The leadership of the Enugu West General Assembly (EWGA), led by Hon. Prince Humphrey Umezurike Onyima Njoku, has frowned at a media outburst attributed to former deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West, PDP) recently in a radio interview with Dream FM Enugu.
Ekweremadu, who had promised his constituency that he would step down for another to contest for the constituency’s representation in 2023, when asked about his political future, refused to say anything about his rumoured governorship ambition come 2023.
“Only God can answer that question, not me”, said Ekweremadu.
“I believe it is too early for me or anybody to begin to cause confusion, to distract the governor by talking about what he or she aspires to be in 2023,” he bluntly told his interviewer.
Also, the lawmaker maintained that his relationship with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State remains cordial, said: “…the Enugu State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is not just a friend, he is my brother. He is my ally and also my partner. I have known him for many years.”
When asked if he would be involved in politics. eyind 2023, he responded, again: “It is only God that can answer that.”
It is interesting that Ekweremadu has discovered an ingenious, despicable and hypocritical way of using the name of God to cover up.
Ekweremadu claimed that his relationship with Gov. Ugwuanyi transcends cordiality, affirming that Ugwuanyi is “not just his friend but a brother and ally”.
As a matter of fact, let us educate Senator Ekweremadu on the meaning of an ‘ally’. In a war, an ally is someone you share common enemies with; so, as an ‘ally’ of Gov. Ugwuanyi, a friend and a brother, you are expected to share common political values and common direction with the Enugu State government led by Ugwuanyi.
It is on record that Ugwuanyi unequivocally staged that he will hand over to “a governor of Nkanu extraction” at the expiration of his second term in office in 2023.
The governor noted that, for power to shift back to Enugu East Senatorial Zone, the people of the area will need to keep faith with the PDP.
He appealed to ‘Ndi Enugu’ to honour what he called a “long-term agreement” they had with the PDP.
He reminded the people of the area how they supported the party when their son, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani held sway as governor between 1999 and 2007 and,also, when the zoning arrangement moved to Enugu West Senatorial Zone, in the form of Sullivan Chime between 2007 and 2015.
As an ‘ally’ to Ugwuanyi, Ekweremadu should, as a mark of brotherhood and solidarity, align with Ugwuanyi’s position that, come 2023, the next governor of Enugu State will come from the Enugu East zone to let rest the ghost of confusion hovering around him.
Ekweremadu, in the same manner, made it explicit at his 57th birthday anniversary, that he won’t run for senate again; but, would, as a matter of urgency, join his voice with Ugwuanyi’s in endorsing and reiterating the latter’s position and declaration that the next governor of Enugu State come 2023 will be of Nkanu extraction (Enugu East Zone). Any contrary development will see the youths of Enugu West, East and North senatorial zones, as well as the entire Enugu political class with no option other than to prepare to stop Ekweremadu’s treacherous moves towards truncating the long-term arrangement.
EWGA warned Ndi Awgu to be wary of Ekweremadu’s clandestine moves, reminiscent of the way he ensured Ndi Awgu did not produce the governor in 2007, because he was bent on returning to the senate.
EWGA is calling on Ndi Awgu to dissociate themselves from Ekweremadu’s inordinate ambition, support Ugwuanyi’s declaration – which is in consonance with the position of Ndi Enugu ahead of 2023. In turn, when Enugu West’s turn to produce the governor comes, Awgu can be favourably disposed.
Do not join a man who has nothing to lose; he has had a fair share of our yesterday and today but is still fighting to take our tomorrow. It is high time we stopped Ekweremadu’s high handedness – ‘if is not him, it can’t be any one’. Stopped him from the hide-and-seek game he is playing with Ndi Awgu and the political future of the youths of Enugu West at large.
