Boko Haram has 60,000 fighters- Insider

ARTICLE | NOVEMBER 17, 2014 - 3:13PM

By Yakubu Salisu
There are indications that the Boko Haram sect has about 60,000 fighters, including underage insurgents.
A top source, who is central to the initial peace talks with the sect, gave these rare insights.
The source explained why the war against Boko Haram is difficult and what the government can do to tackle the insurgency.
The source said: “Boko Haram has nearly 10,000 ideological army and over 50,000 conscripts, including 40 per cent underage. We are not even counting numerous sect members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of Nigeria, West Africa and as far as Sudan.
“Most of them prefer to die in battle than to be back to their camps safely due to the endemic indoctrination within the cult group.
“This is the reason why I always say here and everywhere that this crisis is far from over. The only thing for now: Ya Allah protect us and unite us to defeat our enemies.”
The sect is also said to be operating active cells in Kogi, Lagos with many members in Abuja, Kano, Bauchi and in different parts of the country, West Africa and as far as Sudan.
The source decried the increasing insurgency in the North-East and the deteriorating humanitarian situation.
According to the source, “The crisis is far more serious than it is being reported. Last week, his father’s friend and former DSS colleague was slaughtered by Boko Haram in Hawul, his son drove to the scene to pick his father’s corpse and he was killed too.
“Yes, they are now in Hawul, few kilometres to Biu. My mum’s twin sister is missing in the past two days, she ran away from Boko Haram to the bush in Garkida. Many of my relatives have fled to the mountains, some barefooted. Nigeria is at war.
“There is indeed a silent humanitarian emergency in the North-East that is being shielded from the rest of the world.”
The highly-placed source asked all Nigerians to come together, irrespective of political leanings, to address the insurgency in the North-East.
The source added: “Gwoza, Sambisa and Mandara mountains are the vortex of Boko Haram insurgency. Until we take these areas, we have a lot more to do. Boko Haram has very active cells in different parts of the north including Lagos and Kogi.
“What is important in my opinion is for Nigerians (leaders and the led) to figure out what is responsible for the problem in the first place.
“The blame game started from Jonathan and everyone and political parties started pointing fingers at one another.
“When I spoke to the Commander-In-Chief in May/ June, I saw the level of his ignorance, I was alarmed. This ignorance is not only with the president alone, even our religious and traditional leaders in the north have continued to miss the live wire that feeds the insurgency.
“We have reached a stage where we can no longer manage this problem, not only because of an important leader like Jonathan but he inherited failed institutions.
“Today, Boko Haram and IS are in contact and people are even surprised when it was confirmed. But some of us said it repeatedly in the media. This is a problem that needs all Nigerians to be on board. I blame the National Assembly the most for not insisting on accountability from the military and the executive arm. Alas, they are equally not accountable to Nigerians.
“The people in the North-East do not care about the conspiracy theories we peddle here, they just want to survive another horrifying day.”

http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/boko-haram-has-60000-fighters-insider

Enugu guber: Calm in Enugu as Chime, Ekweremmadu settle differences

OUR REPORTER ON NOVEMBER 10, 2014

…As coast clears for Ugwuanyi

BY WILLY EYA

Peace is gradually returning to the Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the two major contenders in the power struggle for the party structure, Governor Sullivan Chime and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremmadu, may have finally resolved their differences.

Daily Sun gathered at the weekend that Governor Chime and Senator Ekweremmadu resolved the deadlock, which almost tore the Enugu PDP apart in a highbrow meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

A top member of the PDP in the state told Daily Sun that in the meeting, which was held at Abuja, the president told Governor Chime to allow Ekweremmadu to go back to the Senate while he controls the remaining party structure in the state.

Our source informed that with the trade off, Chime, who initially wanted to replace Ekweremmadu at the Senate, sacrificed his ambition but would now control the structure that would produce his successor, Senators of Enugu North and East and other elective officers of the state.

It was gathered that with the development, the coast is now clear for Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who has been adopted as the popular governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.

