News Analysis: The unending political War between Chime, Ekweremadu In Enugu West

Posted by African Examiner Articles/Opinion, Featured Contributors/Columnists, Latest Headlines, Uncategorized Tuesday, November 4th, 2014

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

The ongoing cold war between Enugu state Governor, Sullivan Chime, and the Deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, over who represents Enugu West senatorial district in 2015 has worsened, and continue to assume new twist almost on daily basis.

Presently, virtually all members of the National Assembly (NASS) from the state, and some peoples Democratic party PDP stakeholders from various segments of the state, including those Chime, brought to political limelight and who were initially loyal to the him, have deserted the Udi born Lawyer turned politician to pitch camp with his opponent, and the senate number two man (Ekweremadu)

The controversial senatorial seat of the district is presently being occupied by Ekweremadu, who is serving his third tenure in office and also seeking a fourth term. He is the incumbent Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament.

Since the lingering rift between the two Enugu state political giants, (both Lawyer turned politicians) started there had continued to be alignment and realignment among core and passive politicians in the state.

For instance, some former aides such as commissioners and Special Advisers (SPAs) to governor Chime, who were dropped during cabinet shake-up, probably due to perceived misconduct while in office, have all find solace in the Ekweremadu,s political dynasty and empire which is fast growing on daily basis.

Such Chime’s ex- apologists, are now fully registered members of the DSP’s camp.

Though, for many political watchers and analysts in the state, such alignment and re-alignment amongst politicians is no news, because after all, in politics, what matters most to the gladiators or players is personal interest.

Suffice it to say that since the political war broke out between the two once political allies, and close associates, the DSP,s Enugu abode, and Chime’s residence in his country home, Udi, had become political pilgrimage centres of sort, as both relevant and irrelevant politicians now throngs both premises on daily basis to register their loyalties which some times are doubtful.

As far as the present political feud is concerned, the two political heavy weights, Chime and Ekweremadu, are not taking chances or relenting in mapping out both orthodox and unorthodox strategies aimed at defeating each other.

However, apart from who represents Enugu west senatorial zone at the upper chamber of the nation’s (NASS) in 2015, the two gladiators, are equally fighting the political battle of their lives over certain issues, such as who controls the soul of the ruling peoples Democratic party PDP structure in the state, following the recent resignation of the ex- substantive chairman of the party in the state, chief Vita Abba.

Besides, another major bone of contention that made the once cordial relationship between the duo to go sour was the alleged imposition of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as the Enugu state PDP consensus governorship candidate in 2015, as against the wish of Ekweremadu, and some other interested Aspirants.

The exit of Abba, has also heat up the polity within the PDP cycle in the state, as it has divided the house, and shattered her Umbrella symbol.

Abba’s resignation also aggravated the Chime, Ekweremadu,s war as it created room for the emergence of two factions.

Ordinarily, and under normal circumstance, the Deputy chairman of the PDP in the state, Elder David Aja, ought to have taken over the mantle of leadership of the party immediately Vita Abba threw- in the towel, but because of his outstanding closeness and relationship with Ekweremadu, governor Chime, who by the virtue of his position is the leader of the party in the stated was apprehensive and sceptical hence, he halted the take over by Aja.

For the fear that Elder Aja, may render him and his supporters political impotent, if allowed to take over the reign of power at the state PDP secretariat as chairman, Chime, without wasting time,via members of the State working Committee of the party appointed his close ally and loyalist, the Managing Director of Enugu state Housing Corporation, chief Ikeji Asogwa, as the acting state PDP chairman.

The development however, sparked- off serious protest by Aja, and PDP members loyal to the DSP, as they insisted that the Deputy chairman should assumed the chairmanship position in line with the party,s constitution.

Despite the directive by the national secretariat of the party that Aja, should take over under Acting capacity, so as to enable the state midwife the appointment of a substantive chairman within two weeks of Abba,s resignation, the

Chime group had remained adamant,knowing that they will suffer serious political injury in the hands of Aja and the DSP should that happens.

Since the state PDP enmeshed in the crisis, both Asogwa, and Aja, have been laying claims to the chairmanship position, just as they have been issuing parallel and counter statements.

While Asogwa, takes charge at the state PDP secretariat located at the government Reservation Area GRA Enugu, Aja, has been operating from the Enugu residence of the Deputy senate president, at Independence layout.

Some of the incumbent National Assembly members from the state that have dumped governor Chime, for Ekweremadu,s camp includes, senator Ayogu Eze, Senator Gilbert Nnaji, Dr. Patrick Asadu, Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi, Offo Chukwuegbo, amognst others.

The above mentioned federal lawmakers, who now sees Chime as a common enemy quit his camp because the governor, had said there will be no room for third term in office for Enugu legislators in 2015.

As the feud between the two political elephants rages, Ekweremadu, is banking on his contacts in the nation,s seat of power, Abuja, to humiliate Chime in the forthcoming general polls, while the state chief executive, is also relying on his performance and structures put in place in all the 17 council areas of the state, to retire the DSP from the political arena come 2015.

However, with the political activities gathering momentum in the state, in preparations for the 2015 general polls, only time will tell who among Chime, and Ekweremadu, will carry the day.