(Ugoachataberu)
A sitting governor of a state would not be ordered, and that is why I find the above title curious and mischievious. His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, may be humble but not weak in any way to even warrant such imagination as to his being ordered. In the game of politics, Ugwuanyi is a master. He has an uncommon understanding of politics and leadership. He plays it with wisdom and enough emotional intelligence. He is a generalissimo who has never failed an election close to 20 years of his political career. How then could the heathen hawk such vain imagination?
His Excellency, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, is the father of Enugu democracy. Jim was the governor of old Anambra State. He was the Minister of Youths and Sports in Abacha regime, and had represented Enugu East Senatorial Zone in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Jim during his days as a governor was a most charismatic leader whose superlative scorecard has remained an aesthetic gaze for which future leaders would hold. While all his contemporaries had gone the way of all flesh, God has kept Chief Jim Nwobodo alive, as a fountain from which Enugu leaders could draw largely. Jim is well experienced and has the depth of political and leadership repertoire from which we could draw. It is therefore appropriate that Governor Ugwuanyi accord him the deserved honour and respect, as the father of Enugu politics and democracy, a statesman of no mean dimension.. Senator Jim Nwobodo does not interfer in the affairs of running the Ugwuanyi administration. However, as a statesman, his advice may be found useful and that would not come as an order.
As a matter of fact, His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is a man of peace. He is at peace with all men.That is why there is no political war in Enugu State. Perhaps that too has bolstered detractors to continue to spread false claims against the governor. Whereas it is well known that Ugwuanyi has done very well; some disgruntled and selfish politicians from Nsukka would play the devil, making every vile effort to diminish the performance of the governor. Nsukka has bent low, counting its blessings from the Ugwuanyi administration and today they are singing Hallelujah. In fact, the shout of Hallelujah reverberates in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State. It also did echo at Nsukka today as Science University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), the new university Ugwuanyi founded and built at Igbo-eno in Nsukka, was being unveiled today, being 16th February, 2023. Nsukka people have realized that since creation, no man had done for them what Governor Ugwuanyi has done. The people have rejected the besmear campaign of the disgruntled elements in the opposition, and have now embraced their illustrious son, Dr Lawrence Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi.
Now, regarding the claim that Ugwuanyi swings back to 'PDP all the Way' on Jim's Order,Governor Ugwuanyi had at no time left the PDP. This claim is a poor understanding of the spirit of the G5 governors who are members of the PDP. To be is to be in the party as far as partisan politics is concerned. That a group of five governors are asking that the right thing be done in the spirit of zoning of party offices does not necessarily follow that they have left the party. Governor Ugwuanyi is the PDP senatorial flag bearer of Enugu North Senatorial Zone, and so could not have left the party to be ordered back as claimed by the author of the mischievious essay, one Cyril Onu. This claim is a figment of opposition imagination and holds no water at all.It is also wrong to hold that a coordinate governor with equal status as Ugwuanyi would order him around. Whatever decision Ugwuanyi takes is out of his own properly thought out volition. His membership of the G5 is also his own choice expressed in line with his right of association. The opposition in Enugu State has got to address itself to serious issues of politics and refrain from frivolous hawking of false claims, vile imaginations, fictions and besmear campaigns. They should also learn to respect and honour elders. Chief Jim Nwobodo deserves to be respected and honoured. The Octogenarian statesman par excellence is a timeless standard reference of good governance, an epitome of especial leadership, a special gift to Enugu State and Nigeria. So, he should not be the butt of irresponsible opposition politics at all.
The PDP presidential rally in Enugu State has come and gone fait accompli. It did witness massive turn out of the people of Enugu State. The presidential candidate of the party, Atiku Abubakar, was accorded due reception by the governor and the people of the state. The rally was adjudged successful. The opposition would eat back its word and refrain from baseless permutations meant to score cheap political points.
Enugu State is PDP and PDP is Enugu State. On 25th February, 2023 and 11th March, 2023, this position shall have crystalized yet again, as the PDP candidates in the state shall all have been elected to the delight of the people and glory of God.
