The Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is a man of conviction, a passionate and above all, a humble leader. His humility is contagious and to political illiterates, it passes as weakness and lack of strong will.
But,
“Humility is the virtue of being humble and not holding any excessive feeling of pride.
It is humility that makes a person more empathetic and aware of the feelings of others. Humility enables us to acknowledge the achievements and struggles of others and to offer help when needed.”
The above quote whose author is unknown, brings us to the subject matter of this piece and the need to put things in proper perspective. In the last 1 week, Governor Ugwuanyi became a rallying point for some persons that had always nursed ill feelings about the Governor to express their ignorance hoping that they were de–marketing the White Lion of Enugu State.
The visit of one of the presidential aspirants from the south east to Enugu and the absence of the Coal city helmsman led a lot of persons into making unguarded statements, even when they lack a deep understanding of the issue.
Ugwuanyi is the first leader from South East to boldly use the words EQUITY, JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS with respect to the arguments about 2023 Presidency. When the Northern Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential aspirants led by former President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki visited him.
If you accuse the Governor of not supporting Igbo Presidency, you need to be tutored on the meaning of the three words above as used by Ugwuanyi. Everybody must not be voluminous to make their points and as an astute politician, he has made it categorically clear that he believes in the Igbo Presidency project but some persons decided to look the other way.
What’s JUSTICE if not allowing an Igbo become the next president after the other zones in the South have had their turn? What’s FAIRNESS and EQUITY if not allowing Igbos have their fair share in the occupying of the position so as to be on equilibrium (equity) with other parts of the country?
How can Ugwuanyi not be part of Igbo Presidency project as a lot of persons are making futile efforts to make the public believe when he midwifed the Igbo Presidency project as a result of the work his committee did. It was Governor Ugwuanyi’s zoning committee of the PDP that placed the southern Nigeria on a vintage position to clamour for presidency.
These things were enough to show even the blind that Ugwuanyi isn’t the problem of Igbo Presidency but no, some persons that are positioning themselves for vice president slot wants to make us all think otherwise.
Are we not forgetting so soon? On November 17th, 2020, Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. Dave Umahi left the PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC leaving a very big vacuum in the party as he left with his blood brother; who was the South East Chairman of the PDP. This action threw the party into serious confusion and like a hen whose head has been cut off, they party became a scaler quantity.
Some members of the PDP from the South East besieged Lion Building Enugu and called on Ugwuanyi to take up the leadership position and show direction, a position he took up in the interest of the party.
Are we not supposed to be asking the aspirants from the South East if their leader in the zone was informed before they embarked on this journey or do we also throw it away on the mantra of “Igbo enwe Eze?” (The Igbos have no king). Before you accuse Ugwuanyi of abandoning a project he so much believe in, ask yourself if these aspirants have done noble by ignoring their leader.
Yes, Ugwuanyi escorted a colleague and the Governor of Rivers State to Ebonyi State, what offence did he commit? When he went to Ebonyi, did he campaign for Wike? Why has nobody circulated the video of the speech of the Governor? Is it because it will puncture the lies?
As the 2023 Presidential election draws closer, Igbos won’t achieve their goal with this self hating and propaganda. We should rally round our leader in the South East and come up with a common position or we can continue to play victims when we are the ones victimising ourselves.
Obumneme Okafor writes from Anambra State