Yesterday, it was gathered that in spite of news reports, suggesting that a faction of the party appeared to have had a better part of the fight, feelers on the outcome of the Abuja meeting doused the tension, as it was learnt that Chime and Ekweremadu have made up their differences.

Our source said: We gathered that whereas the close supporters of the two gladiators, who have been at daggers drawn over the Enugu West senatorial ticket of the party seemed to have carried on as if war was imminent, even at the weekend, the truth is that the two alongside some top leaders of the party in the state have reached a truce in Abuja and that they did that in liaison with Mr. President.

He said that perhaps, the agreement to work in harmony once again, was the reason the deputy chairman of the party, Elder David Aja, who has been claiming to be the acting chairman since the resignation of Chief Vita Abba, was reported to have signed the statement releasing the result of the special local government delegates billed to hold last Saturday.

Many of those who made the list in the Enugu North zone, it was gathered are said to be allies of Chime.

Aja has been fighting the factional war on the side of Ekweremadu, a reason those who would not know what has transpired between the leaders of the factions were wary of the name of Aja associated with the list published yesterday.

At the weekend the candidature of Hon. Ugwuanyi was further boosted as the Enugu State chapter of the Nigerian Councilors’ Forum joined several other groups in support of him.

According to the statement of the forum signed by Hon. Hyginus Makata, chairman of the Enugu chapter and its secretary, Barrister Francis Ani, the councilors expressed their support for the zoning of the governorship seat to Enugu North zone (Nsukka) by the party in the state even as they joined all the levels of authority of the party in the state in endorsing Ugwuanyi, who is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Marine Transport.

“We express our support to the leadership of the party in the state on the zoning of the governorship seat to Enugu North senatorial zone in fairness and equity and thank Governor Sullivan Chime for all the programmes he has been midwifing to ensure a smooth political transition in the state.

“We are not just supporting the endorsement of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi but are part of his endorsement by the state caucus of our party, PDP, and the entire stakeholders in the state”, said the group.

The leaders of the councilors said the choice of the consensus candidate “is one singular action that has saved the state from what onlookers thought was going to be a very knotty governorship race that would have torn the party very much apart in our dear state because he has remained a solid bridge builder whose main attribute is calmness in the face of all provocations”.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=90154

ENUGU WEST OPPOSES ZONING, ENDORSES EKWEREMADU’S RE-ELECTION

Enugu West opposes zoning, endorses Ekweremadu’s re-election

October 23  2014  13:10      by The Advocate

ACTIVITIES of the last few days have shown that certain segments of Enugu State are not comfortable with the zoning arrangement being packaged by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) for the 2015 elections.

Under the arrangement, the party, which has tacitly zoned the governorship to Enugu North, is allegedly steering the senatorial seat to Governor Sullivan Chime, thus displacing incumbent Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Last year, during the first ever town hall meeting at the Nike Lake Hotel, Enugu, to showcase his administration’s achievements and plan for the future in the state, Chime mooted that his successor in 2015 would come from the Enugu North senatorial zone.

The power plan, Chime said, was aimed at giving the zone a sense of belonging in the true spirit of democracy.

Indeed, those who aligned with the governor on this plan had done so because Enugu North has produced a governor who ruled the state for only two years, since the creation of the state in 1991, while the other two zones of Enugu East and Enugu West have had eight years, respectively.

To support that move, Chime, a few weeks ago, summoned a meeting of stakeholders from Enugu North, where three-time House of Representatives member, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was reportedly endorsed as the consensus governorship candidate from the zone for the PDP.

This aside, Chime is also reported to be packaging himself for the Senate next year, to take over from Ekweremadu, the Senate Deputy President.

However, this development may not have received the support of the old Awgu people in Enugu West senatorial zone, who alleged that the governor has not been fair in his dealings with the area.

They people have, therefore risen in opposition to the zoning arrangement of the PDP in the state. Maintaining that it was grossly manipulated against them, they vowed to hold and support their own in the 2015 general elections.

