There has been misrepresentations of the speech made by Chief Hyde Onuaguruchi from the camp of those who want to throw Enugu state into political crisis over the ongoing discussions on the zoning of the 2023 governorship seat to Enugu east senatorial zone.
On Saturday, the people of Enugu West Senatorial Zone held a rally at Awgu local govt council secretariat to draw support for the rotation of the governorship seat in the state. The solidarity rally tagged: “Ife-Emelumma Enugu West Unity Rally for Gburugburu” was well attended by leaders of the zone.
All the leaders from Enugu West Senatorial Zone who were at the rally including Chief Hyde Onuaguruchi supported the declaration that it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial District of the state to produce the next governor of Enugu State in 2023, based on the existing rotational arrangement, which was reaffirmed by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, during the State Caucus meeting of the Party in 2013.
Chief Hyde Onuaguruchi in his speech went further to urge Ndigbo to mount campaign for Igbo presidency in 2023. He extolled the leadership qualities of gov Ugwuanyi and urged that he should be projected for higher national assignment in 2023.
However, his rivalry with the chairman of the occasion, Senator Ben Collins Ndu played out at the occasion.
While Chief Onuaguruchi hails from the Greater Awgu wing of Enugu west senatorial zone, Senator Ben Collins Ndu is from Udi-Ezeagu axis. Both contested for senate against each other and that rivalry between Greater Awgu and Udi-Ezeagu was witnessed at the really.
What’s important is that all the leaders in Enugu west at the rally were unanimous in endorsing the zoning arrangement in the state which favours Enugu east senatorial zone in 2023. They were also unanimous in their support for governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s exemplary leadership in the state.
Those who are misrepresenting his speech are anti zoning elements in the state who have been defeated by the mega rally in which the people and leaders of Enugu west senatorial zone unanimously agreed to stand with gov Ugwuanyi, stressing that wherever he goes, they will go with him, knowing that he is an advocate of zoning.
The camp of Senator Ike Ekweremadu who are trying to distort the zoning agreement in the state were obviously disappointed when Senator Ben Collins Ndu pointed out that zoning was agreed at a PDP meeting of 2013 which was attended by the party leaders such as the then State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, then Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime (from Enugu West Senatorial District), then Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, then Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eugene Odo, other members of the National and State Assemblies who were members of the Caucus.
He added that it was based on the PDP decision on zoning of the governorship position that Rt. Hon. Ugwuanyi from Enugu North Senatorial District emerged the governorship candidate of the party and thereafter the Governor of Enugu State in 2015.
Senator Ndu reminded the audience the he was the person who seconded the motion that the governorship seat should rotate to Enugu North Senatorial District at the Caucus meeting in 2013 in which Ike Ekweremadu was present.
He went further to state that the motion was amended by Dr. Charles Egumgbe that after Enugu North Senatorial District, it would be the turn of Enugu East Senatorial District and the amendment was adopted by the Caucus at that meeting.
This clear statement was made at the rally. The camp of Ike Ekweremadu have not denied it, rather they are busy distorting and misrepresenting the speech of Chief Hyde Onuaguruchi.
The 2023 governorship seat of Enugu state has been sealed. It is going to Enugu East Senatorial Zone.
AIF Media
