

Politicians in the ‘Salt of the nation’ have commenced moves to clinch major political parties’ tickets in feverish political scheming and gimmicks that are setting the pace for a hot contest for the Sani Abacha House in 2019, writes JOHN NWITE in this exclusive analysis… Below is how they stand!
Engr. David Nweze Umahi: Seeking Second term amidst tough opposition…
Engr. David Nweze Umahi, FNSE, FNATE is the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State who ran for the Governorship of the state on the platform of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He won the controversial election. But some alleged that he was heavily assisted by ‘cloned-technology’ that was heavily backed by the ‘federal powers’ of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Security Agencies.
Born January 1, 1964, Umahi is the son of Elder Joseph Umahi Nwaze and Margret Umahi of Umunaga. Umahi received his secondary education from Ishiagu High School and the Government Secondary School of Afikpo before entering the Enugu State University of Science and Technology in 1982. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering.
In 1990, he co-founded Norman Engineering and Construction Nig. Limited with Ombo Isokarari, serving as its general manager until 1993. Until 2011, he served as chairman and CEO of Brass Engineering & Construction Nig. Ltd., Focus Investment Nig. Ltd., and Osborn La Palm Royal Resort Ltd.
Umahi entered public service in 2007 as the acting chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party. From 2009 to 2011, he served as state chairman of the party. During that term, he served a year on the governing board of the Federal Medical Centre in Asaba as its chairman.
In 2011, Umahi became deputy governor of Ebonyi State on a ticket with Chief Martin Elechi. In 2014, the then Governor Elechi supported Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health, as his successor, which Umahi said violated an understanding that he would take over from Elechi. Umahi defeated Chukwu in the primaries. The remainder of Elechi’s term was chaotic, with arson hitting the House of Assembly in February 2015 and motions moved to impeach him later that same month over alleged breaches of the constitution, gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds and anti-party activities. Umahi was elected Governor on 12th April 2015 in an election that was challenged by the Labour Party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, on the basis of “widespread irregularities, killings, and wanton destruction of property.” In October 2015, the legitimacy of the election was upheld by the Governorship Election Tribunal and later by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Umahi had defeated the then Labour Party candidate, Dr. Edward Nkwegu who came second in the disputed election. The result of the election was consequently challenged by his fiercest rival, from the tribunal to the Supreme Court and Engr. Umahi secured victory at every stage.
Having been a PDP chairman before being elected Elechi’s Deputy in 2011, Engr. Umahi, who was adjudged by many sound politicians as an old broom that knows all corners of the house and therefore should sweep better in party politics, had tactfully warmed himself into the then PDP national hierarchy and the Presidency who all assisted him in ‘hijacking’ the Ebonyi PDP primaries, thus pulling the rug off Elechi’s feet.
At last, Elechi’s preferred candidate, Prof. Chukwu could not participate in the primaries as they primarily relied on the ‘orders’ of the then President Jonathan that primaries be suspended in Ebonyi and three other states until the controversies emanating from earlier party’s primaries are resolved. But the defiant party leaders without deference to their then leader sent a delegation of the party led by Ekiti’s Ayo Fayose to conduct the State PDP Governorship primaries on the 6th of December 2014.
Alas, Engr. Umahi emerged amidst protests from other aspirants that the process was replete with several irregularities and they vowed to challenge same before an appeal committee of the party. The rest as they say is now history and Umahi was inaugurated Governor on May 29, 2015 with a profusion of promises to revamp the state’s fortunes and make lives better for all Ebonyians. Prominent among his inaugural professions was the promise that he will never allow his family members and cronies to benefit from contracts and other perks of office during his reign as the Governor of Ebonyi state.
A few months after his inauguration, Gov. Umahi rolled out a list of many appointees numbering over 50 at a time he was still complaining about economic down-turn, thus forcing those who understand his style of politics to conclude that he may rather be working hard to secure a second-term in office. His appointments, from the beginning, suggested that he gave many career politicians greater roles to play in his government than professionals in various fields.
Behold, the Governor was to prove that the suspicions of many were right when he declared during the inauguration of one of his projects that “Because we are going to do a second term in office, that is why we are targeting this project this way…” As expected, he received cheers and accolades from his many aides and supporters who were at the scene.
To fully enroll an army that will begin deep grassroots penetration across the length and breadth of the state, Gov. Umahi ‘mobilized’ and strongly supported the formation of Akubaraoha Youth Assembly, AYA which is a replica of the then Ebonyi Youth Assembly which Comrade Chinedu Ogah had spear-headed under Chief Elechi’s administration. This was in addition to his later appointment of over 191 Special Technical Assistants and Technical Advisers across all the nooks and crannies of the ‘Salt of the Nation.’
One of his STAs on Media, Chief Chris Ngwuta had in an interview disclosed that the large army of appointees is Umahi’s political toll-gates into the 171 Electoral Wards and over a thousand polling units in the state. In his words: “The Major-Generals in Ebonyi as far as this game is concerned are with Dave Umahi. The Lieutenants in the game are with Dave and the recruits in the field as far as this game is concerned are also with Dave.
