₦airaland Forum

centje:
I feel like crying, missing Road block again
Who knows whether the incoming Governor will uphold this Cultural festival Chime started
Too bad for me

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1950592_image_jpeg9f360c5ab7736510df54c882e9dbf188

[size=18pt]
Papa oringo[/size]

Wow! Centje, is that you?

Above is simply splendid. Great ideas are Coming! Mej, u dey so? Hear him o!

Splendid, I personally commend you. More please.

Same story here by Guardian.
Op, thanks a lot.

It will do to indicate your source. Cheers!

spyder880:
Thank you bro, I love the wonderful job you are doing in the Anambra State thread. Together we can bring changes to our places by bringing out the way things are. Well done.

@spyder880 -do show how things are in Enugu by showing pictures of Nachi Veg oil, Ikenga Nsukka, Ohebedim Alum Company, and,Nigersteeln that are all lying waste

Gov Chime's poor handling of things has really messed up the election. We expect many court cases, na waaa.

PDP Guber Primary election, Enugu:
Confusion.

No accreditation yet. Prob has to do with which list to use. Govt delegates not recognised by part and court is what they want use all thru. But Ekweremmadu has the authentic list for west which he asked them to use.

Issue is that Chime said they can't mix it. So us for west are being asked to go home. Uthentic list for north is with ayogu eze and nobody knows where he iswn doing his own parallel primaries. We hear he has teamed up with Frank Nweke who is the custodian of authentic delegate list for East

All but Sullivan:

Ex Aviation Minister Stella Oduah wins Anambra North PDP Senatorial Primary by Emyben(m): 4:19pm
Former Aviation Minister Stella Oduah has won incumbent Senator and wife of Chuba Okadigbo to pick PDP senatorial ticket in Anambra.

Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South PDP reps ticket: How delegates disgraced Vita AbbaBy Emmanuel Uzodinma on December 7, 2014
Subcribe to Daily Post Newsletter

History was made in Enugu State on Saturday during the House of Representatives Primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as Engr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, floored Vita Abba, who was before the election, perceived to be Governor Sullivan Chime’s prefered candidate.

DAILY POST recalls that Abba had few days to the PDP ward congress, resigned his position as the chairman of the party in the State, leaving the party structure for his Deputy, Elder David Aja, a close confidant of the Deputy Senate President Ike, Ekweremadu.

Although Governor Chime’s faction of the party had tried to install Ikeje Asogwa as a replacement for Abba, the PDP’s NWC kicked against it, insisting that due process must be followed in appointing a new chairman of the party in the state.

On ground zero

Enugu East ticket: Senator Nnaji defeats Chime’s candidate, NwobodoBy Emmanuel Uzodinma on December 7, 2014
Subcribe to Daily Post Newsletter


Chime

Governor Sullivan Chime’s preferred candidates continued to suffer loses on Sunday as incumbent Senator Gilbert Nnaji, floored former Enugu Chief of Staff, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo to clinch the PDP ticket for Enugu East senatorial district.

Nwobodo, who resigned her position to contest the election, could not muster meaningful votes even with the Governor’s perceived support.

Senator Nnaji picks Enugu East Senatorial ticket, floors 4 others

http://dailypost.ng/2014/12/07/enugu-east-ticket-senator-nnaji-defeats-chimes-candidate-nwobodo/

PDP Senatorial Tickets: Govs Uduaghan, Chime Forced Out By Power Play
Chibuzo Ukaibe, Mike Ubani and Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Mohammed Ismail
— Dec 6, 2014 | Leave a comment
As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) begins its primaries to choose its candidates for the National Assembly elections, an intense power play, intrigues and upsets have forced two frontline governors to abandon their senatorial ambitions.

Barely 48 hours to the party’s senatorial primaries, governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan and his Enugu State counterpart, Sullivan Chime, lost in the power tussle in the state as they declared their withdrawal from the party’s senatorial primaries.

