It was sometime in April 2013 that residents of Nsukka Metropolis woke up to behold the Gubernatorial posters of the then Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu scattered all over the strategic places in the metropolis, sending a strong message to all sons and daughters of Igbo Nsukka that at no point in time did men and women of Enugu State come together to put pen to paper in agreement that there will be a zoning arrangement that will ensure the rotation of the gubernatorial position amongst the three senatorial zones of the state.
The rest of the story was a tale of a gentleman governor sacrificing his personal ambition to repay a people that left their son to vote for him in 2011. That simple act of trust and benevolence by Fmr. Gov. Sullivan Iheanacho Chime is uncommon in the political space worldwide and may never be replicated in Enugu State again.
As at today, Tuesday, 23nd June 2020, there is no written agreement or even oral agreement, stating that the position of Governor in Enugu State is rotational, be it state wide or within any functional political party in Enugu State, hence making it fluid and open for any and every Enugu State citizen who attained the constitutional requirements to be fully qualified to contest for the Governorship post regardless of the zone one comes from.
Truths are difficult to face but there is no other way around it, so we must face them squarely nevertheless.
First, if we are to decide today that the position becomes rotational, invariably, it becomes the turn of Nsukka to produce the next governor from 2023 to 2031 because in the real sense of it, using the “TRADITIONAL ISUSU” collection formula and the normal Igbo sharing formula amongst equals, the last person to take, becomes the first to take in the next round.
Since Nsukka was the last to take in this current round that will end in 2023, it is most reasonable, fair and just, in the interest of peace, love, unity and equality that Nsukka Zone begins the next round by providing the next occupant of Lion Building come 2023.
Secondly, if power is allowed to leave the Nsukka Zone, there is no guarantee that in 16 years time, we will once again have a benevolent governor like Sullivan Chime who will sacrifice his political career just for power to get to Nsukka people oncemore and prevent the future Ike Ekweremmadus from sidelining the most populous zone in the state.
Finally, it will be in the interest of democracy and brotherhood that stakeholders of Enugu State come together to discuss this matter and ensure that Nsukka Zone is not shortchanged and that all and sundry get what they deserve for sustainable peace and stability in the state.
Enugu press team