“As you can see, the STAs and TAs he has appointed now are his political toll-gates. In every political Ward, Dave is there. In every Local Government, Dave is there. So, tell me where the opposition is going to? They don’t have roads to pass! You know about the case of APGA in Anambra state in 2013. And you know that PDP is a very vibrant party. But did you know that even then President Goodluck went to the place and campaigned vigorously for the PDP candidate and eventually, APGA still took over there.
“The same case will happen here in Ebonyi my brother. We are going to vote for Dave Umahi for a second term!” he had concluded.
However, no matter how hard Gov. Umahi tries to paint a rosy picture of his re-election even as a political ‘Lord of the Manor’, one fact is clear; the forces and the ladders he used to secure victory in 2015 are no longer there with him. It is now an APC Government at the Centre and a greater percentage of his then supporters are now ‘clinging to the Centre’ for succour as most of them claim that he had abandoned them after the election. One of the many cases at hand is the resignation of his Campaign Director in Afikpo North, Sen. Azu Agboti from the PDP for the APC and sources allege that the erstwhile Senator had parted ways with the Governor after he allegedly made efforts to get Umahi to appoint one of his sons as a member of his cabinet but was reminded that his services in 2015 were allegedly paid for.
Those in the APC in Ebonyi State, despite claims that Umahi is sponsoring a faction to destabilize the party, believe that 2019 will be a pay-back time for the Governor. Their boast to use all the federal powers in their arsenal to sack Umahi come 2019 for what many of them allege to be a selfish style of governance is anchored on the belief of their leader, the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who incidentally hails from the same Uburu community with Umahi.
It is instructive to note that Gov. Umahi and Dr. Onu had been at opposing ends in the business of politics since Umahi’s entry into the game in 2007, when he was allegedly used to destabilize Uburu and ensure that Dr. Onu did not succeed at his third attempt to govern Ebonyi state as an opposition Governorship candidate.
This perhaps may have buoyed Dr. Onu’s vow in his New Year party with APC Stakeholders in his Uburu country-home to end PDP’s ‘Rigging Machine’ and ensure that the APC wins the state in 2019. Hence, to political analysts, this represents a renewal of rivalries between the two brothers. They further claim that it is an act of fear of the unknown especially having no grip on the centre that Umahi was fast to declare his support for Buhari for 2019. Some others foresee him dumping the PDP for the ruling APC especially as he has been conspicuously absent of late in PDP events, most times often preferring to send his Deputy or the Secretary to the State Government.
But some critical and objective stakeholders of the APC have warned that to defeat Umahi in 2019, the APC must not only be united, but must work very hard. They believe that Umahi is an intelligent and smart politician who is capable of planting moles in the APC to reveal the strategies of the party to him.
Pundits also believe that with the endorsements of Gov. Umahi for another term in office by many groups and individuals and his spend-thrift style of governance which has made him to donate Sports Utility Vehicles (Jeeps) to Traditional Rulers and his further promise to enact laws that would enable government to pay former National, state and council lawmakers in the state, he is further enhancing his chances of possible return to the Abacha House in 2019.
Despite protests from some quarters that his policies are at best cosmetic and not appropriately prioritized to suit the needs of Ebonyi people, it is also not in contention that many roads in the Abakaliki capital city have been rehabilitated and made motorable by the Umahi administration under what it Christened Urban Renewal Policy of his administration. Water has also started flowing in fountains across the three major Round-abouts in Abakaliki even when people complain that they are finding it more difficult now to have water to drink in their homes.
All these, among others, including the ‘planting’ of his brothers at the state and zonal leadership levels of his PDP, Gov. Umahi believes, will aide him in first securing the party’s ticket in 2018 without any form of struggle. Whether he would repeat a similar feat in the actual election peradventure he remains in the PDP and as the sole candidate of the party in the 2019 Guber polls is only in the womb of time!
But his major weakness apart from the allegations that the masses are increasingly growing wary of his style of governance that makes it possible for money in the state to be channeled into only his pocket and those of a few of his family members is that the forces at the Centre, the APC, will surely want to return to him what he had meted out to the peoplein 2015 with ‘federal might’, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu: May take 4th shot at the Governorship, backed perhaps by ‘Federal might’
Dr. Christopher Ogbonnaya Onu is the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology and one of the tripods of the formation of the All Progressives Congress, APC as a formidable opposition that dislodged the PDP in 2015. He was born on December 1, 1951, to the family of His Royal Highness, Late Eze David Aba Onu, Eze Adu of Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Unlike his brother, the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi, Engr. Umahi, of whom little is known concerning what many will consider an outstanding academic track record, Dr. Onu obtained Grade One with Distinction in his West African School Certificate (WASC) examination at Izzi High School, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. He also obtained Distinction in Physics and Chemistry at the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination at the College of Immaculate Conception, (CIC), Enugu, graduating as the best overall student. By 1976, he graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering at the University of Lagos.
He later obtained his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Chemical Engineering (without passing through a master’s degree) at the reputable University of California, Berkeley, California, USA, in 1980, where he did extensive work on coal liquefaction and production of synthetic fuels under mild conditions. He showed that it was possible under relatively mild conditions to produce synthetic fuels comparable with crude oil.
