A political pressure group in Enugu State, Equity and Integrity Assembly (EIA), on Wednesday, cautioned politicians in the State against stoking unnecessary tension in the State.
The warning came as political tension continues to rise in the State over the zoning of the governorship position.
The situation has worsened since last week following the declaration of his governorship ambition by former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
The Senator had said there was no zoning agreement in the State and that he would stand for the polls contrary to the views of many other political leaders and groups in the State who believe it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial zone and not Ekweremadu’s Enugu West
A document also surfaced recently where the Senator and over 50 others were said to have signed the zoning agreement in 2013.
Reacting, the EIA in a statement signed by its coordinator and former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gary Ene and the Secretary, Justus Opah, said it had initiated a third force movement to restore peace, order and germane political climate ahead of the 2023 political campaign.
According to the statement, the “objective of the Assembly is to reach out to the people, including political party stakeholders and the general public on the danger of truncating the conventional or traditional formula of electing the State governor, which has had positive and salutary results so far.
“Any attempt to jettison this formula is bound to cause disharmony and hardship to the people, more so to the youths, the ignorant and the weak who would suffer most.
“We cannot stop talking about zoning in Enugu State,” the group said, adding that “due to the level of political development in our dear State, we are looking for a situation that will accommodate everybody.
“It is embarrassing that a supposed leader could lie without shame on the issue of zoning because of his ambition.”
It recalled how a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Dubem Onyia, from the State, had in a full PDP caucus meeting, moved a motion for zoning when Barr. Sullivian Chime was the Governor of Enugu State.
“Senator Ekweremadu was at the meeting. The motion was that the governorship of Enugu State should be by zoning. At that point, Enugu West was in the saddle as governor.
“Before then, Enugu East had finished as Governor by H.E. Chimaroke Nnamani. The decision was that the next governor should go to Enugu North after which the zoning will start from Enugu East,” the Group said.
The Coordinator, disclosed that, “I was there as a member of the State caucus and still one. H.E Okwy Nwodo, confirmed that position, among other elder statesmen. The former governor, Chime equally confirmed the position.
“Our worry as a group is that someone who has benefited more than any other person wants to bring crisis into Enugu politics
We as elders will stand against that, Enugu State has been a centre of peace not only in Southeast but the whole of Nigeria.
“We must thank the Executive Governor of Enugu State who has been managing all manner of abuse he is getting from agents of confusion.
“We, therefore, advise Senator Ekweremadu to let reason prevail. Let him wait for the turn of Enugu West.
“It is unfortunate that the inordinate ambition of Senator Ike Ekweremadu to become the governor of Enugu State could lead him to lie even at a period of Lent when Christians are enjoined to speak truth as followers of Christ.”