While Uduaghan intended to unseat Senator James Manager in the tussle for Delta South Senatorial District, Chime was up against the deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, in the race for Enugu West Senatorial District.

While the House of Representatives primaries of the party hold today, the senatorial primaries are scheduled for tomorrow.

Explaining why he withdrew from the Delta South Senatorial race, Uduaghan beaming with smiles said he resolved to withdraw from the race in the interest of peace and tranquillity, noting that he considered the fragile peace currently in the state.

The announcement which took Deltans by surprise came against reports that some youth groups allegedly from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, had purportedly threatened to make the state ungovernable.

Sources from the state said that the alleged youth had also written several letters to the governor, warning him to drop his senatorial ambition.

However, the governor said, “I decided to withdraw from the race having received several security reports indicating danger and trouble for the state. I do not want a repeat of Ijaw and Itsekiri crisis; I do hope the peace will be sustained.”

On his part, the Enugu State governor who has been at loggerheads with Sen Ekweremadu withdrew from the contest saying he did so in the interest of the party.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Barr Chukwudi Achife, who confirmed this development in a telephone interview said, the governor jettisoned his ambition to dislodge the current senator representing the Enugu West Senatorial District, Ike Ekweremadu “in the interest of the party”.

According to Achife, the governor in taking the decision not to run said that the “interest of the party overrides the interest of any politician or group.”

In a related development, the political landscape in Enugu had been overheated in the past few weeks following Chime’s earlier decision to contest the senatorial seat of Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

This development had led to the factionalisation of the state chapter of the PDP into the Chime and Ekweremadu camps with each camp employing both conventional and unconventional means to stay on top of the struggle for supremacy.

LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that Governor Chime agreed to step down for Sen Ekweremadu after he was assured by the national leadership of the party that he would be allowed to produce his successor.

Governor Chime had earlier announced Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as his successor, a development which rankled Sen Ayogu Eze, who currently represents Enugu North Senatorial Zone at the Senate.

Senator Eze is also angling to succeed Governor Chime but following Governor Chime’s decision to pull out of the race on the ground that he would be allowed to produce his successor, it is doubtful whether Senator Eze would make it at the governorship primaries.

It would be recalled that the camp loyal to Sen Ekweremadu had produced all the delegates during the November 1 ward congress held in the state.

Besides Uduaghan and Chime, other governors angling for senatorial seats are Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) Jonah Jang (Plateau), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Theodore Orji (Abia).

Awgu election calm. No issues whatsoever. On my way to my village

"The Enugu Governor Sullivan Chime, reportedly was fighting for his political life when he was seemingly outsmarted by the power bloc in the state party led by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu. The development only meant that there has to be negotiations and horse- trading amidst pseudo-legal moves as they cast lot to determine who emerged candidate at various levels."

http://ngrguardiannews.com/features/policy-a-politics/189370-southeast-last-minutes-horse-trading-threats-of-defection-as-pdp-seek-governorship-candidates

From what we faced yesterday, a lot of my colleagues are scared of going to Awgu.

There is palpable fear in Ekweremmadu quarters that with the way things are going, nobody should be surprised if Chime organises a parallel primary to elect himself.

If that happens, the Chime cannever be trusted again. I will be in Awgu come rain come shine.

Parallel primaries. Army used to drag us out of Udi LGA ground and Coal city Buses brought government delegates. Phone calls and we were told to stay and see whipping and flogging. Women, some with children, girls, men and boys. It was commotion galore.

They had their way and we did ours further down the gate and they did theirs inside and declared Denis winnier. Ozomgbachi won in our own naturally and told us to keep rejoicing.

[size=14pt]Chukwuegbo, Ozomgbachi, Okechukwu others emerge PDP NASS candidates in Enugu[/size]
December 06


The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo, was Saturday elected as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, House of Representatives candidate for Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency of Enugu State.

The Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, was also elected as candidate for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency in the factionalised PDP National Assembly Primary election held at Udi Saturday.

