By Christopher Oji
Members of the Nsukka Professionals Association (NPA) have vowed to be actively involved in the choice of who emerges as the next governor of Enugu State in 2023.
Their position was made known recently in Lagos when they hosted candidates of the Labour Party (LP), vying for various positions in the state.
The delegation led by the state governorship candidate, Chijioke Edeoga, included the candidate for the Enugu North Senatorial Zone, Okey Ezea, House of Representatives candidate for the Igbo Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, Dennis Agbo, and his counterpart for the Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency, Chidi Obeta.
In his opening remarks, the president of the association, Prince Charles Nwodo said even though the association is not partisan, it is determined to ensure that responsible and responsive candidates were chosen as political leaders in the state.
“The association has chosen to be involved in the choice of who emerges in the governance of the state. Once again, it gives us great pleasure to welcome yet another delegation from our state; this time, from the Labour Party. Nsukka Professional Association is not partisan, but we are much more interested in the transformation of Enugu State,” he stated.
He noted that in a bid to ensure that the state was developed, members of the association have resolved to get involved in the process that would lead to the emergence of those that would govern Enugu State.
According to him, this was borne out of the experience the Association has had with the outgoing administration. “We could not decode in any positive manner the trajectory of governance in the state as far as the current administration is concerned. So, we were morally incapacitated to criticize some of the excesses, and the very obvious malfeasance,” he added.
He wondered how the state got to its sorry pass. He said: “How did Enugu State get to this point? How is it that the state that borders us in the Southwest is able to build roads in the local government area, build an international airport, an international market, universities, and construct flyovers within a span of eight years?”
He disclosed that Enugu, on the average, received far more allocations from the Federal Government than Ebonyi State.
“In terms of internally generated revenue, we also know that Enugu State receives far more than Ebonyi State but all these things happened because we were not engaged in the political process.
“Today, we have invited our brothers in the Labour Party. We extend our hands of fellowship to them and we promise to work with them, particularly the governorship candidate, in the event that he emerges governor of the state,” he stated.
Nwodo warned against election rigging, urging those that are planning to rig elections in Enugu to go elsewhere.
In his response, Edeoga expressed appreciation to the NPA for the initiative to bring them together for an interactive session. He emphasised that they had come to make a difference from the past, even as he noted that their focus should be on how the leadership of the past eight years has affected the people rather than saying that NPA was not partisan.
“Your focus should be on how the zone will carry its name. Your focus should be with regards to current politics, and how you react to the threats before you by the last eight years of Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
“Do you fold your hands and watch power move far away from you, or do you settle for the Russian literature; the issues of near abroad?”
Edeoga maintained that the eight years of unmet expectations were gone. He maintained that if this power eluded them, they might never get it until the next 16 years.
“So, the remedy you have is to look for somebody like me as the governor of the state, even as I assure of good infrastructure development, manpower development, as well as security for those who are even there now and everyone.”
Edeoga noted that he and his team were coming to redeem what the people have lost in the last eight years and beyond. He urged the people to be interested in what happens in Enugu State because it concerns them and promised to fulfill all his campaign promises. “If I say I am going to do this, I will do it. If I make any statement here, it is not a political statement, but a fact that must be fulfilled. We are going to be prudent. We are going to work on our roads. That a particular road is a federal road will not stop me from fixing it,” he promised.
He said the flagship of his work would be the dualisation of major roads, even as he pledged to embark on electrification and provision of solar energy to the people. “I will be transparent and accountable with the fear of God. Together, we will get bigger. I am urging you to give us all round support so that we can give our people the equity they deserve,” he submitted.