On Saturday, September 6, 2014, in what has been described as the largest gathering of the people in recent years, the area held a maiden summit where they dissociated themselves from the zoning arrangement.

Rising from the summit, under the aegis of Save Awgu Forum Enugu (SAFE), at the Ofuobi African Centre, the people said: “We are ready and prepared to field candidates for all elective positions in Enugu State for the 2015 general elections.”

In a statement, SAFE leader, Chief Baywood Ibe, said, “the so-called zoning formula/arrangement of rotation of the governorship position of Enugu State is non-existent and unacceptable to SAFE because it promotes discrimination and marginalisation of Awgu people.”

Former Military administrator of Imo State, Commodore Anthony Oguguo (Rtd.), who was the chairman of the event, set the tone when he declared that there was “serial marginalisation of Awgu in the scheme of things in the state.”

“That is why,” he said, “we have called for this summit to discuss and bring together our history of development and what the future holds for Awgu people.”

He said the occasion was to give voice to Awgu people, who had become “voiceless, give them life, home and prick the conscience of all people of good conscience.”

In his characteristic manner, fiery Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Ejike Camillus Mbaka, who took the stage after Oguguo, was more direct over the said marginalisation of Awgu in the scheme of political scheme and other affairs.

He said Enugu State, made up of Nkanu, Udi, Nsukka and Awgu, has perfectly reduced Awgu into a perpetual beggar “with the way things are programmed politically and otherwise.”

Giving a graphic picture of power allocation in the state, Rev. Mbaka said that from Nkanu, Chief Jim Nwobodo and Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani had ruled as governors at different times.

Noting that Professor Barth Nnaji was made a Minister from the area, he said impeached Deputy Governor Sunday Onyebuchi also came from the area and has been replaced by another Nkanu person, Rev. Ifeanyi Nwoye.

Udi, Rev. Mbaka said, has not only produced the late governor Christian C. Onoh and incumbent Governor Sullivan Chime, but has also produced incumbent Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, former Minister, Mrs. Fidelia Njeze and an Ambassador, an INEC Secretary, a Federal Commissioner at the NPC, and Chairman of the UNTH board, among others.

He said the Nsukka area has produced a governor, deputy governor, a minister, a national chairman of the PDP, national secretary of the PDP, an Ambassador, a federal commissioner at the NCC and an member of TETFUND, among others.

Rev. Mbaka gave further insight into how other positions are allocated in the Chime government, excluding the people of Awgu: “Speaker of Enugu House of Assembly (Nsukka); Secretary to State Government (Udi); Chief of Staff (Nkanu); Commissioners – one per local government with four from Udi; Provost, College of Agriculture (Udi); Provost, College of Education (Nkanu); CMD, ESUT Teaching Hospital (Udi) and the Liaison Office, Abuja (Udi).

Others are: President, Customary Court, Enugu (Udi); Vice Chancellor, ESUT (Nsukka); Chairman, PPSMB (Nsukka); Chairman, Civil Service Commission (Udi); Chairman, ENSIEC (Udi); Chairman, LGSC (Nkanu); Rector, IMT (Udi); Chairman, ESUT Council (Udi); Chairman, IMT Council (Nkanu); Chairman, ESCET (Udi); Chairman, College of Agriculture (Nsukka); Chairman, Board of Internal Revenue (Udi); Member, National Rural Electricity Board (Udi) and Member, National Census Bureau (Udi).

Rev. Mbaka stated that the injustice against Awgu has continued in the present administration, to the point that “no Awgu person has been found worthy enough to be named a Personal Assistant to the state governor.”

He said that the only Commissioner appointed from Awgu in the Chime government was removed without a replacement from the area.

“The only one (position) for Awgu probably is current Deputy Senate President (Ike Ekweremadu), who, though not from Awgu, is being felt by our people due to his kind heart,” he said.

“But that position, they want to remove from us and give to Udi and there is no plan to give us anything in government; we will stand to resist this.”

