Enugu 2015: Nsukka, Awgu Zones Battle For Governorship

AS the politics of zoning continues to attract arguments in some
quarters ofEnugu State ahead of 2015 governorship election, a group
that operates under the aegis of Enugu State Citizens Forum in
Onitsha, Anambra State, has declared that "Nsukka man will have to
occupy the Lion Building in 2015."
The group, which reacted to a report credited to another group called
Greater Awgu Cultural zone, who claimed to be in position to produce
the next governor of Enugu in 2015, said in a statement in Onitsha
that theposition of the so called Greater Awguzone was funny in the
sense that theyrejected zoning at the outset of the report and ended
up saying that they have be given chance because it is their turn.
The statement signed by Chief G.C, Eze, from Enugu West
zone,(Chairman), Mr. Theo Rays Ejikeme from Enugu North (Secretary)
and Mr. Comrade Anthony Okwute from Enugu East, Nkanu zone (PRO)
respectively, wondered on what ground the members of Greater Awguwish
to realise their dream, if not zoning.
"If we have to quote them, they said that we have four cultural zones
in Enugu namely: Nsukka, Udi, Nkanu and Awgu, and ended up saying that
itis Awgu turn to produce the next governor. To us, this is
contradiction and funny because at the outset they said that zoning to
Nsukka was not discussed. Our question now is on what basis are they
asking for a Greater Awgu governor?", the group asked.
The statement also described as funny the issue of Awgu as a zone in
Enugu State, noting that Awgu, Aniri and Oji river local government
areas, which they claim to make up the zone, are part of a federal
constituency with a seat in the Federal House of Representative under
Enugu West Senatorial zone and as such cannot be measured with Nsukka
or Nkanu zone.
"Chime with deep sense of justice, equity and fair play and of course
peaceful coexistence has said that Nsukka man will succeed him in 2015
because other zones have taken their turn, and we believe that the
voice of the governor, who is well accepted among the good people of
Enugu State, has to be respected as a way of appreciating the good
works he is ceaselessly doing in our state since 2007", the statement
added.