Ozomgbachi, a three-term member of the National Assembly, scored 98 votes to defeat four other aspirants including Valentine Amadi who scored 6 votes, Dennis Amadi, 3, Uche Ugwu 8 and Ejike Njeze 6..

Detailed result of the Enugu North/Enugu South where Chukwuegbo emerged candidate was not available by press time.,

The member representing Awgu/Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon. Toby Okechukwu was also elected unopposed at the PDP primary held at Awgu.

The three representatives were elected by the authentic delegates elected from various wards during the November 1 Ward Congresses of the party in the state. The delegates’ lists were contained in the Certified True Copy of the Lists of Delegates recognized by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

However, the group loyal to Governor Sullivan Chime held their own primaries in Enugu North/Enugu South and Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituencies with different sets of delegates who were not among those elected by the party on November 1 where different candidates were elected.

Heavily armed soldiers and policemen drafted to Udi local government secretariat venue for Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency primaries prevented the genuine delegates from gaining entry into the secretariat as the twin iron gates were locked against them.

The delegates, who staged non-violent protest outside the gate after they were kept waiting for several hours, decided to hold the primary at the gate amidst tight security. After the exercise, the result was announced by Hon. Paul Anikwe, former member of Enugu State House of Assembly and the state chairman of Jonathan Support Group.

The result of the factional primary by the Chime group was yet to be announced by press time.

At Awgu where the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu participated, Chairman of the PDP National Assembly Primary Election panel for the state, Senator Anthony Manzo, commended the delegates for conducting themselves peacefully and assured that the penal would conduct free and fair primaries in the state.

Ekweremadu who cast his vote along with the November 1 delegates that participated in Awgu/Aninri/Oji River Federal Constituency primaries, also said that the primary was fair and peaceful, expressing the home that the Senatorial Primaries would also be peaceful.

Results from Enugu East/Isiuzo and Nkanu East/Nkanu West Constituencies as well as the three constituencies in Enugu North Senatorial zone are yet to be announced.

However, there are indications that the peace accord between Governor Chime and Senator Ekweremadu groups brokered by President Jonathan which led to the peaceful conduct of last Saturday’s House of Assembly primaries in the state may have collapsed.

The governor’s insistence that some of his loyalists should be given some National Assembly slots after he had produced all the State Assembly candidates in line with the peace accord, destroyed the peace accord leading to the parallel National Assembly primaries held Saturday.

Despite the parallel primaries, there was no report of violence from any of the constituencies as members of both factions conducted themselves peacefully.

See Photos frojm Ud/Ezeagyu Fed Constituency Primary

Dear sirs, It was war at Udi LGA.

The truce has collapsed!!!!!!!!

You are either geniune or fake delegate at Udi depending on who you are with.

Flogging galore in hot sun. Old women and girls, no exception.

Bros this Chime people try o! Commanding mopol to beating old women. I don't mind the boys and girls. They braved it well. They were propped for it last night that it was going to be war.

Ozomgbachi won with his group. Denis won with gvernment delegates. Two people have the ticket. Its now for Abuja and court to decide.


Nothing more.

Fimile a beg. Enugu is on fire.

On ground Udi for house of rep election. Tension here is fever pitch, very palpable.

The authentic delegates in court-approved list insist they must be the ones to be used in today's election.

Info has it that Sen Ben Collins Ndu is heading to storm the venue with different set of delegates, apparently, govt-santioned delegates.

We in the high sun and little afraid. Fracas seem inevitable

More from MOE:

"Every fool in Christendom knew that there was no way Chime was going to beat DSP in Enugu West senatorial zone. The people felt let down, and you know University of Agbaja is one bone Even if it entails switching parties, DSP had sworn to return to the Senate. This was over ONE YEAR after I saw it coming and things going the other way.
 
What happened yesterday is deeper; the full effect is still unfolding.
 