Apparently to give effect to their resolution, the people of Awgu have teamed up with others, to ensure that they not only play a leading role in the coming elections, but also present candidates for the positions “irrespective of what PDP and Governor Chime are saying.”

Chief Anayo Onuwegbu, who is from the area, has indicated interest to contest the governorship election of the state under the PDP.

Meanwhile, the people are giving their full support to Deputy Senator Ekweremadu, to enable him return to the upper legislative chamber for a fourth term.

All the churches in Enugu West senatorial zone are not left out, as Ekweremadu had a hectic weekend in the last but one week, attending to churches where men of God anointed him for a return to the Senate.

On that Friday, the weekly adoration, handled by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, anointed him (Ekweremadu) to return to the Senate, saying he had done so well and deserved to be reelected.

Mbaka said: “We have had a Senate President, and we have equally had senators, but it is Senator Ekweremadu that has given the people of Enugu and the Southeast the feel of governance.

“Many of the roads and development projects you see around Awgu, Oji-River, Ezeagu, Aninri, and many parts of Enugu and the Southeast came courtesy of the quality representation by Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

“Besides, he is here with his wife. He has demonstrated the ability to keep his family, and that is the first test of leadership.”

Describing Ekweremadu as a man with a good heart and compassionate feelings, he said the Adoration Ministry would stand by the senator to ensure he is returned to continue his good work for Enugu and the Southeast

According to him: “Talking about Enugu West senatorial or Enugu State is even local politics. What is at stake here is Igbo interest in particular and Nigerian interest in general. Igbo cannot sacrifice what they have because of the selfish ambition of anybody.

“Senate is not a matter of ‘represented by’, as we know it in Enugu today. We need able, tested and trusted hand like Ekweremadu who can always stand up to be counted; who can deliver on promise; and who can treat every man with a sense of justice, equity, love, and kindness.”

The Anglican Archbishop of the Enugu Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuma, at the All Saints Anglican Church, Enugu two Sundays ago, conveyed the endorsement of Senator Ekweremadu by the Anglican faithful in the state.

The Anglican cleric said: “If the people of Benue State have endorsed the Senate President, Senator Mark and the people of Cross River have endorsed the Senate Leader, Senator Ndoma-Egba to go back to the Senate, I don’t think it is a crime to endorse Senator Ekweremadu, who has done so wonderfully well“There is nothing wrong if you go back because you have performed. You have the experience. We have, therefore, endorsed you here with the Holy Spirit.

“Since you have been there, and whether anybody likes it or not, I am proud to say that in this Enugu State and Southeast, you are the most performing senator.”

Archbishop Chukwuma noted that Senator Ekweremadu, apart from being the Deputy Senate President, is also the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, adding that anybody else who goes from the senatorial zone or the state will not get that.

“He (Ekweremadu) has done so much; he has given employment to so many (and he’s involved in the) construction of dams, (provision) of electricity, scholarships, widowhood empowerment

and adult literacy through the Ikeoha Foundation,” he said.

“I challenge any of the other senators, who have a foundation, to come and tell us what they have done.

“The Youth Development Centres are also being built in all the local governments you represent, including roads. But some people are senators, who are chairmen of committees of works from Enugu State here but have left the Enugu-Onitsha road so bad; have left Enugu-Port Harcourt road so bad, but they are senators. What are they doing there?

“You (Ekweremadu) will go again. Nobody should stop you because you are the pride of the entire Southeast and we are praying that God will keep you alive and support you in Jesus name, Amen.”

Over 2000 Pastors from various Pentecostal churches from Enugu West also anointed Senator Ekweremadu at a prayer rally held at National Youth Development Centre, Achi, Oji-River.

Pastor Don Odunze of the Family Circle Ministry, on behalf of others, said: “I have gone around and I have seen politicians and I have come to discover that in Nigeria, one of the first casualties in the life of a man that assumes political office is his family.