In 1991, Dr. Onu was elected the first Governor of old Abia State. His Fellow Governors elected him the first Chairman of the then Conference of Nigerian Governors. During his eventful tenure as Governor, he emphasized the use of technology as an important instrument for national development by starting work on the establishment of a Technology Village, as well as towards introducing computers into selected public schools. He introduced the Free Maternal Health Care Programme which enabled poor pregnant women to receive free healthcare services as a measure to reduce death during pregnancy and childbirth. This became so successful that pregnant women from neighbouring States flooded the State.
Dr. Onu is a resolute believer in Nigeria’s unity as an instrument for national integration and development. As a cerebral Governor, he abolished the State of Origin Syndrome in Abia State and led the way in appointing non-indigenes of the State into top positions of responsibility in his Administration.
Using the Abia Dream as a philosophy to mobilize the people of the State to achieve excellence in all spheres of human endeavour, Dr. Onu founded the Abia State Polytechnic at Aba. He also established the College of Technical Education in Arochukwu and attracted the Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture at Umudike, near Umuahia. In addition, Dr. Onu established the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State as well as the National Ambassador Newspapers, which then won several awards as the best State owned Newspaper in Nigeria. As a God fearing leader, he christened Abia “God’s Own State” and symbolized his noble dream for the State by building the ‘Abia Tower of Peace’, which has today become the known symbol of the State.
All these were accomplished within his brief stint at the helms of affair of God’s Own State.
In 1999, he emerged the first Presidential flagbearer of the then All Peoples Party, APP, which was later known as the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP. A true democrat and committed party loyalist, Dr. Onu demonstrated rare political discipline and consistency, by remaining one of the very few founding leaders of the opposition ANPP who remained in the party since its inception in 1998 until it merged into a new political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July 2013.
Little wonder, his fellow party men and women in September 2010, in recognition of his rare political fidelity, discipline, steadfastness and exemplary commitment to the party’s ideals, elected him their National Chairman. As the Head of the then leading opposition political party, he was the Leader of Opposition in Nigeria. Dr. Onu remains a worthy role model for young politicians who are principled and who put service and the common good above all other considerations.
It is further worthy to note that Dr. Onu has been honoured with several awards and recognitions both within and outside Nigeria. Dr. Onu, for instance, is the 2004 Man of the Year award winner of the reputable American Biographical Institute. He was honoured with the Governor of the Year (1992) Award and also the Star Governor (1993) Award. He is a recipient of the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award (2011/2012) by the West African Students Union Parliament and was honoured with the “Vanguard of True Democracy” award by the Pan African Students Union Parliament. He was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State and also the University of Lagos Golden Jubilee Distinguished Alumni Award.
He is an honorary citizen of many cities in the world, in addition to the State of Texas in the United States of America. Dr. Onu also holds many traditional chieftaincy titles, notably: Ikeoha Uburu, Dike-Eji-Eme-Udo of Eastern States, Akajiugo Nnewi, Ogbuagu Abiriba, Ugochinyere Owerri, Ozurumba Orlu, Odiukonamba Eziudo Mbaise, Dikeora Abagana, Ikemba Afikpo, Ugochinyere Umuahia, Okumada Yala, Cross River State, Nigeria and the Akile of Ifon Orolu Kingdom, Osun State, Nigeria. He is also the Togbe Kwami Vidza of Kpando District, Ghana.
Dr. Onu is a Member of the Ancient and Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International (KSJI).
However, those at the home-front have a common belief that Dr. Onu’s intimidating credentials and successes have not materialized into his winning his Polling Unit and Electoral Ward in any political contest since the return of Democracy in 1999. Many, including his ardent followers, feel he has not yet adjusted to the realities of modern-day politics in Nigeria which to them is: Money plays the key role!
Recall that he had vied for the Governorship of Ebonyi State upon the return of Democracy in 1999 under the platform of APP but could not make history in the election that returned Dr. Sam Egwu as the first civilian Governor of the state. Although the opposition cried foul, alleging irregularities, nothing changed as the PDP began its strangle-hold on the ‘Salt of the Nation.’ Being a consistent and persistent person, Dr. Onu took another shot at the Governorship of the state in 2003 and could not make it the second time.
It was at this juncture that many expressed concern that the one-time Abia Governor may be deploying a ‘20th Century Approach’ to having converts in an election. Others however differed that the system has been perfectly and consistently rigged against him and that knowing his very peaceful disposition to issues; he would always tell his supporters to let peace reign and accept the outcome of such exercises in good faith. To people in the later School of thought, such an attitude has made Dr. Onu to stand out as a man of peace!
Perhaps, in a desperate bid to remedy the past failures and restore his electoral value and in statements that tended to allude to widespread claims that he has always been ‘rigged’ out in previous elections in the state , Dr. Onu in a New Year party organized for Ebonyi APC Stakeholders at his Uburu Country home pointed out that his party has stopped PDP’s rigging machine and was therefore now set for victory in Ebonyi 2019. Hear his clear words to his party men: “Nobody ever, will ask anybody to respect him or her and expect to get it. No! It doesn’t happen that way. You must merit it. You have to achieve it. And with the people I see here, there’s no reason why we will go into elections (even Local Government elections) that we will not win. And I now call on the Party(APC) to ensure that our mobilization committee will continue to work. We want to defeat the PDP! We want to drain the PDP…” he boasted, adding that politics after all is a game of numbers and every politics is local.
