The lawmaker representing Enugu North Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, has identified the unfair political dealings against Nsukka zone as reasons for his recent call on Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to focus on addressing the development imbalance in Nsukka.
He said Nsukka zone has suffered huge infrastructural gaps when compared with Enugu East and Enugu West zones that have enjoyed democratic dividends accruing from unbroken 16 years of power in the state.
Senator Utazi gave the clarification in his response to the former Chairman, Aninri Local Government Area, Chief Ben Alukwu, who in a media report accused the lawmaker and others of inciting disaffection among other sections of the state by their call on Governor Ugwuanyi to focus on the development of Nsukka during a public rally.
Alukwu was quoted as saying that the Ogadimma Nsukka Unity rally “was turned to an arena for insults and sowing seeds of discord” by political gladiators who advised “the governor to divert all the state resources for the development of Nsukka zone within the remaining two years in office”.
In a swift response through his Personal Assistant, Charly Ogbuanya, Senator Utazi explained that on creation of Ebonyi State from old Enugu State, what remained of the old political structure were Nsukka and Enugu zones. According to him, Nsukka zone with 51 per cent population of the state remained a Senatorial District, while Enugu zone was divided into two new Senatorial Districts.
“These two districts, Enugu east and Enugu West have enjoyed 16 years of power in the Lion Building, yet keep on mounting relentless pressure on the incumbent governor, not allowing him a breathing space to address the neglect of Nsukka zone by past administrations. It was as a consequence of this that made Senator Utazi to speak truth to power at the Odimma Nsukka Unity rally, that our equitable governor, having spent almost 6 years delivering balanced development of the entire state should be reminded that even the remaining two years will not be enough to address the monumental neglect of Nsukka zone over time”.
The Senator’s aide warned that those sycophants egging on the Governor would still turn around to blame him for not doing enough for his people, while in office. He said poor human and material infrastructure has stymied development of Nsukka zone.
“The wake-up call by Senator Utazi is a timely reminder to Governor Ugwuanyi that time is ticking away and that he must do the needful to address the development imbalance that has left Nsukka zone at a disadvantage. As the true representative of Nsukka zone, Senator utazi spoke the minds and hearts of his constituents when he told Governor Ugwuanyi that the remaining two years should be devoted at attempting to cancel the obvious imbalance in the developmental status of Nsukka zone when compared with other senatorial districts that have enjoyed 16 years of governorship position in the state,” he explained.
Going down memory lane, the Senator noted that each time a Governor of Nsukka zone extraction comes to power, he is usually obsessed with issues of balance amongst the senatorial districts of Enugu State in terms of government appointments and infrastructural developments, to the detriment of his home front.
“Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo during his time came up with the philosophy of triangular equilibrium and ‘meritoquotocracy’, where he put all major government appointments on the balance of the three Senatorial districts of old Enugu State. The position of the SSG went to Chief Dan Agbo, Omereoha and later Prof Sam Ukpabi, now late. The Minister from the state didn’t come from Nsukka as is the trend now. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, methinks, have continued with Nwodo’s triangular equilibrium philosophy. That is why, unlike others before him, his SSG, GOC Aja, was appointed and stayed throughout his first term before the late coming of Prof Simon Ortuanya as SSG. Governor Ugwuanyi has continued with Victor Nnanna Atuonwu and Dr FSA Uzor to the consternation of Nsukka zone”.
Senator Utazi also punctured the claim by Alukwu that he was silent on projects done by the governor at the rally but went quietly to Government House days later with his kinsmen to thank the Governor for his developmental strides in Uzo-Uwani. He said the Nkpologu Ward courtesy call on the governor has been planned weeks ahead of Odimma Nsukka Unity Rally, noting that it was a mere coincidence that it came few days after the rally.
“That the courtesy call came few days after the Odimma Nsukka Unity Rally does not remove anything from the stand taken by Senator Chukwuka Utazi and they remain sacrosanct. Chief Alukwu and his likes must learn to be of decorum and allow the sleeping dog to lie. If he loves Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, he should advise him to heed to the opinions of leaders that time is no longer there for him to delay in addressing the development deficit of Nsukka zone. Enough is enough.”