The fact is that while you have "an ear to the ground," I do not have to stop to tell it as it is. Recall the person who fired the first shot? Ray Nnaji... way, way back  on August 4, 2013 when he ordered the DSP to bow to the Governor just because he (DSP) asked "ka a kpaa ya akpa."  That was when I saw it and called it.  
 
Read again:
 
>>>Governor Sullivan Chime must not allow peripheral party persons to stampede him into an avoidable confrontation with the Deputy Senate President. :::::. It's a fight Brother Sullivan does not need and should avoid, even if there is a 90% chance he will win; the 10% can take an extra zero in one day of petty politicking.:::::.”
 
 
It happened just that way: 100% overturn, mathematically speaking! 16 months after I foresaw it.
 
I didn't have to call anyone to know that it was not going to end well."

PROUDIGBO:
^^^Oh shut the fuc/k up!.....You're getting more irritating with each subsequent post!

So you're even shameless enough to admit you and your principal rigged the contest!?

Hope you choke on your next ill-gotten pay cheque!

Now this is getting interesting

Uduaghan Steps Down

https://www.nairaland.com/2030652/governor-uduaghan-steps-down-james

So, no be only Enugu. All these greedy governors are falling in a heap.

And let nobody try to sell that Statesman b.s. To us cos we know the stopped fighting after they've lost out or schemed out or both. In Enugu Chime. Was out-rigged. He was not only schemed out, he also lost out.

Gosh! Just now, 8,042 views

MOE responds to Amaka Oduh:

"Sister Amaka,
 
Deeje.
 
I join you in saluting Brother Sullivan Chime; that was a class act: deciding to drop out of the ill-advised senate race and allowing the party a free hand to choose its candidates for various offices. Although some may think his hands were forced, I still think it took some guts to rise above the unnecessary fray, stop fighting, and embrace a new dawn -- for him and for our State. He has been blessed. He is blessed. He did his best. Mistakes were made. Normal. We are all humans. The lessons remain to be learned.
 
That said, I must say that I foresaw the outcome. Yes, yes, the Oracle! Don't believe me? Check the archives. I also wrote that many of his sycophantic soldiers, who never stop to give him his dues openly (as you just did), will buckle at the first sight of war tanks! I sympathize with the Governor. It must be disheartening to see some supposed generals of his political army weeping at the gates of DSP Ike Ekweremadu and turning night into day in clandestine wheeling and dealing and petty political perambulations. Sad! Now they are free to wheel and deal in daylight!

Agha dawa... ma mmadu anwuna!
 
Nothing against the DSP; he fought a fairly decent fight. I admire him for that. This is about loyalty to someone in good and in bad times. Shifting with the clouds is a sure sign of the philistine. Such people do NOT deserve a seat in the Lion Building--and they will not get it because the fragrance of fart foretells the tastiness of feces!
 
But this is about the applauded action of Governor Sullivan--to stay on henceforth as an unbiased umpire, reportedly. If true, I have four points for you:
 
1. It saves PDP from permanent hierarchical damage--yes "phd"! Obviously, whoever emerges Governor in his party will have a free hold on the reins of power and need not wrestle with a godfather-- as he and Chima Nnamani did to different degrees.
 
2. The declaration saves our beloved State loads of money. I bet the FAT old boyz of Abuja will be disappointed that the GMGs will ebb, but that's their loss--our gain. Now the government can complete all the rural road projects and the Secretariat. We do not need another Conference Center laying fallow for another eight years. Waa!
 
3. Brother Sullivan buys himself some sanity... for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his self-worth, his soul! He will no longer worry about the actions of whomever he would have sacrificed his soul to make governor. [Check out Obi-Obiano brouhaha.] Even if APC's Okey Ezea wins (long shot, yes; but we never know), the then ex-Governor will still get his peace of mind knowing that he allowed the system to play out peacefully with no shedding of precious blood. [I am assuming the DSP too will allow an open field once he secures his now unopposed, wide-road-open  return ticket the Senate... his dog in the fight; the other dog being an end to zoning--which I endorse, and must end in 2015 -- if there is a 2015!]
 