“On election day, you can only be in one polling unit unless you have a permission to do that and only few people will do that. While you are in your own, others are in their own. So, we must look for a way to make sure that we have strong men and women in every polling unit in Ebonyi state… Those instruments that they (PDP) used to write results are no longer in their control. We must be in charge of our Polling Units so that we can mobilize to have strong men and woman to engage the Polling units so that we can give total defeat to the PDP in 2019. All we need now is that we have to be united in order to achieve that…” reiterated the Hon. Minister who, like some other APC Stakeholders acknowledged that the party needs to get down to work to achieve their goal of taking over the state in 2019.
Exhilarated by this somewhat unusual tone of his, party members, supporters and stakeholders present could not hide their feelings of great excitement as they kept cheering him Ugoo! Ugoo!! Ugoo!!!
Those who know Dr. Onu too well suspect that since the frog does not jump out of the hole at noon-day for no reason, he may perhaps have kept to his chest, a ‘hidden’ intention to vie for Ebonyi’s top job just in case there’s no ‘bigger’ offer from his party at the Centre in 2019. He’s believed to be one who keeps his feelings and reactions over anything all to himself and thus, replicates same in politics. To people who don’t quite understand his style, such could be viewed as lacking trust in another person which they claim is not good in modern-day politics.
Also, some have alluded to his strategic appointments so far which has so been spread across the three Senatorial zones (particularly in LGAs that have good political values) as a sign that the Technology Activist may be tinkering with the possibility of taking a fourth shot at the Ebonyi Government House. On this, some key stakeholders appear divided. Whereas some feel he has politically grown above being a Governor of a state, others think that such can be a better spring-board to whatever he may desire to aspire to in future elections.
Those who argue in favour of the latter have often further hinged their arguments on claims that he has better towering credentials than the incumbent Governor and all those from the Ebonyi South zone in the APC. “When the time comes, we will all let him know that there’s no other person that can ‘salvage’ the state except him”, said a stakeholder from Ebonyi south who recently reflected on the Ebonyi 2019 Governorship race.
Others even insist that since it was Dr. Onu’s insistence on taking a third shot at the Governorship of Ebonyi in 2007 against some earlier admonitions that brought Engr. Umahi into mainstream politics in Ebonyi which was caused by the pity Elechi had on him and a few other stakeholders whose homes were destroyed in a political violence that engulfed his Uburu community, it would also be a good final narrative that he stops Engr. Umahi via a free and fair contest in 2019.
It is, however, worth emphasizing that it could be an uphill task to square-up a spendthrift Gov. Umahi who had started scheming for his re-election since the day he took his oath of office with a yet-to-publicly-decide Dr. Onu whose greatest weakness is that he does not believe that politics is a game of money, not just numbers, especially in a poor state like Ebonyi where stakeholders could be bought and bought-over again. That he’s even said to have declared severally in public that: “I don’t give money to people in politics” is already dampening the enthusiasm of some of his loyalists who complain in private.
It is the political permutation of many that if Dr. Onu as a serving Minister fails to defeat Umahi and stop his re-election in 2019, his relevance in the scheme of affairs in his APC at the national level could be in dire danger. And Engr. Umahi who always appears more ‘savant’ has understood the implication and has been fingered in the pro-longed factionalization of the APC in Ebonyi state. His alleged sponsorship and open identification with the Ucha-led faction of the party has already sent signals to the APC national leadership that they are more wolves in sheep’s clothing in the state than they could probably have imagined.
This is where some smart politicians in the APC were said to have strongly advised Dr. Onu to ‘buy’ over Nwaobashi and ‘manage’ him till the party’s congress next year rather than allow him to be used as a pawn in the state’s political chessboard by enemies of the party and himself. Another viable option is to impress on the national leadership of the party to confirm the position of Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze as the ‘Acting’ Chairman of the party which Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha and a few other Chieftains of the APC in the South-east are alleged to have been blocking all in a desperate bid to undermine Dr. Onu as the leader of the party in the zone.
The seemingly selfish and fiendish politics being played by some Stakeholders of the zone has ascended to such an utterly asinine level that those who believe that Dr. Onu deserves some respect and honour as one of the key tripods upon which the party was formed have not hidden their disdain of the actions of some politicians in the zone targeted at denigrating Dr. Onu, and this is exactly what politicians like Umahi are exploiting. It is to this end therefore that some political pundits have insisted that if Dr.Onu is to remain very relevant in the helm of APC affairs, he must remove his sartorial and ‘unstained white garment’-which he is traditionally known for and get down to work (and perhaps dirty too) in order to begin to prove to the state, zone and national leadership of his party that he also has some hybrid political orientation (a blend of the old and modern styles of Nigeria politics).
How all these play out in his favour ahead 2019 will ultimately be dependent on who holds sway at the party’s congress next year.
ENGR. PAUL OKORIE: EX EBONYI WORKS COMMISSIONER AIMING TO HARVEST ABAKALIKI BLOC?
There are indications that the former Commissioner for Works and Transport and later, pioneer Commissioner for Environment in Ebonyi State, Engr. Paul Okorie has commenced ‘consultations’ particularly within his party’s fold (APC) in Ebonyi ahead the 2019 Governorship elections.