“I am so glad to see, over the years, that the wife of Senator Ike Ekweremadu stays by his side. Let’s appreciate him for this. You would not understand but I know what I am talking about.” (Guardian Politics)

http://theadvocatengr.com/new/enugu-chief-of-staff-nwobodo-4-commissioners-resign-to-contest-nass-election/

Pregnancy rumors keeps Gov. Sullivan wife out

Pregnancy rumors keeps Gov. Sullivan wife out

NIGERIA

• OCTOBER 17, 2014-
• NO COMMENT

Chime’s wedding

As Enugu state gears up for a near landmark electoral exercise in the coming 2015 political round, the intrigues surrounding the would-be political candidates and shot callers have begun to clarify themselves gradually into the public arena.  This is following a recent public declaration by a famous and controversial Christian minister in Enugu, Reverend Mbaka that political leadership ought not to be handed to persons with unstable homes and/or are unmarried or unable to keep their wives. According to Information recently made available to 247ureports.com, the Christian minister had made the pronouncement based on new information concerning the State governor of Enugu, Sullivan Chime and his latest sex romp with nearby University students and the resultant effect on his wife’s refusal to return home.

As a caveat, the current [2nd wife] wife to the Governor, Clara Chime, who was married to the governor as recent as 7 years ago – moved out of the resident of her husband in a forceful manner against the wishes of the governor – after having been held against her wishes for months. Mrs. Clara Chime’s effort to leave the resident had to do with her husband promiscuity and careless sex romps with her relatives and students of nearby tertiary institutions.  Particularly, the governor’s romantic engagement with the younger sister of the wife – and the impregnation of the sister – pushed Mrs. Clara Chime over the cliff. She could not handle it emotionally – and thus had a physiological breakdown – that required medical attention.

Chime with wife’s sister

Following Mrs. Clara Chime’s exit from the government house and her government house, she relocated to the federal capital, Abuja away from the grips of her husband or his influence. Having relocated to Abuja, the government house and its occupant was left alone unhindered against the many ‘gifts’ that are brought to the government house curtesy of the numerous aides of the governor from the nearby tertiary institutions in Enugu or from Anambra State [Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka]. Typically, selected and trusted aides to the governor are set out to the many campuses of Enugu State universities to scout for potential bedmates for the governor. The aides usually return with up to four [4] girls who are believed to fit the governors specifications – large breasts, slim and tall. This task is carried out on a nightly basis – when the governor is present in the state.

Clara-Chime-and-Sullivan-Chime

The First lady’s absence, according to a competent source in Enugu government house, exacerbated the daily ‘runs’ practice to a near daily fiesta – with some of the ‘runs’ girls staying back at the government house/lounge for days and sometimes weeks before returning to their hostels or homes.

According to our source, the governor appears to have fallen for one of the ‘runs’ girl. The girl is said to be an indigene of Opi in Nsukka, Enugu State. Her exact age is not certain but she is believed to be in her early 20s. A student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra. She is not from a wealthy family. She has been sighted at the residence of the Enugu State governor severally – and has occupied a room inside the complex. The room is said to have been reserved for her – even when she is not around – the room remains locked until she arrives. Latest indications are that she has taken in for the governor – and the governor has instructed she keep the baby.  Credible but unverified sources indicate that the governor has begun to erect a fitting home for the girl inside the heart of Enugu capital – to enable her deliver the baby in comfort and befitting atmosphere – hidden from preying eyes.

The information of the latest incident of impregnating his mistresses is said to have flittered back to the First lady in Abuja. This is according competent sources who also indicated that the First lady was not receiving the news ‘happily’. “She was not herself for days” said one of the sources who went on to add that this development comes after the Governor had been pleading with the First lady to return to her home to help the governor conduct his Senatorial bid in the coming 2015 elections. The source indicated that it may be highly unlikely that the first lady will honor the governor’s appeal to her under these new circumstances.

–

Stay tuned as this story unfolds.

Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us at spyghana79@gmail.com.

