By CHARLES IWUOHA

The leaders and stakeholders of Nsukka zone made up of 6 LGAs namely; Nsukka, Uzo Uwani, Udenu, Igbo Eze north, Igbo Eze south and Igbo Etiti on Friday, endorsed the existing zoning understanding in the state and the rotation of governorship seat to Enugu East Senatorial Zone in 2023.

The stakeholders who spoke at the PDP LG rallies in Nsukka vowed to continue to stand solidly behind their illustrious son and Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to ensure he successfully completes his tenure in 2023 and hands over to his successor in line with the established zoning tradition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Speaking at the PDP campaign rally in Igbo-Etiti LGA, the former Governor of old Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo disclosed that the PDP leadership in Enugu State had zoned the governorship position of the state to Enugu East Senatorial District in 2023.

Dr. Nwodo who is also a former National Chairman of PDP said that he was in the party meeting alongside other leaders, such as the then Governor, Mr. Sullivan Chime, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the then State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Abba, where the decision was taken.

The former Governor revealed that it was Chief Dubem Onyia who moved the motion at the meeting, which was seconded by Senator Ben Collins Ndu, with an amendment by Dr. Charles Egumgbe that the governorship position should go to Enugu East Senatorial District in 2023 after the turn of Enugu North Senatorial District, which is presently occupied by Gov. Ugwuanyi.

Engr. Abba who also spoke at the well attended rallies disclosed that Nsukka is united and will remain steadfast in protecting the interest of the governor as well as encourage him to deliver more democratic dividends to the people of Enugu State. He warned that anyone outside the zone who is fighting the governor will be resisted.

“Our son is the governor. We value our brother and anybody outside this zone who is doing the contrary will be resisted by us. Nsukka means business. Nsukka is grateful to you and will continue to stand by you,” he said.

Adding his voice, the member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Asadu pointed out that “Gov. Ugwuanyi is our leader; he has the people, he has Nsukka, he has Enugu East Senatorial District, he will fight for Enugu West.”

Corroborating, the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Senator Chukwuka Utazi reassured Gov. Ugwuanyi that the people of Nsukka are solidly behind him, stating that anybody thinking that Nsukka is not united is wasting his time.

According to him, “Anybody fighting you will not succeed. We will stand behind our own man. We will stand firmly and fight for you.”

Present at the rallies include the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, the member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Dr. Pat Asadu, the member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Hon. Engr. Simon Atigwe, their Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani counterpart, Rt. Hon. Dr. Martins Oke, the former State Chairman of the PDP and Leader, Enugu North Senatorial District, Chief Engr. Vita Abba, members of the state House of Assembly and State Executive Council (EXCO) members from the zone, the Chairman, Peace Mass Transit, Chief Sam Maduka Onyishi, an entrepreneur, Chief Williams Agbo, the former Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Chief Okechukwu Itanyi among others.

This endorsement and position of the entire Nsukka zone has ended the governorship ambition of Senator Ike Ekweremadu who is doing everything possible to destroy the zoning understanding in the state.

With Nsukka zone, Nkanu zone as well as Udi/Ezeagu division and Oji River LGA endorsing the zoning arrangement in the state, truly, Enugu is in the Hands of God.