With sterling academic records and particularly some credible achievements in his chosen Engineering field, Engr. Okorie, otherwise popularly referred to as AKTION by his admirers is one of the pioneer servants in the state who rose to the radar through dint of hard-work traced back to his days as the pioneer Director of the state’s Water Corporation. The Okposi-born politician was one of the adroit Aides of Chief Martin Elechi who was most touted as a possible successor to the immediate-past Governor.
As his popularity in Elechi’s government soared especially with his unparalleled achievements as a pioneer Commissioner for Environment, some politically jaundiced elements who of course became uncomfortable with his rising profile began to drop some Banana peels on his way to the top. This culminated in his sack by Chief Elechi under a very controversial circumstance of allegations of ‘contract mess’.
The now incumbent Governor, Umahi who not only comes from the same LGA with Okorie but was alleged to have been ‘largely assisted’ to handle most of the state’s contracts was fingered to be behind his unceremonious dismissal from Elechi’s government in 2013. Although Umahi had consistently ‘looked the other way’, keen watchers of events in the build-up to Elechi’s succession battle was later to be proven otherwise.
Yet determined to make his vision of governing Ebonyi a reality, Engr. Okorie declared for the 2015 Governorship election under the platform of the PDP under the campaign slogan: AKTION 2015! In a Press Conference where he declared his intention to vie for Ebonyi Guber position, Engr. Okorie had declared that his decision to contest was an act of God and there was a mighty hand of God upon his vision to govern Ebonyi to the applause of his fans who had gathered to cheer him up.
But things proved otherwise when at the PDP Governorship primaries at the Abakaliki Township stadium on December 6th 2014 Engr. Okorie and other aspirants lost out in an election that was touted to have been massively ‘rigged’ and skewed to favour Engr. Umahi. After some foul cries by him and his supporters, Engr. Okorie rebuffed attempts by Engr. Umahi to work for his success at the 2015 elections. He rather plied his trade and that of some of his supporters with the Labour Party.
It was shortly after the election in 2015 that he and his group in LP massively defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress from where they vowed to sack the incumbent government in Ebonyi state.
Give it to Engr. Okorie in the area of having a wider acceptability across particularly the Abakaliki bloc – one of the few politicians who is genuinely loved by many in the north and perhaps central zones of the state. Many opine that even though his popularity has waned over time, he still has a good chance if empowered and given a good political platform to run the 2019 Guber race.
Whereas, some pundits appreciate what they labeled AKTION’s practical and pragmatic approach to politics which they say has made him to make his interest known even to leaders of the party quite early, others feel such may become his undoing as he may get exhausted before the actual dance. This is coming especially on the heels of claims that he (at present) lacks the requisite financial capacity to help either his party fight the necessary battles confronting it or assist in meeting-up with some needs of a potential Governorship material.
To his fiercest critics, this is his greatest undoing and a major weakness of his desire to govern Ebonyi. For some, their position is that declaring your intention without adequate finances to begin to work to actualize same is like chasing a snake without being armed. They allude same to be the reality of Engr. Okorie’s early bird declaration of his ambition.
Another factor that people speculate may hinder Okorie’s guber dream is the bitter and acrimonious politics that plays out in his Ohaozara LGA wherein it is believed that the Uburu man will NEVER work for the emergence of an Okposi man to unseat a fellow Uburu man as Governor. This, they allege is traced to the age-long rivalry between the two sister communities.
Despite all odds, it is the belief of many that if Engr. Okorie is empowered by his party and supported by its stakeholders, he may likely be a good option for the party from the south.
COMRADE CHRISTIAN CHUKWU: UK-BASED BUSINESS MOGUL MAY POSE A TOUGH NUT FOR UMAHI TO CRACK IF…
Comrade Christian Chukwu is an indigene of Amenu-Uburu in the same Ohoazara Local Government Area and is touted to be a nephew to the incumbent Governor of the state, Engr. David Umahi. That is where their relationship ends.
In the business of politics, Comr. Chukwu- a United Kingdom-based millionaire business-man popularly referred to as Bible who had a humble beginning from his days as a student of Accountancy in the Enugu State University of Science Technology, (ESUT) has always had an eye on politics and governance. He is not only said to have been hugely assisting the party financially to be able to play the role of an effective opposition but is also the most vocal critic of his brother(Umahi)’s style of governance.
Although he has not told anybody that he is contesting the party (APC)’s 2019 ticket and same has consistently been mentioned by the party’s stakeholders in public who say he’s doing all he has done so far for the party for his love for the opposition. It is worth recalling that Comrade Chukwu who donated a Sienna bus to the party last year, rented a Secretariat and has almost been the life-blood of effective outings of the party has made it public that he has no ambition to run for anything (at least for now). He is also rumoured to be warming his way into the APC national leadership and even beyond.
Hear him during the presentation of the Sienna vehicle to the party: “It doesn’t really matter. He (Umahi) is even my ‘Uncle’. But if you are not doing the proper thing, and you are punishing your people because God gave you an opportunity, even if you are my son and I have the power to remove you, I will remove you.”
