…As Neglected Communities Appeal To Governor Mbah For Consideration
As the tenure of the current chairmen of LGAs in Enugu State wind down, stakeholders in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area are sharply divided in their choice/preference for candidates and zone that will produce the next council chairman.
Concerned group in Isi-Uzo has appealed to the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah to reflect equity, justice and fairness in his expected appointment of Caretaker chairman in Enugu State, stating that ABOR ISHIALA COMMUNITY in Eha-Amufu Ward III AND IHENYI AGARAMA in Eha-Amufu Ward IV respectively, deserve special consideration having being excluded and shortchanged for a long time. The group noted that other communities are counting the number of chairmen they have produced, while the two named communities have produced none.
Unfortunately, those who seem to be close to the Governor are misinforming him to get their choice candidate appointed as caretaker chairman.
What the Governor needs is the truth to achieve peace and stability that is needed to deliver his campaign promises.
PDP in Isi-Uzo has two visible camps; Augustine NNAMANI led camp and Prof. Sam. C UGWU led camp.
What informs the existence of political camps/structure in Isi-Uzo if not selfish interest.
Prof. Sam Ugwu was a former chairman between 2008 and 2011, who later handed over to Augustine NNAMANI in 2011, by implication, Sam Ugwu is a political boss to Chief Augustine NNAMANI but by sheer of luck, hard work as destiny, Chief NNAMANI became the State PDP chairman for 8 years still running, placing him as a leader of the party in the state.
With the recent appointment of Prof. Sam Ugwu as commissioner by Peter Mbah, he became the rallying point for those opposed to Chief Augustine Nnamani.
Their point of division started with the current chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Hon. Barr. Obiora Obeagu, a political godson to Chief Augustine Nnamani.
In a meeting at the Nike lake Hotels in 2022, the stakeholders, voiced their disappointments and frustrations with the chairman for failing to live up to expectations in keeping the PDP together.
In the words of Prof Hilary Edeoga when asked to intervene, proverbially requested that whoever brought “OZOKA THE GREAT MASQUERADE SHOULD TAKE HIM BACK”
Both Alhaji Friday Sani Nnaji and Prince Nnaemeka Ugwu( CEO NEMEL) pharmaceuticals expressed disappointments with the Chairman and wished for a replacement.
As the tenure of the current chairmen wind down, Chief Augustine Nnamani, Ozoigbondu seems to stick with Barr. Obiora Obeagu for second tenure but majority of Isi-Uzo stakeholders are opposed to his return due to seclusion, exclusion and disregard for stakeholders.
Until the appointment of Engr. CHINEDU ANI as Executive Secretary, Enugu State Security Trust Fund, it was rumoured that he will be appointed as caretaker chairman considering the governor’s favourable disposition towards technocrats.
Also making round is the possibility of choosing the immediate past Member of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs Amaka UGWUEZE but she comes from wrong zone, Isi-Uzo central that currently have House of Assembly, Commissioner and Executive Secretary of State Security Trust Fund.
EHA-AMUFU deserves to retain the chairmanship position, be it caretaker or elected chairman for the following reasons;
Based on the adopted and acceptable zoning arrangement in Isi-Uzo, Eha-Amufu ought to serve for 4 unbroken years after other developments; centres in Isi-Uzo central and Amanyi served.
Currently, Isi-Uzo central is occupying the house of Assembly and commissionership and local government PDP chairman.
Amanyi Development Centre currently occupies the State chairmanship of PDP aside the fact that Hon. Jacob Abonyi of Amanyi Development Centre served two years before handing over to Barr. Obiora Obeagu.
EHA-AMUFU have four (4) political wards with seven (7) autonomous communities as follows;
Eha-Amufu ward I comprises two autonomous communities; Eha-Egu autonomous community (ISU) and Aguamede autonomous community and each of these two autonomous communities in Eha-Amufu Ward I have produced a chairman as follows;
1. Chief Hon. Osita Ogene for Eha-Egu
2. Deacon Emmanuel Igwurube for Aguamede autonomous community.
EHA-AMUFU WARD II has one autonomous community; UMUHU and has held several political position as follows;
1. Chief D. C Ikeoha – House of Assembly
2. Late Chief Alphonsus Ogbuabor – Caretaker Chairman.
3. Chief D. C Ikeoha – party Chairman
4. Late Ikechukwu Omeh – Caretaker Chairman
5. Rt. Hon. Dr. Chukwuemeka Ogbuabor – House of Assembly.
6. Hon. Justice Chinweike Ogbuabor – HC Judge
7. Hon. Jideofor Ebeh – Commissioner
EHA-AMUFU WARD III comprises two autonomous communities; Mgbuji autonomous community and Abor Ishiala autonomous community.
MGBUJI community has produced the following;
1. Late Samson Enyi – House of Assembly.
2. Late Chief P. O C Ogenyi – Chairman
3. Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga – Chairman
4. Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga – House of Reps
5. Chief Eric Ebeh – Caretaker Chairman
6. Hon. Goddy Ogenyi – Commissioner.
7. Hon. Barr. Chijioke Edeoga- Commissioner
8. Hon. Barr. Obiora Obeagu – Current chairman.
ABOR ISHIALA community has produced;
1. Late Sunday Agu – Commissioner.
EHA-AMUFU WARD IV comprises two autonomous communities; Ihenyi Agarama autonomous community and AMEDE community.
IHENYI community produced;
1. Hon. Casmir Ugwu – Commissioner.
AMEDE community has produced;
1. Prof. Hillary Edeoga – Commissioner
2. Hon. Dr. Benjamin Edeoga – Chairman
To get it right and to be fair in choosing the next Isi-Uzo Chairman, the Governor should jettison the two political camps in Isi-Uzo and consider a neutral person from ABOR ISHIA autonomous community or IHENYI AGARAMA autonomous community that has not at any time in history produced a caretaker or elected chairman.
Choosing a neutral and a young person from Eha-Amufu will reduce political camp struggle, engender peace and political stability that is required to drive the state government development agenda in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area.
The governor himself is a product of zoning and he is expected to uphold it while appointing a caretaker chairman in Isi-Uzo.
Reappointing Barr. Obiora Obeagu as a caretaker chairman is not the solution because it will only serve the interest of the opposition as the PDP family in Isi-Uzo Local Government will remain sharply and internally divided.
Better still, MBU Community in Amanyi Development Centre, may be considered for the caretaker chairmanship so that when election will be conducted in October based on court order, Eha-Amufu will complete their remaining two years.
Ugwu Sunday
writes from Isi-Uzo .
