Enugu 2023: Ekweremadu confirms interest in guber race

*Insists acclaimed zoning principle favours “Awgu Cultural zone”

By Our Reporter

Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has confirmed that he is in the race for governorship seat of Enugu state in 2023. The fourth term senator representing Enugu West senatorial district in the national assembly said he will bring his capability, experience and global connection in developing Enugu state to the best of his capacity as a pay back to the state for giving him so much in his political career.

Speculations on whether Senator Ike Ekweremadu will join the context for 2023 Enugu governorship race has been an issue of public discussion and generating tension in the state PDP ahead of the party governorship primaries.

Speaking at an elaborate press conference held at ‘Best Western plus Hotel, Enugu, on Friday, Ekweremadu recalled he started his political career as chairman of his own council area, Aninri local government Area. Thereafter was appointed as a chief of staff, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under ex- Governor Chimaroke Nnamani administration of the state, from where he eventually won the ticket of Enugu West senatorial district and won.

Speaking at a press conference tagged, ‘A pathway to a New Enugu State’, the former Deputy senate President said he has used his capacity and influence as a legislator in the past two decades to lure socio infrastructural development of Enugu West senatorial district and many other areas of the state through provision of rural roads, power generation, functional water bore holes, Youth and Women empowerment focused programmes and aides and wish he could do more.

He stated, ‘I always wish I could do more. I have the will but the means are limited. I am limited to what I could mobilise as a legislator in developmental projects and programmes. At this point, therefore, I believe it is time to focus on Enugu state and Enugu people without whom I would not be who and what I am today. The governorship of Enugu state will offer me a good platform to serve our dear state more and better’.

Ekweremadu unveiled his blue print for socio economic development of Enugu state to include establishing at least two industries in each of the 17 local government areas of Enugu state in his first four years, and ensuring every local government of the state is economically viable in producing at least one product, where it has comparative advantage over others.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu assured he will end water scarcity in Enugu metropolis and beyond by ensuring dams are constructed to generate more water from every source of spring water in the state. As a strategy of reducing rural to urban migration, Ekweremadu assured that if elected as the next governor of the state, he will create special cities that would help to exploit and expand the socio economic base and tourism potentials of the state, He mentioned the Special cities as Sports city, Auto city, ICT city, Film/Media city, Health city, Knowledge city and Agricultural cities(One in each senatorial zone of the state).

Among other issues, Senator Ekweremadu said he will set up a state funded security system which will complement the police and law enforcement agencies in curtailing crime in the state. Equally will set up ICT facilitated security network that will capture the identity data base of every Nigerian living in Enugu state.

Responding to questions on the acclaimed zoning of Enugu state governorship stool in the interest of equity, justice and fair play, that it will be the turn of Enugu East Senatorial district in 2023, Ekweremadu clarified that whereas Enugu East senatorial district has produced three civilian governors in the person of Chief Jim Nwobodo, late Chief C.C.Onoh and Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, the Enugu North Senatorial district produced Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and the present governor of the state Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, It is very unfortunate that Enugu West senatorial district has only produced a civilian governor in the person of ex governor Sullivan Chime. Therefore, in the interest of equity and fair play, it will be wise for the next civilian governor of Enugu state to come from Enugu West senatorial district, specifically from Awgu cultural zone.

Ekweremadu stressed that going by the argument on zoning, it is a great joy that three acknowledged senatorial districts in Enugu state have benefited, but the salient point remains the fact that Enugu state is made up of four cultural zones namely, Nsukka Cultural zone, Nkanu cultural zone, Udi cultural zone and Awgu cultural zone. Whereas the first three cultural zones have produced a civilian governor of the state, Awgu cultural zone where he hails from should be allowed the opportunity to produce the next governor of Enugu state in 2023, in the interest of justice, equity and fair play.