FROM;  http://www.spyghana.com/pregnancy-rumors-keeps-gov-sullivan-wife-out/

You’re not fit for legislative position, Enugu professionals tell Chime

BY OUR REPORTER ON OCTOBER 18, 2014 ·

Enugu professionals resident in various parts of the world has asked the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime to pullout of the senatorial contest saying he is not fit for the legislature, in order not to jeopardise the com­parative advantage which Ekweremadu’s continuity in the Senate would bring to the State and the South East.

This was contained in an open letter to the Gov­ernor signed by thousands of Enugu professionals across the globe. The princi­pal signees of the letter are Uchenna Nnamani for Enu­gu East Senatorial District; Desmond Ugwu for Enugu North, and Moses Chine­gwu for Enugu West.

Writing under the aus­pices of Enugu Concerned Professionals Worldwide, they asked the Govenor to think of the interest of the State first and “listen to the collective voices of reason and to consider the distrac­tions and great loss inherent in your contest for an elec­tive position”.

The group said: “As a lawyer, we will not bore you with the constitutional provision of no-term limit for the legislative arm of our presidential system of gov­ernment. The importance of no-term limit must override the need for zoning, which is not constitutional.

“The increase in effec­tiveness of legislators is due to experience: the more you do something, the better you get at it. Experienced legis­lators make good laws. The Senate and House of Repre­sentatives have incumbency and seniority rules, which favor greatly reelected and experienced representatives. Examples abound world­wide.

“The Enugu West sena­torial zone has one senate position and two House of Representatives positions. The ranking senator is also the Deputy Senate Presi­dent and the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament. The people of this zone will be grossly short-changed if the incumbent senator is de­nied the opportunity to be re-elected. Apart from loss of seniority, a change in the Senate wipes away the power and influence of the exalted office, which is fifth in the succession ranking in Nigeria”.

Continuing, the global community of Enugu pro­fessionals insisted Chime’s presence in the Senate would short-change State as a whole.

They further reasoned: “Enugu State houses the cap­ital of Southeastern Nigeria, the home of Ndiigbo.

 http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=86727

Police lock up Assemblies of God Church in Enugu

 3

BY PETRUS OBI, ENUGU ON OCTOBER 9, 2014 ·NATIONAL

A major clash was averted in Enugu yes­terday, when a team of policemen drove away pastors and deacons of the Assem­blies of God and sealed the Ishiagu Street branch of the church at Uwani area of the state capital where they had gathered to hold a fo­rum.

But for the interven­tion of the District Su­perintendent of Enugu South District of the church, Revd David Agu, the pastors num­bering over 200, were set to engage the armed policemen whom they alleged did not give any reason for their action.

Speaking to Daily Sun outside the church prem­ises, Agu stated that they had scheduled a forum for pastors and deacons of the various churches in the district before the incident.

“We have over 200 churches with the same number of pastors in the district and we are here to hold our usual forum.

“So, it all means that people came in from all these churches for this meeting. But while I was driving in, I saw some policemen locking the gate. I asked what the matter was, but they re­fused talking to me.

“I told them if they have any reason to stop our meeting or any paper authorising them to lock the church, we also have the right to know.

“I further queried why they had to lock some people inside the prem­ises but they never talk­ed to me. So, since then, we have been standing outside. I have called the acting General Super­intendent, Revd Chidi Okorafor, to ask him, but he said he had no knowledge of that. He tried reaching the com­missioner of police, but he was not picking his phone,” he said

Agu stated that no major decision was to be taken at the meet­ing, adding: “It was not a policy-making fo­rum, it is just a fellow­ship. Normally, when we have such meeting, I will preach, we will sing and pray for the district and then, if there are announcements, I will make the announce­ments. We have been having such a forum for deacons and pastors fo­rum.
He condemned the ac­tion of the police, insist­ing that what they did was violently done.

His words: “No expla­nation, no reason, even when he was told I was the district superinten­dent, courtesy demands that he should have told me that this person sent us or that there is going to be a breakdown of law and order.