Asked to list areas he feels Governor Umahi is not performing, Comrade Chukwu had replied that “Ebonyi State is one of the states that when you compare it with other Igbo states in terms of education, they are nowhere. When Dr. Sam Egwu went into power, he brought out this scholarship programme which had been going on, Elechi continued it, but as soon as Umahi came to power, he discontinued it. It shows you the sign that what he’s interested in is in empowering himself. He doesn’t have the interest of the people at heart.”
“Another thing is that when you talk about road construction, he has not been doing proper road construction. What he has been doing is re-coating the job that Elechi did in the past. He is involving the Press (sorry to say that) in singing his praises without doing anything”, he said, adding that “if you watch-out, you will see that Dave Umahi doesn’t have what it takes to be a governor. He doesn’t even know how to bring out policies and programmes that will help Ebonyians. What he’s after is empowering his people; his brothers, his sisters and people within his entity. He’s making them rich and that is not what Ebonyi needs at this particular point in time.”
Comrade Chukwu had gone further to allege such instances to include “where he made his brother the Zonal Vice-Chairman of the PDP (South-East), he made his brother an Ebonyi State Chief (traditional ruler of Uburu Community). He has done a lot apart from the mentioned few.”
The London-based business mogul also disclosed that part of the ways he’s strengthening the party to ensure that his brother does not get a Second term is the renting of the APC Secretariat along the Afikpo/Abakaliki Expressway.
He further claimed that the incumbent governor was the brain behind the factionalization of the APC in Ebonyi but vowed that his antics in the opposition geared towards bringing a divided APC in Ebonyi that won’t be strong to confront him in 2019 will not work as it will not affect the structure of the party.
Comrade Chukwu further alleged that; “This is the job of the current Governor. He (Gov. Umahi) is the person who is planting whoever that is fighting the interest of the party. He is the person who is bringing division within the party. But the man who he is fighting is more than him. So, he is going nowhere!”, he vowed noting that Ebonyi people are already very tired of the PDP-led government and the APC is doing everything it can do at the moment to takeover power in 2019.
“And I know that we have been doing a lot of ground work to ensure that come 2019, APC comes to the rescue of Ebonyians. Making people poor is not good. He (Umahi) is punishing the people. He is just packing the whole money in Ebonyi state and putting it in one family. And the people are tired and because they are tired, when the time comes, they will vote against him”, the party stalwart had alleged.
Whereas, Comr. Chukwu is very youthful and therefore resoundingly resourceful and is believed to have the enormous wealth that could make his threats against Gov. Umahi a reality, some in the APC fold are afraid that he may be a mole planted for a different agenda that may not eventually be in the best interest of the party. Those close to him claim that such a dummy is already being sold to the APC by Gov. Umahi and that Bible has also consistently denied same as a ruse by those who feel threatened by his bourgeoning political profile in Ebonyi APC.
Another of his greatest undoing is the feeling of some Ebonyians that he has not been up and around, hence it will appear as though the party has ‘imported a stranger’ into the state’s politics and governance should the party decide to favour him with its Guber ticket in the 2019 elections. They argue that the Nigerian style of politics favours not only being around but having experiences from previous elected or appointive offices occupied by a candidate (even though the opposite is often the case for many).
Also in the APC leadership hierarchy in the state, some view him despite his humungous contributions as a ‘mere opportunist’ who is capitalizing on the financial hiccups facing the party which they say is largely due to the non-appointment of Board members and other strategic empowerment-oriented appointments. But those that he is alleged to have been ‘sustaining’ in the party think that he may perhaps be Dr. Onu’s favourite hence they are from the same Amenu-Uburu especially if he has no intention to contest the Ebonyi Guber polls. The duo are said to have a rosy relationship.
Some others also argue in his favour that being a spend-thrift just like Umahi and also very young in age and with innovative ideas, Bible is a favourite of the Ebonyi youths who may need such a character to favourably compete with Gov. Umahi. Sources in Uburu allege that Gov. Umahi and his brothers are already jittery and afraid of the young politician who they appear to know too well and what he stands for. Others in the APC, however, think that Comr. Chukwu may be ‘settled’ with another position should he lose out in securing the APC Guber ticket in 2019.
SEN. EMMANUEL AZU AGBOTI: ELDERSTATESMAN BEGINS SUBTERENEAN MOVES TO VIE FOR APC TICKET IN 2019
Sen. Emmanuel Azu Agboti is an Ukpa-Afikpo-born politician who has been around the state since the return of democracy in 1999. He won the Ebonyi South Senate seat in 2003 and represented Ebonyi South in the Red Chambers between 2003-2007 as the Chairman of the juicy Senate Committee on Petroleum (downstream).
He was an aspirant to the PDP Guber ticket in 2007 but was one of the many aspirants that stepped down for Chief Elechi who was Dr. Sam Egwu’s anointed candidate in 2007 at the PDP primaries that held in Abakaliki township stadium. The first Civilian Governor had insisted on power rotation that would begin from the north to the central and then to Ebonyi south zones in 2015 and Agboti succumbed to his idea.
