Enugu State politics is very interesting and strategic. The fact that the state was the capital of the old Eastern Region makes it even more intriguing.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has governed the state for 21 years. Therefore, the party has become a choice platform for all kinds of aspirants. This has made it an uphill task for anyone who wishes to occupy the Lion Building. More often than not, the choice of governorship candidates, especially of the PDP, comes with surprises.
Evidently, since 1999, most front line governorship aspirants in the ruling party always lose out to anointed political neophytes imposed on the state by their  godfathers and incumbents. On the long run, the godfather/godson relationship practically deteriorates after failed attempts by the godfather to manipulate his godson. But it must be stated for the benefit of godfathers, politicians and former governors that two captains cannot be in one ship.
With the enormous powers at the disposal of governors, nobody would like to be led by the nose on account of political favour dispensed by any godfather who brooked no nonsense when he was in charge.
Jim Nwoobodo and Chimaroke Nnamani became sworn enemies after an election. Same thing happened between Sullivan Chime and Chimaroke. Chime deserted the PDP in protest against Ugwuanyi as their relationship went from bad to worse. The political seed of discord will definitely continue to rear its ugly head and bear bitter fruits after 2023, even as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is poised to anoint a candidate. It is a familiar pattern.
In Enugu, the triangular equilibrium – a gentlemanly rotational governorship agreement across three senatorial zones – has ran its full course with the second tenure of Ugwuanyi elapsing in 2023. Politicians are now angling for where the rotation of governorship will once again begin from. While some interest groups say it is better to begin from Enugu East, others expressed the opinion that it can start from anywhere, not necessarily where it began in 1999.
As the 2023 general election inches closer, political alignments by those who eye elective offices, especially the governorship position, have commenced in earnest. Subtle endorsement of politicians by individuals and groups are ongoing.  However, Enugu seems to be returning to the politics of yester years. In the build up to the 2003 general election, the then Enugu State Government through the then Chief of Staff to the governor, Frank Nweke jnr,  issued a statement warning that the government would depose any traditional ruler found to have received a political opponent in his domain.  History is about to repeat itself again, but in another odd dimension.
It was reported on social media that an indigene of Orba, Chief Charles Mba (Egbe Igwe N’ Orba) who invited both the governor and Senator Ike Ekweremadu to his 50th birthday celebration had been ostracised by the Orba Council of Elders for  supporting Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who had not even declared his intention to contest the governorship election. In a video posted online, Orba elders took the decision at a meeting held on December 30 at Orba Udulelenyi. Others ostracised earlier for the same reason are Engr. Amstrong Agbo and Barr. Emeka Asogwa.
Speaking in Orba local dialect, some of those who attended the meeting claimed there was a decision to extend the same treatment to Charles Mba.  Eze Orba was asked by an obviously overzealous moderator of the meeting to declare Mba ostracised  to like others who they claimed are working against their son, the governor.
The motion was moved after an unanimous voice vote in favour of the decision. The development, coming from Orba in Udenu Local Government Area, is disturbing and it must be handled with care. This is an emerging intrigue around Enugu politics, no doubt. However, it is not in the interest of the ruling party to engage in internal squabbles this early in the year.
It should be stated that even the governor, who the elders are supposedly speaking for, attended Chief Mba’s birthday in company with Ekweremadu. The action of the Orba Council of Elders cannot be divorced from the overbearing influence and pressure of the governor, who is an indigene of Orba and has a preferred candidate for the governorship position in 2023. But does this mean that elders or traditional rulers must give in to political manipulations? Who gave them the power to define freedom of association? Traditional institutions and elders should know better than to swim in the murky waters of politics. As opinion leaders and custodians of the culture and traditions of the people, there should be no room for partisan politics in their schedules.
Reacting to the development, Umugwu youths in Orba disassociated themselves from the ostracisation of Armstrong and others. They hinged their decision on the fact that the stool of Onyishi Orba, which resides at Umugwu community, was not part of that meeting. Therefore, any decision taken on that matter in the absence of Onyishi Umugwu Orba was ultra vires.
With Ike Ekwueremadu declaring long ago that he had no plan to return to the Senate in 2023, Nkanu people are seriously drumming support for a candidate of their own.  Since Ugwuanyi has a candidate of Nsukka origin, but one that has political affinity with Enugu East/Nkanu, to take over from him, the events of 2023 will be a spectacle to watch in Enugu.
It is becoming clear that the governor is relying on the enormous resources and power at his disposal to shut out aspirants, especially of the PDP, from the race. Politics is a game which politicians in Nigeria play without obeying the rules. This move to restrict the freedom of association and gag aspirants and their supporters will do more harm than good to the PDP.
For emphasis, it must be stated that the governor and Ekweremadu were seen hugging each other at the venue of the birthday party. Ndi Enugu should understand that both men are politicians and products of the Ebeano family. They are simply trying to protect their political interests. The two will settle their political scores sooner or later, while their supporters go on to nurse self-inflicted wounds. Definitely both men will want to use other people’s heads to break their political coconut. This is the time to be wise.
•ÂEze,  a media and communication specialist, wrote in via sunnyeze02@yhaoo.com