“He did not even tell me why he was lock­ing the gate, he did not tell me we should not have meeting; he did not tell me there was go­ing to be any problem. I even wanted to provoke him by saying that no­body has monopoly of violence that by using violence there could be counter violence.”

When contacted, the Enugu State Police Pub­lic Relations Officer, Eb­ere Amaraizu, attributed the action of the police to the ongoing leader­ship crisis in the church.

He told Daily Sun that there was a petition that the meeting would lead to a breakdown of law and order and the police team was told to stop the meeting.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=85276

Enugu Politics: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi can end dichotomy of state

 0

The festering dichotomy in Enugu state politics is on the verge of coming to an end if the analysis of the situation developing in Enugu by Nigerian political watchers last weekend was anything to go by. The in-fighting between the juggernauts of Enugu politics – Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime and Deputy Senate President,  Ike Ekweremadu (both from Enugu West Senatorial District) was threatening to overspill into a major political crisis, but the announcement of the preferred candidacy of House of Representatives’ Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the Governor of Enugu in 2015 by PDP stakeholders in the state might just spark off a peace initiative to calm the dangerously frayed nerves of the combatants.

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is simply the politicians’ politician. His toothy smile is another name for magic. He can end the dichotomy in Enugu by talking sense into the principal combatants and if Governor Chime means business in this endorsement, the whole state will rally around him as we are witnessing in Anambra State where Willie Obiano is taking the state to another level following the passing of the baton by former Governor Peter Obi in the APGA government. But one must sound a word of caution straight away, and that is that endorsement should not mean that the endorsed must be subservient to the endorser on the long run.

Historically, political endorsement or ‘god-fatherism’ does not work in Nigerian politics. Starting with the immediate example in Enugu, former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani who endorsed Chime for governor lived to regret that endorsement as both of them hardly talk to each other these days, let alone does Chime appreciate the gift. Jim Nwobodo endorsed Chimaroke Nnamani who charmed him with his Americanese on the return of the ‘foetal’ surgeon to take a shot at the Government House, Enugu. We all knew that the great Zik blessed Governor Jim Nwobodo and never expected anything in return, which is as it should be and Jim had all the free hand to run the old Anambra (Ebonyi, Enugu and the present Anambra states). It will be noted that as soon as Jim endorsed Chimaroke, campaigned for him and installed him as Governor, their relationship ended dramatically on a very sour note. At the federal level, Obasanjo endorsed Yar’Adua who but for his death was going to probe the Otta general. Examples abound everywhere.

But why this endorsement should be supported by all is that gubernatorial candidate Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a good candidate that can be sold easily to the other two senatorial districts of Enugu – that is Enugu West and East. Those who know Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi say that he is humble and works really hard which has reflected positively in his brief at the House Committee on Marine Transport. His leadership in his constituency is revered and the rest of Enugu state will benefit from his dogged approach to legislative governance.

We ran into each at the PDP Presidential Campaign Office once and he disarmed me instantly with his friendly smile before we could even say hello. I told him that his billboards on the Enugu – Nsukka road was a constant reminder of the love he has for his people. Never have I seen a politician who after winning an election, bothered to thank the people that voted for him. I cannot remember exactly what the billboards read but it was to the effect that Representative Ifeanyi, alias Gburugburu thanks all for voting for him. Those bill boards remain in place as you pass through his constituency of Igboeze North and Uduenu Federal Constituency in the neighbourhood of Oboloafor and Enugu Ezike in Enugu North senatorial district.

God has a way of looking after the people of Enugu state. When Chimaroke Nnamani concluded his tenure in Enugu, the Almighty gave us Chime who used his four point programme of roads and infrastructure development to wipe out our tears during his first term as Governor. Today Enugu can be said to be a developed state, though there were sour tastes here and there as the Udi-born Chime conclude his eight year term of office. Although it should be left for historians to assess the merits and demerits of the Chime government, many contemporary writers have tried to make their quick assessment. Writing in last Sunday’s ThisDay newspaper, Okwudili Edeh painted an uncharitable picture of Sullivan Chime which to a large extend was over the board. Yes, Chime may look ‘Hitlerian’ by adopting the Furher like moustache and looking like a dangerous dictator, but it has not made the state “slide into dangerous anarchy and impunity” as Edeh’s piece suggested. By his reference to the incident concerning the governor’s marital situation it was totally unnecessary because there is evidence of rapprochement within the family following two newspaper advertisements placed by the estranged Enuigu First Lady who has not only apologised for the unsavoury incident but placed adverts in Daily Sun congratulating the husband ahead of his conferment of the national honour by President Goodluck Jonathan last week with the Commander of Nigeria honour (CON).

