Some politicians wear the gab of honesty, gentleness and patriotism until election time approaches. Then they will begin to transpose into scoundrels, trying as much as they could to confuse the electorate and manipulate their judgements.
This situation is about playing out in the forthcoming Local Council elections scheduled to hold in Udenu and 16 other LGAs in Enugu State on Saturday October 05, 2024.
As some of these wolves in sheep clothing saw that all other Local Government Development Centres in Udenu have subdued their ambitions for Udunedem whose turn it is, to produce the next Executive Chairman of the Local Council, in line with the traditional rotational policy of PDP, they hastily paid their social media bullies to begin an unholy propaganda of fabricating falsehoods and selling them as truths.
One of such propaganda came up last weekend in the guise of a news statement from a group (whether real or imaginary) that called themselves “Imilike Unity Forum” (IUF) who seems not to be in tune with the reality on ground. In an ostensibly sponsored news article titled: “Group alleges marginalisation ahead of Enugu Council Elections,” their spokesman,One Mr Okete Kevin claimed that Imilike has not produced the Chairman of Udenu LGA since inception. This claim is a cheap instrument of blackmail that stands the very truth on its head. It is not worth being glorified with a response. But for the sake of those who are not students of history, I had elected to rebuff the deceitful fog.
The claims made by the so-called IUF regarding the alleged marginalization of the Imilike ward are misleading and lack factual basis. To perhaps sound sentimental and curry some undue favour, the group conveniently omitted the fact that Imilike ward produced the first Executive Chairman of Udenu LGA, in the person of Chief James Ugwu (Igwurube). However, the issue of having produced Chairman or not is irrelevant because none of the three wards that make up Udunedem Development Centre has produced Chairman of the Council since the return to democracy in 1999. These wards are Ezimo, Udunedem and Imilike.
We are particularly dismayed that Chief Okete and his none existent Imilike Unity Forum should make Ezimo ward its focus of virulent campaign of lies and falsehood. Rather than advancing argument why he wants to be the Chairman of the local government, he is busy chasing shadows. It is this regards that he came up with the argument that the emergence of Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai as the Deputy Governor of Enugu State from the Ezimo ward should deprive Ezimo of their right to contest the next Executive Chairman of the Local Government. This is baseless and devoid of logic. The contest is not between Ezimo and Imilike and we know that Chief Okete does not qualify to speak for imilike, a ward that has people like Chief James Ugwu, Prof Malachy Okwueze, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, Chief Oliver Ezemba, Chief Basil Obetta and Hon Chinedu Nnadi.
He must be reminded that the position of the Deputy Governor is an appointment made at the state level by the party and the Governorship candidate of the Party, and does not in any way negate the right of Ezimo people to produce the next Chairman of Udenu LGA. This can be exemplified by the case of Hon. Frank Ugwu, who hails from the same Orba ward 11 as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, when he was Governor of the State, yet was elected as the Chairman of the Local Government at the same time and served for four years.
It is not surprising that Chief Okete would goof on a matter like this, considering that he only joined PDP about two years ago and was never part of any sensitive stakeholders meeting regarding elective positions in Udenu. Was he grounded, he would have recalled that it was agreed by leaders during a stakeholders meeting presided by Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi that no other position except House of Assembly seat can deprive a ward from producing the Chairman of Udenu Local Government. That is to say, that offices subject to zoning in Udenu Local Government Area are House of Assembly Seat and Local Government Chairmanship position.
It is important that Chief Okete and his fake Imilike Unity Forum should advert their mind to reminding Udenu Leaders of the agreement that is in practice in Udenu following which it is the turn of Udunedem Zone to produce the next local Government Chairman. This should be the legitimate concern that should be addressed by all stakeholders and men and women of goodwill in Udenu, to ensure the continuity of equity, justice and fairplay that has been the order if the day in the local Government area.
Chief Okete must henceforth refrain from his absurd claims of marginalization of Imilike because it is an attempt to create a false narrative and divert attention from the legitimate aspirations of Ezimo and by extension Udunedem Ward. The three wards in Uduledem are all qualified to contest for the Chairmanship position.
It is left for Udenu people and leaders in PDP to look intently and give us a candidate that is has all it takes to change the leadership equation of the council area to usher in quality development. We are excited that such people are not lacking in Udunedem. We have all be around for too long to know each and every aspirant and what he or she can offer.
The onus lies on the political leadership to ensure that Udenu gets it right at this point. Udenu must be primed to catch up and surpass other local government areas in quality Leaders and development.
