eze was also said to have influenced the elections of many local government chairmen in his constituency, giving him an edge over his political rivals in terms of grass root campaigns. The ability of the senator to influence the re-elections of some local government bosses in the last local government polls in the area accounted for his political relevance and control of politics of Enugu North Senatorial zone.

Critics of Eze, however, said that despite his growing influence, he could get stiff opposition from either the Ezea-led PPA or the Nwodos, arguing that the lawmaker would be tested in 2011.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu
The Deputy Senate President has not shown convincingly that he is nursing a governorship ambition in the state. However, rumours are rife that he is seriously scheming to be the next occupant of the Lion Building Government House, Enugu, in 2011.

How far he would go on this voyage would depend on the political arrangement and development at the presidency. Some political commentators have argued that Ekweremadu’s proximity to Acting President Goodluck Jonathan would act as a boost to his quest, if he decided to run for the governorship seat in the state. It would be recalled that Senator Ekweremadu worked assiduously alongside other progressive senators to kickstart the process which led to the declaration of Jonathan as the acting president, following the then absence of ailing President Musa Yar’Adua.

Pro-Ekweremadu group said that the senator has been able to touch many lives through his pet project, “Ikeoha Foundation,” by awarding scholarships to thousands of indigent students within and outside his Enugu West Senatorial zone.

Nevertheless, critics of Ekweremadu argued that he has not been able to attract meaningful physical projects to his immediate constituency. Aninri Local Government, where his elder brother (Matthias Ekweremadu) hold sway as chairman, and which was said to be the poorest council area in the state after Uzo-Uwani.

With these bigwigs in the league of governorship aspirants, there is no doubt that the shape of Enugu politics would be altered in 2011.