4. The Governor can now settle down and define his legacy: Development of our rural community through a paradigm shift in governance: TOWN GOVERNMENT.
 
The Governor has done well for Enugu City. Yes. The Coal City Shuttle service rocks on good dualized city road. Yes, Storm Rex nailed it, though not quite generally so: Enugu State, Obodo Oyibo! Roads and houses and buses depreciate, and better designs come to be. What he needs now is to put a stamp on his laudable but underappreciated LGA legacy of elections as and when due.

Within the next four months, the Governor could put a legal stamp on town governments, whereby those elected FREELY (Option 4) as town mayors by Easter weekend will easily become councilors by December. One condition: anyone whose primary residence is outside the town is not ineligible. We cannot continue to have LGA chairs who live in Enugu. The way to stop them is to have councilors who live with the people.
 
Oh, and get a campus of ESUT to Nkwo Agu Udi (former Udi Techs) stretching down to Nachi Girls. A few million naira will set up two high schools in downtown Umuabi and Umuaga to mop up the displaced students. [Yes, yes, the Anglican Church will cry foul, but money talks ] Now that we have a campus of Open University in Awgu and another set for Opi, Agbaja needs some of that acada sunshine too !
 
I am happy that the Governor has deemed it right to be the political father of the state, an Enugu statesman, not just PDP. I told Governor Nnamani eight short years ago, you never know who is going to get your back. It could be someone from the twilight days. We know how his acolytes turned out. Brother Sullivan should shine his eyes. As my In-laws say, whoever sees where a fowl is foraging a pile of crap should shoo it away; no one knows who will eat the legs!
 
Finally, the governor should use these last months to put together his memoirs while the memories are still fresh in his mind. We have been so starved of inside intrigues that people propagate rude rumors. Especially with the many allegations out there, he will need time to sit back and set the records straight.... strike while the iron is hot!  And it can be very therapeutic, trust me.
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts straight out of the  reported stakeholders' caucus; they were raw, real, and reasonable. Remain blessed.
 
MOE
Live. Learn. Love. Laugh. Leave.
Everything else is embellishment"

Wow!! Never knew Chime was this popular. Almost 7,400 views between the time I went to work and now.

Phew!!!

And that's also topic for Diasporans

spyder880:
Chime did not lose, the victory is for Enugu west and Enugu state as a whole. This is political maturity at work. Kudos Chime, ikeoha power on. We respect your people.

Yes, that's what it has come to be. That's the official line:

"Attachment(s) from Amaksoduh included below]
Today I saw courage and patriotism overcome personal interest.
The courage of one Man who carried the development burden of our State on his shoulder for years, turning it around from a haven for thugs and robbers to one of the four most developed and peaceful States in Nigeria.
 A great leader who refused to allow trappings of power to corrupt him. 
A Noble leader who displayed excellence and selfless service. 
A motivated leader who inspires others to become effective future leaders and developed them to supersede him.
 Against popular mandate, he made a great sacrifice for peace to reign in Enugu State PDP family today. 
Yes! He is an African leader with a heart of Gold for his people and the courage to step up Peace. 
Today he became the heroic winner in the hearts of Millions of Enugu people. Today he made history again and continues to leave monumental  legacy for democracy and good governance in Nigeria. 
Join me as we salute our Icon.."
By Amaka Oduh (Chime aide)

It is Official:
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=94060

Enugu West senatorial seat: Chime steps down for Ekweremadu 0
BY OUR REPORTER ON DECEMBER 5, 2014 POLITICS
From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

Ahead of the National Assembly primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold tomorrow nationwide, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has withdrawn from the race of the Enugu West Senatorial District.

Chime made his decision known to the PDP stakeholders in the state during a meeting on Wednesday night at the Enugu Government House.

A source at the meeting, who disclosed this to Daily Sun, said Chime told the stakeholders that he was withdrawing in the over all interest and unity of the party.

