By Godfrey Okonkwo Agbo.
Political party nominations have come and gone but the dust it generated across the states is yet to settle. The heavyweight gladiators will seem to be on a long recess of about eight months before the grand finale – the general elections. Though, there is a window of substitution provided under section 33 of the revised Electoral Act, it is not likely the parties will make changes that will radically upset the list of candidates already holding the various party flags across the states.
In Enugu, the twists and turns that characterized the race to the Lion building is somewhat worrisome, with what some stakeholders perceive to be a relapse to the inglorious past era of brigandage. One may ask: what is the basis for this feeling? Wait a minute! The perception is not unfounded. In fact, those who are familiar with politics of Enugu, and the events leading up to the narrowing of the search for the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for the state weeks back, can bear witness to the return of bullish tendencies of the Ebeano political circuit.
From the alleged violent manhandling of one Hon Chiene I. Chiene for daring to air a dissenting view during a stakeholders meeting in Enugu South Local government council headquarters, to the open and violent rebuke by Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, one of the aspirants who contested the PDP governorship primary which sad event took place at the stadium venue of the primary election, the ominous signs are clear for every discerning mind to see.
The video clips showing how the two-time Governor and Senator bared his fangs against Hon.Edeoga have since gone viral in the social media. Also in circulation is another funny video clip showing the Ebeano maestro sitting on a couch at the venue of a rally while his subjects led by the current governor were clapping, singing and dancing the Ebeano anthem in a manner reminiscent of the behavior of kings and clowns in the Shakespearean scenes.
These occurrences can only reopen sad memories of ‘executive dirty slaps’ and other forms of physical assaults that featured in the corridors of power in Enugu between the period of 1999 and 2007.
It is, therefore, little wonder that in some circles in Enugu today, there’s some feeling of disquiet following what some have likened to a possible resurgence of the era of political brigandage in Enugu.
Whatever transactional (ashụa) politics of the outgoing Governor that has purchased this sorry state of affairs for a state that is acclaimed to be in God’s hands shall be the subject of further interrogation in yet another piece of writing that will come from my stable sooner or later.
Ebeano! Each time I remember that nomenclature, my mind quickly goes to the plea bargain entered by Chimaroke Nnamani and his co-defendants in suit no.FHC/L/09C/2007 to refund part of his loot from the coffers of the Enugu State Government. How much of the alleged N5.8billion looted by the Ebeano government has been forfeited by him and his co-travellers in the Ebeano train and what steps have the present government taken to recover the money? As a transactional leader (onye ashụa) who is interested in money, money and money, how much of the Chimaroke loot has Governor Ugwuanyi recovered from Chimaroke?
I am, however, minded to give some benefit of doubt to the person of Mr Peter Mbah whom I hardly know beyond his name. Perchance Enugu people decide to vote for PDP in next year’s gubernatorial election, Mr Mbah has an initial burden to strip himself of every Ebeano yoke around him, if he truly wants to succeed. Already, it’s a bad sign to see that two-minute ebeano advertorial on Arise TV every morning. Will affliction revisit Enugu the second time? Does Peter Mbah intend to leverage on the Ebeano image or does he want to carve his own niche? I think the choice is his.
*Mr Agbo, a legal practitioner, writes from Port Harcourt, Nigeria*