It is worthy to mention that his relationship with Chief Elechi became more cordial with claims that he was one of the very few who willingly stepped-down for the elderstatesman in 2007 with the hope that he may become one of the favourites to succeed him. Chief Elechi in turn made him to become one of the most visible statesmen of his government who he not only listened to but also gave some sensitive roles to play especially in public functions, thus making many to conclude that Elechi may tip him as his successor.
Sen. Agboti who has remained a business man that combines same with active politics (mainly at his convenience) is one of the prominent voices in Afikpo north and Ebonyi south that has also built bridges across and beyond the state. Many are already speculating that with his rosy relationship with Sen. Ken Nnamani who is now being touted as the ‘Leader’ of APC in the South-east zone, he would most likely be edged into the mainstream of APC politics from the zonal and national levels despite being a new breed in the party.
He is also said to be one of the few who have hinted the party’s leader in the state, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu about his plans to vie for the party’s ticket in 2019 shortly after he defected to the party after falling out with Engr. Umahi whom he had worked for in 2015. It would well be recalled that the incumbent Governor of the state had beckoned on Sen. Agboti who holds the highest traditional title honour in Ehugbo to work for his election in 2015 and he was consequently made the chairman of his campaign Directorate in Afikpo North which was largely viewed by the PDP as an ‘enemy territory’ following failure of the then Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to make it as Elechi’s preferred candidate.
It was widely speculated that stakeholders such as respected Sen. Agboti who was set against his in-law, Barr. Mudi Erhenede-a critical stakeholder in Afikpo politics by the emergence of the Labour Party allegedly ‘received’ some ‘tokens’ to work for the PDP candidate in the election. But in a scenario archetypal of proverb of the Afikpo people that it is only what one gets as his share in any hunting expedition that speaks volumes of his role in the entire exercise. Therefore, Sen. Agboti is alleged to have made a solemn request to the Governor that he appoints one of his ‘family members’ as an aide in his government but was allegedly reminded that he was a cash and carry product and a Later Day Saint of Engr. Umahi. But sources close to him have continuously denied same.
He was said to have been angered by the development, hence, his immediate dumping of the PDP for the APC shortly after the formation of cabinet by Gov. Umahi. Sources close to the elderstatesman said he was ‘clandestinely’ registered into the APC by the Secretary of the party working under the Ucha-led faction of the party at his Ndibe-Beach road residence. And since then, Sen. Agboti who is rather perceived as ‘obeying all calls’ of both the Dr. Onu-led and the Ucha faction (particularly at the zonal levels) has been on and around the party.
He recently hosted a party for the APC in his Afikpo residence where he was said to have feted some invited stakeholders. Among those in attendance included Chief Gbazueagu N. Gbazueagu of Enugu and those close to him said such was part of strategic moves by the Senator to launch and project himself. Also, most of his allies who are ordinarily and originally in the PDP are now said to be APC in the day, and perhaps PDP in the night as some of them have their cronies still serving the PDP-led government in the state.
At the stakeholders New Year party in Dr. Onu’s residence, Sen. Agboti was one of the few stakeholders who were given an opportunity to make a speech and he did not fail to impress as he called for greater unity and co-operation of the party’s members in order to defeat the incumbent PDP-led government in 2019. Being a close ally of Sen. Nnamani as stated earlier, it was therefore not surprising that he attended the APC Stakeholder’s meeting organized by Gov. Okorocha.
His greatest weakness as far as Ebonyi is concerned is his age as Ebonyi people may be unwilling to take power from a young leader like Gov. Umahi and hand same over to a likely Septuagenarian such as Sen. Agboti. Many feel that their ‘era in governance has passed’ and therefore, they should be succeeded by the younger generations.
Some others, particularly in his Afikpo town also think that Sen. Agboti no longer commands such a great influence and respect among both the elites and the hoi-polloi in the ancient city of hospitality that could enable him garner a strong support from home. Just as the saying goes that charity begins at home; some think that Omezue Agboti may have lost at home and they claim that he may not be able to win beyond his Ohaisu political ward in any election contest. Another factor that may work against him is the fact that he may no longer have a large financial war-chest to run against a spend-thrift like the incumbent Governor who thinks that he could spend to get whatever and whoever he wants to work with him.
DR. EDWARD NKWEGU: MAY TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT EBONYI GOVERNORSHIP UNDER APC
Dr. Sir Edward Okereke Nkwegu, popularly referred to as EDON was the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party in the 2015 General Elections who polled over 180,000 votes to emerge the first runner-up in an election that was alleged to have been characterized by irregularities.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Dr. Nkwegu filed a petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the state in May 2015 challenging the outcome of the election. He pursued same through the Court of Appeal and finally to the Supreme Court of Nigeria but lost in all the stages to the incumbent Governor Umahi.
Born on August 28 1960, Dr. Nkwegu studied Architecture in ESUT and is a Professional member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. He has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership and Environmental Management and is the chairman, Board of Directors of Barcelona Hotels, Abuja and Enugu, Edon Nig. Ltd, Edon Aluminium and Manufacturing Company Nig. Ltd among others. He was appointed the Chairman of Abakaliki Capital Territory Development Board, (ACTDB) by the Elechi administration where he played a key role in re-designing the Abakaliki Urban Capital.