The source said the governor told the stakeholders that the party was paramount and above any personal ambition and urged the people of the state, particularly PDP members from Enugu West, to ensure Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other party candidates emerged winners at the primary and general elections.

Chime and Ekweremadu had been up in political arms over who would represent the Enugu West in the Senate, which led to the party in the state dividing into two factions. One led by Chief Ikeji Asogwa and the other by Elder David Aja.

However, the PDP at the national level and the Presidency waded into the crisis in Enugu and Chime was said to have been advised to allow Ekweremadu go back to the Senate while the governor would take charge of producing representatives in the two other senatorial zones.

The new agreement, it was gathered, led to the harmonisation of interests by the two gladiators that ushered in a peaceful election last Saturday during the House of Assembly primary where Chief Asogwa and Elder Aja sat side by side to conduct the election for the aspirants.

The source at the stakeholders’ meeting said President Goodluck Jonathan had mounted pressure on Chime to withdraw his senatorial ambition, adding that the president told him to make that huge sacrifice to save the party that had been inundated with crises across the country.

With Chime’s withdrawal, the coast is now clear for Senator Ekweremadu to clinch the party’s ticket to represent Enugu West in the Senate for four consecutive terms.

When contacted yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to Chime, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, confirmed that the governor had withdrawn from the senatorial race, but refused to give details of his action.

Result before the election: this is unique feature of PDP. We are able to announce result before an election:

Udi/Ezeagu Fed Constituency: Denis Amadi
Aninri/Awgu/Oji. - Tobi Okechukwu
Igboeze North/South - Denis Agbo
Enugu North/South - Chime Orji
Enugu East/West - Peace Nnaji (woman with 9 lives)
Enugu East/Isi Uzo - Amb Ebenyi
Ibgo Etit / Uzo Uwani - Stella Ngwu
Nsukka / Igboeze South - Patrick Asadu/Vita Abba

Enugu West senatorial seat: Chime steps down for Ekweremadu 0
BY OUR REPORTER ON DECEMBER 5, 2014 POLITICS
From CHIDI NNADI, Enugu

Ahead of the National Assembly primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold tomorrow nationwide, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has withdrawn from the race of the Enugu West Senatorial District.

Chime made his decision known to the PDP stakeholders in the state during a meeting on Wednesday night at the Enugu Government House.

A source at the meeting, who disclosed this to Daily Sun, said Chime told the stakeholders that he was withdrawing in the over all interest and unity of the party.

The source said the governor told the stakeholders that the party was paramount and above any personal ambition and urged the people of the state, particularly PDP members from Enugu West, to ensure Senator Ike Ekweremadu and other party candidates emerged winners at the primary and general elections.

Chime and Ekweremadu had been up in political arms over who would represent the Enugu West in the Senate, which led to the party in the state dividing into two factions. One led by Chief Ikeji Asogwa and the other by Elder David Aja.

However, the PDP at the national level and the Presidency waded into the crisis in Enugu and Chime was said to have been advised to allow Ekweremadu go back to the Senate while the governor would take charge of producing representatives in the two other senatorial zones.

The new agreement, it was gathered, led to the harmonisation of interests by the two gladiators that ushered in a peaceful election last Saturday during the House of Assembly primary where Chief Asogwa and Elder Aja sat side by side to conduct the election for the aspirants.

The source at the stakeholders’ meeting said President Goodluck Jonathan had mounted pressure on Chime to withdraw his senatorial ambition, adding that the president told him to make that huge sacrifice to save the party that had been inundated with crises across the country.

With Chime’s withdrawal, the coast is now clear for Senator Ekweremadu to clinch the party’s ticket to represent Enugu West in the Senate for four consecutive terms.

When contacted yesterday, the Chief Press Secretary to Chime, Mr. Chukwudi Achife, confirmed that the governor had withdrawn from the senatorial race, but refused to give details of his action.

