A man who is almost certain to be sworn in as Enugu State governor on May 29, 2015, has been named: Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
The anointing came at a stakeholders’ meeting called by incumbent governor Sullivan Chime in Enugu last Friday. Governor Chime had convened such meetings several times since he indicated that his successor would come from Enugu North senatorial zone.
Ugwuanyi, a member of the House of Representatives since 2003, is the chairman, House Committee on Marine. Not known to have raised any motion or contributed to the passage of any bill, his best credential is that he has been a PDP stalwart in his hometown Orba, Udenu LGA. Billboards adorned with his photos and proclaiming his gratitude to the electorate have, in the past four years, been placed at strategic locations in Orba, on the Ninth Mile-Otukpa expressway that passes through his hometown and other towns like Ozalla, Ohodo, Opi, Eha-Alumona and Obollo.
His penname “Gburu Gburu” has now been replaced by “His Excellency”, for almost everyone is sure that the February election would be a coronation. No other party has the resources to run a governorship campaign in a state that depends on the government led by the governor for almost everything.
Senator Ayogu Eze is, so far, the only aspirant from Enugu North who has not accepted Ugwuanyi’s endorsement. Others that have accepted the consensus candidate include: Vita Abba (currently chairman of the PDP in Enugu State), Sam Onyishi, Osita Ogbu, Ikeje Asogwa, Pat Asadu (now in the House of Reps), Okey Itanyi (deputy governor, 1999-2007), and Eddy Ugwu.
Deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu has been at loggerheads with Governor Chime over the rotation (“zoning”) arrangement in the state. He wants to run for governor. Besides, his return to the Senate next year is not certain: Governor Chime, who comes from the same Enugu West senatorial district as Ekweremadu, wants the seat.
Eyeway has gathered , however, that President Goodluck Jonathan wants Ekweremadu as well as Senate president David Mark to return to the Senate. A clash with Governor Chime of Enugu appears inevitable.
