A palpable anxiety has enveloped the political atmosphere in the coal city of Enugu State as the state governor, Sullivan Chime has summoned all political aspirants to different offices in the 2015 general elections under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a meeting.
Although the agenda for the meeting billed to hold on Friday, September 26, which invites was also extended to stakeholders of the party, is not clear at press time, THE CITIZEN was reliably informed that it will centre on the 2015 elections and the need to settle for consensus candidates for all political positions to avoid rancour among the party members.
“The meeting is expected to appeal to all the aspirants for calm and to embrace consensus ideology for political positions and that has been the tradition of the party in the state. That is the only way the party can continue to win elections because if the situation is not managed properly, it might affect the electoral victory of the party during elections.
“You know that since the governor has told the National Assembly members, especially those who have served more than one term that they would retire with him in 2015 to make way for new crop of politicians and representatives, it has continued to generate tensions because some welcomed it but majority of them see it as undemocratic and have vowed to scuttle any attempt to cut their political career short. So, if Chime must ensure that his aspiration will sail through in fielding acceptable candidates for 2015, he must start by holding this kind of meetings,” said a source.
THE CITIZEN was told that some of the gubernatorial aspirants are in great fear that their ambitions might be dashed if at the meeting the governor names his successor and appeal to other aspirants to support him or her.
“What has heightened anxiety is that the governor’s body language does not give a clue of what he thinks or whom he is going to endorse. Rather, he has kept sealed lips and treated everyone equally. But one thing is certain, the party functions with streamlined structures. Even during the council elections, party stakeholders hold meetings to agree on credible candidates. Sometimes, tempers rise but as family members, all their grievances are always resolved. And 2015 might not be different,” the source added.
It was gathered that the uncertainties stemmed from the fact that the meeting appears be a closed one even though it is tagged ‘aspirants and stakeholders meeting’, but THE CITIZEN was told that invitees were called on phone individually.
As the election draws nearer, the most contentious is who would emerge the next governor of the state. As at the last count, some of those believed to be interested in the governorship position which the party has zoned to the Enugu North Senatorial zone included two-term senator and Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Ayogu Eze; Ambassador Fidel Ayogu; Member representing Igboeze North-Udenu Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Maritime, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; PDP State Chairman and former Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Chief Vita Abba; Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Eugene Odoh; two-time Commissioner for Information, Chuks Ugwuoke; Commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory, Ik Ugwuegede, MD of Enugu State Housing Authority, Ikeji Asogwa and former Commissioner for Education, Professor Simon Ortuanya.
Others may also join the race as the timetable for the primaries has been approved by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) last week.
While some of the aspirants are relying on their political connections, especially at the federal level, others are banking on their experience in politics, closeness to the state governor and achievements in their various offices.
Meanwhile, the meeting is coming after today’s grand rally in Enugu State to mobilise support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The rally, which is being put together by a group conceived by Governor Sullivan Chime, Enugu Movement for the Re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan (EMJ), is expected to take place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium.
Already, the governor has declared today a public holiday in the state to enable the indigenes to participate fully in the rally which is expected to be witnessed by Vice-President, Namadi Sambo who would be representing President Jonathan. Also, the popular Ogbete market and other road-side markets as well as timber shops are expected to be shut down. All schools, markets, banks and other financial institutions in Enugu State, will remain closed.
Bill-boards and posters adorning pictures of the president have been mounted at strategic locations within the capital city.
The Chairman of the group, Mr. Charles Egumgbe, said, “We want to show the world that Enugu people, irrespective of political or other affiliations, are solidly behind President Goodluck Jonathan. We want to use this rally to thank him for the unprecedented support he has given the Igbos and to Enugu people in particular. We will tell him that we want him to continue in office come 2015.”
Meanwhile, the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria, TAN, Enugu State chapter, Wednesday, expressed utter disappointment over the report in some national dailies alleging plans by the State chapter of TAN to scuttle the rally being organised by the Enugu State Movement for Re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The rebuttal is coming on the heels of an allegation that TAN Enugu chapter has been hijacked by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and he is using the platform to horn his political interest side by side with that of President Jonathan, using TAN as a cover.
But in a statement signed by Mr. Ugulu O. Ugulu, Publicity Secretary of TAN Enugu State Chapter, the group said the allegations were frivolous, baseless and laughable.
The statement said: “It is a global knowledge that TAN is the flagship organisation in the campaign for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, yet it is on record that the Enugu State Government had serially misused police in either scuttling or attempting to scuttle the meetings of TAN in the State.
“It could also be recalled that the Enugu State Government was the only South-East State not officially represented at the first geopolitical zonal rally of TAN held in Awka, Anambra State on 17th August, 2014. It is also further on record that the Enugu State Government was the only South-East state that refused to collect the TAN registers for the collection of signatures in support of the Jonathan 2015 project.
“Indeed, TAN Enugu State chapter has no problems with any pro-Jonathan rallies or groups because the more the merrier; and we refuse to join issues with some chicken and petty political actors in Enugu State”.