More later

Enugu is boiling (silently).

Chime and Ekweremmadu unites. Didn't I say here that they were same ten and ten pence. Now that their little squabble about who shd go to senate has been resolved, every other political gladiator in Enugu is to be fed to the dogs. Ogbuefi (Udi/Ezg) rep, O. Chukwuegbo and many others to be hacked down and out

So many see the combo of Chime and Ekweremmadu as too strong to content with. So many are looking to leave. APGA is viewed as an alternative.

Enugu PDP will enter the general elections and fight it's mirrow image.

Whatever the case, PDP is set to lose Enugu, capital of South East

Chime: Why 2015 is Do or Die

http://www.spyghana.com/2015-die-affair/

Why 2015 is Do or Die Affair

NIGERIADECEMBER 2, 2014-NO COMMENT
By Emmanuel Ejinima
As 2015 approaches, many political analysts fail to truly unravel the mystery behind the political tension in Enugu State, an erstwhile relatively politically moderate State, when compared to some States who share equivalent status. Take Ekiti for instance, which has similar demographic status, size of economy and federal allocations, known for usual high political temperature at inter-party election stage, cannot be compared to the intra-party fireworks of Enugu State today. Even when compared to States in the same geopolitical zone, like Anambra, the usual hotbed of hot politics, or Imo, the intra-party tussle in the ruling Party in Enugu State has gone on overdrive threatening to tear down the relatively peaceful political atmosphere that Enugu has enjoyed since the recent past.