Among other charges by writer, Okwudili Edeh, he points out that “Chime’s dislike for the media was perhaps most pronounced by the ban on media from covering the chicken impeachment trial. Despite protests by Onyebuchi’s counsels, the media, and the civil society pointing out that the Nasarrawa impeachment trial was broadcast live, Chime’s kangaroo panel went ahead to sit in camera”.

Okwudili continued his diatribe against Chime: “Currently, the government decides what the people read. Its agents cart away from distributors every edition of newspapers and magazines meant for Enugu and environs that carries items government considers offensive. The press muzzling is directly connected with Chime’s obnoxious game plan for 2015. Besides wanting to singlehandedly anoint his successor, he has decreed that Enugu NASS members doing second term and above must retire in 2015. The media and political analysts have lampooned it as a dangerous expropriation of franchise. It is also seen as self-serving since Chime himself wants to move to the Senate after doing two terms as governor”.

I do not hold brief for any governor and I know that every leader has his own style of governance as all leaders have the penchant for their use and abuse of power and Chime is certainly not an exception. I do not agree with the so called policy of disenfranchising current members of the National Assembly from re-contesting their seats and I made this clear in my comments on the issue published in the Daily Sun andSunday ThisDay some months ago. In fact for most Nigerian governors heading for the Senate at the end of their two terms obviously is a symptom of abuse of power.

They will eventually fail as I also pointed out because successful governors never make a good career in legislative affairs and I did not hesitate to say so about Chime. I gather that the Chief of Staff to Enugu governor, Mrs. Ifeoma Nwobodo is also going to the Senate just as the Governor is planning to do. The ‘Iron Lady’ as she is referred to in Enugu government circle, I gather, is the de facto Chief Executive in Enugu because of the tough way she has successfully managed the government in the long absence of the Governor during the period of his health challenge. Grape vine reports insisted that this was the genesis of the impeachment of the former Deputy Governor though I agree with former Senate President Ken Nnamani’s grim assessment of Onyebuchi’s chances in his Senate bid as a non starter. The Enugu East senator, Gilbert Nnaji is doing a good job in the senate and does not deserve to be changed, so is Enugu North’s Senator Ayogu Eze though he is targeting Enugu Government House. I can attest that Nnaji has empowered many graduates not just from Enugu East, but North and West and have always given a good account of himself in the House of Representatives before moving to his current senate seat. What makes the current Chief of Staff think that she will make a better senator than Gilbert Nnaji is another question of abuse of power that is certainly condemnable.

I also believe that former Information Minister and Nigerian Economic Summit group’s Frank Nweke is dreaming of a senate berth in the same Enugu East and his former boss, Chimaroke Nnamani can’t wait to return to his former hunting ground in the red chamber. That too could be a disaster because Frank’s performance in the Summit group as well as the World Economic Forum Africa seems more rewarding than wasting his hard earned resources, trying to get to the senate. Chimaroke is better off running his huge new hospital in Abuja’s Area 11 and save Nigeria the foreign exchange that would rather go into medical tourism as I know the hospital will be one of the best in the continent.

I urge Enugu state politicians to learn from its elder statesmen, Senator Jim Nwobodo and the amiable former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani who should both be getting ready for a 2019 shot at the Presidency and stop seeking irrelevance in the National Assembly where they will end up as misfits.

Tony Amadi is based in Abuja (tonyamadi2009@yahoo.com)

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