The battle for Supremacy between the Deputy Governor of Enugu State Mrs. Cecelia Ezillo and the Chief of Staff to the Governor Chief Festus Uzor is as old as the current administration in the state.
Coming from the same local government Area, a thin line has existed and continued to widen. Polical appointments, positions have become a tug-of-war as one leader tries to outsmart the other.
Consensus opinion on political issues has become impracticable just as adhering to old zoning arrangement becomes a vexed issue.
Tension continue to rise at every turn and like the saying goes, the grass has continued to suffer in this fight between two elephants.
Beyond the cold war lies ambitions ahead 2023. Both leaders are scheming for Federal Legislative positions; either Senate or House of Reps.
The face off is exacerbated by the fact that only one person could be favoured at end of the day as Ezeagu may not get both positions.
This has further split loyalty at the grassroots and across party line. Monies are paid monthly to numbers of individuals to sustain loyalty and support.
As usual the same ‘crack’ has always reared its ugly head when decisions on Local Government elections come up.
Hon Chukwudi Ani, the executive Chairman of Ezeagu Local Government Area is on the ‘firing line’ because his second term which should have been ‘fait accompli’ is now being made an issue by pockets of opposition. Those who should speak cannot do so based on interest rooted in the fight of the Titans.
Already the Leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Local Government has given the Chairman a clean bill of health and award for outstanding performance.
The Ohanaeze Exco led by Hon George Nwajuani also urged the people to respect the existing zoning formular which gurantees a second term for the Chairman.
EverydayNews has it on good authority that the Chairman is favoured because he has not done a second term as is the tradition; and nobody from his zone has ever done Chairman two terms. This is said to be the first time a candidate from the Central Zone is going for a second term.
The Chairmanship position which started with Chief Joe Mammel in1999 has always seen each beneficiary do two terms. After Mammel there were certain disruptions due to the creation of development Centres, which did not however take away the centrality of the Council.
From Mammel it went down to the North with Julius Ogbuke who enjoyed two terms.
Then came Emeka Ozoagu, which was kicked against due to disruption of the process yet it never stopped the zoning arrangement moving forward.
From Emeka Ozoagu to Chukwudi Ezinwa from the South and now back to the Central.
It is posited that after the second term of this Chairman which is almost guaranteed the position will move to the North.
Other examples being put forward is the position of State Assembly which started with Dr. Festus Uzoh.
From there it went to the South – Hon Paul Anikwe, then to Central Mrs Cecelia Ezillo. From Central it moved to the North – Hon Chima Obieze. From there is expected back to the South.
EverydayNews reoprts that the problem in Ezeagu is not the Chairman but who is who that are interested in who becomes the chairman based on ambition.
Strategic stakeholders at the top are not comfortable with him because it may foreclose other personal ambitions ahead 2023. And whether he is due for another term or not they are opposed to it because of personal ambition in 2023.
In all, the Chairman appears to have done enough to deserve another term. He is also supported by the zoning formular.
His obstacles are therefore not rooted and may not stand the test of time. His second term is thus very positive.