While the searing political atmosphere in Enugu could easily be traced to the supremacy battle between the Governor, Sullivan Chime, a second term, outgoing State chief executive, who desires to retire to the senate and Senator Ekweremmadu, Deputy President of the Senate, who is in his third-term and seeking to re-contest for the seat, deeper analysis indicate that there is more to the battle royal between the duo, which goes far beyond who occupies West Senatorial seat for which the governor has sworn to up-seat the incumbent senator.
Today, with the political logjam at the State chapter of the ruling PDP gone beyond the mediation by the national headquarters of Party and multiple court cases instituted by both sides, President Goodluck has had to mediate in Enugu issue twice –a rare occurrence because Mr. President may never have the free time mediate as repeatedly in all the 36 States of the federation.
So what is truly amiss in Enugu State ahead of the 2015 general elections? As much as it is denied in some quarters, the root cause of the matter is not far from what transpired from the days of Chime’s predecessor, Governor Chimaroke Nnamani who undeniably saw to the political emergence and rise to limelight of the two gladiators in Enugu today. Some political watchers come close to the true remote cause of the unhealthy political challenge between the duo of the Governor and the Deputy Senate President when they opine that the senator had always seen the governor as a political junior having held higher posts and supervised the former while both were in the Nnamani cabinet. But there is more.
The do or die pitch of the battle for the soul of Enugu politics can be traced more to the rather personal challenge Chime put himself into as he was coming to office in 2007 –to be his own man, a self-declared challenge, pronounced from his inauguration at Okpara Square whence he declared war on Nnamani, his political godfather and went ahead to proscribe the political platform, Ebeano, which Nnamani superintended over and which he leveraged on to make Chime Governor of Enugu State.
To truly understand the exact nature of the overbearing influence of this factor on Chime’s actions, one should take a step deep into the past and ask oneself what Chime’s political pedigree has been. Yes, his father was a first generation parliamentarian, a good sign of politically inclined foundation, but truly, politically, what became of Chime since his early days up until he was picked by Nnamani, first to serve as his Legal adviser and later the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice. Chime was old enough during the NPP-NPN days of the 80’s second republic to be an active youth mobiliser, but was he? Did he play any role? What about the more recent SDP/NRC days that ushered in the short-lived third republic? Still come up to the GDM/UNCP/CNC/DPN/NCPN days, the forerunners of the PDP/AD/Labours as they (the political parties continue to transmute up till today). Clearly, some of the very active politicians in the country today rose from those old formations.
The point is that while Chime can no longer be ascribed a political light weight, having risen in the political ladder to where he has found himself today, the bare truth is that whatever he has as his political credential is traced to one and only one source -the bequeathals of his benefactor, former Governor Nnamani.
Now bring in the challenge. With Nnamani’s political success still looming large in Enugu, 2015 brings the true test of Chime’s desire to be his own man. Having ascended into political limelight on the back of his erstwhile boss, Chime has become acutely conscious of certain undeniable facts. First is that his aim to dismantle the political dynasty nutured by his predecessor has not been successful because the political class in Enugu State as of today has remained fully, the creation of his former boss, starting from him, the greatest beneficiary to all national assembly members. It became obvious that Chime has failed in his projection to groom a new political class when he started to champion the anointment of Ugwuanyi who was also brought into political fame by Nnamani. In some quarters, some wondered why Chime could not see to the anointing of one of his own to succeed him, rather he appears to have gone back to his vomit by relapsing to the Nnamani-made politicians that he so much wanted off the radar.
Checkout Nnamani in the same situation in 2007. Not only was he able to see to his successor, Chime he ensured he filled all available elective political posts available in the State and finally crowned it all by getting himself into the senate. In usual parlance, he was “totally in charge”. This was a feat he attained while engrossed in a similar battle for supremacy, then with a sitting President of the Senate who then was fond of referring to himself as “the number three man” to emphasis his seniority over the then governor in the national protocol priority listing. But Nnamani, the true Lion, surmounted all hurdles and had his way. That is the nature of Chime’s challenge.
So, the coming 2015 elections presents the last chance for Chime and he feels that he must prove to the world that he has truly come of age, politically. Since he feels pressured to meet up and, if possible, outclass the political achievements of Nnamani, his predecessor in office, 2015 is do or die for Chime. Otherwise, he would have failed in the self-declared and voluntary challenge that is quickly becoming the metaphor of his political history –to be his own man, which in his words in 2007, as he was being ushered into the exalted office, and in mockery of his erstwhile bosses political style, “I will show Enugu people how politics should be played”
Therefore, anybody believing that Chime is in contest or supremacy battle with Ike Ekweremmadu is missing the point. Just like a symptom, that is what floats on the surface. One deeps to take a deeper look. It is Chime versus Chime! Bringing in the Nnamani angle is simply a means to create the relevant background because, politically, Nnamani himself has become like a flat battery, no thanks to Chime’s unending mauling for the past 8 years almost. However, a flaccid Nnamani has proved tough for Chime to dismantle, because he successfully groomed a separate political identity tied to all those he has groomed into successful political life, and there are very many of them.
The fallout of the Chime’s political situation has been inconsistent policies, speaking from both sides of the mouth and those watching or intervening have seen a surprisingly recalcitrant Chime –somewhat, a breed of him different from the one they were used to before. It should not be a surprise. Time is running out and 2015 is definitely hit or miss for Chime –the final chance to redeem himself. Now, to compound the matter, any attempt to truncate Chime’s political ascendancy especially assured in elective office will spell doom for his political life. Unfortunately, while a senator can continue to vie for his seat, a State governor is allowed only two tenures in office after which he cannot re-contest for that seat.
So, for those who mediate in the Enugu political imbroglio –the elders, senior political friends from outside the State, the Party and the presidency, a true understanding of the real motivation behind the fiasco will be of great help. Chime is fighting the political battle of his life. He is no sinner. Put more aptly, Chime is simply fighting for his political life. As the mediation continue and several peace talks and agreements are made and failed, I posit that Chime’s ambition may never be assuaged because the motivation is deep rooted. It is about his political survival and he is self-propelled much like a mechanism hell bent to self-destruct. Chime is fighting raw and hard knowing that it is a do or die for his political life.
Source:
Emmanuel Ejinima is an independent public affairs analyst. (emmanuelejinima@gmail.com)