As a major contractor in both the Elechi and Egwu governments, Dr. Nkwegu constructed the Ultra-Modern Cabinet Office Complex, Govt. House, Abakaliki, constructed the National Office Complex of the Vesico-Vaginal Fistula and Cancer screening Centre (VVF) and is also in charge of the construction of the ongoing 10 Storey, Ebonyi Trade Centre Complex and the construction of the ongoing International Market Lot 3, Abakaliki among other projects within and beyond Ebonyi. The Izzi-born politician was ‘recruited’ to fly the flag of the Labour Party, which was a protest against the alleged hijack of the PDP primaries by the incumbent Governor.
It was the permutation of political pundits that although Dr. Nkwegu who is Elechi’s in-law is from Ebonyi north zone, the Abakaliki bloc could rally round their own son all in protest of the political machinations against Elechi by the then PDP-led Federal Government. But some rather felt that it was an attempt to truncate power-shift to Ebonyi South, hence, their indifferent posture. Despite that, LP within a short period became a masses’ movement in a few weeks and took the Centre-stage.
Its Guber candidate, Dr. Nkwegu in an emotion-laden speech accepting his emergence as the party’s flag-bearer expressed his enthusiasm about the future and declared that ‘Yes, I can’! He itemized a Six-Point Consolidation Agenda to transform the state, campaigned vigorously and garnered massive support within a short time.
Having gone through the legal tussles, Dr. Nkwegu alongside other LP members joined the APC en masse and has since made the party more vibrant in the state. He is said to have started warming his way into the mainstream of APC leadership in Abuja and even the Presidency. Sources close to him claim that he may be waiting and planning to take another shot at the Ebonyi Governorship under the platform of APC in 2019. Dr. Nkwegu is said to be building bridges with the party’s leadership at the zonal and national levels.
While he may still have the financial muscle to slug it out again with Umahi if given the APC ticket to vie for 2019, many have argued that it may be another futile escapade as it would still be against the principle of equity and fairness as power would remain in Ebonyi state till 2023 when it may be the turn of the Izzi-man to take over the leadership of the state. This is his greatest hurdle.
Also, some pundits have protested that Dr. Nkwegu has largely remained ‘isolated’ from many people in the grassroots as he was even said to have spent his Christmas holiday abroad rather than his native home where they had expected he should have celebrated Christmas for and with them. They maintain that if he continues with his current style of ‘above-the-state-politicking’, he may likely lose ground at home and for him then, honour may begin ‘abroad’.
SEN. SONNI OGBUOJI: TWO TERM SENATOR RUMOURED TO BE INTERESTED IN EBONYI 2019 GUBER RACE
Senator Sonni Ogbuoji is a two-term Senator representing Ebonyi South Senatorial zone in the National Assembly. The Ebunwana-Edda born lawmaker was a Commissioner in Elechi’s first tenure before being favoured with the PDP ticket in the 9 April 2011 national elections. He was elected on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket.
Ogbuoji was also the local government chairman of Afikpo local government area during the military regime before the start of the Nigerian Fourth Republic. He was Commissioner for Economic Empowerment and Poverty Reduction in the government of Martin Elechi. In this role, he supervised construction and stocking of 35 catfish ponds in an effort to provide youth employment. In November 2010 Ogbuoji resigned from this post. He remained the Ebonyi coordinator for the Goodluck / Sambo Presidential campaign.
Born on September 29, 1954, Senator Ogbuoji is a member of the Senate committees on Appropriation (Vice-Chairman) and States and Local Government.He is a graduate of Government College Umuahia and the University of Nigeria where he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture.
Prior to joining the Senate, Senator Ogbuoji was a businessman and politician, Board Member, Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Board Member, Nigeria Shippers Council and Chairman, Ebonyi State Education Board.
Sen. Ogbuoji who was said to have had his way to another term in the Senate through the influence of then First lady, Patience Jonathan on the state’s PDP platform is alleged to have fallen out of favour with the present PDP-led government in Ebonyi. Appointees he recommended were consequently fired by Gov. Umahi in what was perceived to be a cold war between the duo.
Since then, many claim that Ogbuoji has physically remained in the PDP but spiritually in the opposition. Whereas, he wears PDP ‘tag’ in Abuja, at home, he does not participate in any PDP affairs and he has since distanced himself from Gov. Umahi’s events. Although he has the financial capacity to run for the office of the Governor of Ebonyi state as being speculated, but he is said to be very economical and never wants to spend money on any political project except perhaps for late-hour very personal and selfish reasons.
His greatest undoing that makes many think that he is a pretender in the race if he eventually decides to run is that he is alleged to be ‘an unsteady character’ who would never want to be of help to anyone in need and since the Nigerian election is about spending money, the Ogbuoji they know would chicken-out and may even ‘sell’ his supporters for a ‘token’ from any other candidate who may be more keenly interested. They make a passing reference to his ‘ignoble’ style of politics that made him dump Elechi and the LP project overnight and even allegedly disclosed the plans against Engr. Umahi to him all in a bid to curry favour and win a second term.
Many insist that his character is such that if you are sleeping with him on the same bed, you would need to keep ‘awake’ for fear of any ‘danger’. They therefore write him off as a pretender and a ‘betrayer’ who may not be taken very seriously in the 2019 Guber race.