Anglican clergies in Nsukka Diocese of Enugu have outrightly turned down the N10 million offered them for kola by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the state.
The funds was presented by the state PDP leaders led by Ifeanyi Ossai (running mate of governorship candidate Peter Mbah), Vita Abba (House of Reps candidate for Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South), Augustine Nnamani (state chairman of the party) and the chairmen of the six local councils in Enugu North who met with the clergymen on September 1st to solicit support in the next year’s general election.
According to sources at the meeting, Ossai, the gubernatorial running mate of the PDP told the church leaders that the current clamour for “Ka Isi-Uzo jee” was meaningless, a reference to the clamour for the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Chijioke Edoga.
He added that the position of deputy governor given to Nsukka zone by PDP was enough compensation.
According to the sources, “Ossai at the end of his speech, presented N10m cash which the Anglican pastors rejected, opting to remain neutral in the electoral process.
“They told the PDP entourage that they wanted to create a level-playing field for all political candidates, rich or poor”
The N10 million donation comes after the PDP led by its gubernatorial candidate, Peter Mbah, donated N40m to the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Nsukka diocese, for their “August meetings”.
The money has turned to a source of great rancour among the women over the sharing formula, while others say that they do not want to be associated with the fund.
The 2023 gubernatorial election will likely present the biggest hurdle for the PDP in Enugu which has ruled the state since 1999 as the Nsukka zone which makes up over 60 percent of the state’s voting population has tilted towards the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Edoga.
