As 2015 approaches, many political analysts fail to truly unravel the mystery behind the political tension in Enugu State, an erstwhile relatively politically moderate State, when compared to some States who share equivalent status. Take Ekiti for instance, which has similar demographic status, size of economy and federal allocations, known for usual high political temperature at inter-party election stage, cannot be compared to the intra-party fireworks of Enugu State today. Even when compared to States in the same geopolitical zone, like Anambra, the usual hotbed of hot politics, or Imo, the intra-party tussle in the ruling Party in Enugu State has gone on overdrive threatening to tear down the relatively peaceful political atmosphere that Enugu has enjoyed since the recent past.
While the searing political atmosphere in Enugu could easily be traced to the supremacy battle between the Governor, Sullivan Chime, a second term, outgoing State chief executive, who desires to retire to the senate and Senator Ekweremmadu, Deputy President of the Senate, who is in his third-term and seeking to re-contest for the seat, deeper analysis indicate that there is more to the battle royal between the duo, which goes far beyond who occupies West Senatorial seat for which the governor has sworn to up-seat the incumbent senator.
Today, with the political logjam at the State chapter of the ruling PDP gone beyond the mediation by the national headquarters of Party and multiple court cases instituted by both sides, President Goodluck has had to mediate in Enugu issue twice –a rare occurrence because Mr. President may never have the free time mediate as repeatedly in all the 36 States of the federation.
So what is truly amiss in Enugu State ahead of the 2015 general elections? As much as it is denied in some quarters, the root cause of the matter is not far from what transpired from the days of Chime’s predecessor, Governor Chimaroke Nnamani who undeniably saw to the political emergence and rise to limelight of the two gladiators in Enugu today. Some political watchers come close to the true remote cause of the unhealthy political challenge between the duo of the Governor and the Deputy Senate President when they opine that the senator had always seen the governor as a political junior having held higher posts and supervised the former while both were in the Nnamani cabinet. But there is more.
The do or die pitch of the battle for the soul of Enugu politics can be traced more to the rather personal challenge Chime put himself into as he was coming to office in 2007 –to be his own man, a self-declared challenge, pronounced from his inauguration at Okpara Square whence he declared war on Nnamani, his political godfather and went ahead to proscribe the political platform, Ebeano, which Nnamani superintended over and which he leveraged on to make Chime Governor of Enugu State.
To truly understand the exact nature of the overbearing influence of this factor on Chime’s actions, one should take a step deep into the past and ask oneself what Chime’s political pedigree has been. Yes, his father was a first generation parliamentarian, a good sign of politically inclined foundation, but truly, politically, what became of Chime since his early days up until he was picked by Nnamani, first to serve as his Legal adviser and later the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice. Chime was old enough during the NPP-NPN days of the 80’s second republic to be an active youth mobiliser, but was he? Did he play any role? What about the more recent SDP/NRC days that ushered in the short-lived third republic? Still come up to the GDM/UNCP/CNC/DPN/NCPN days, the forerunners of the PDP/AD/Labours as they (the political parties continue to transmute up till today). Clearly, some of the very active politicians in the country today rose from those old formations.
The point is that while Chime can no longer be ascribed a political light weight, having risen in the political ladder to where he has found himself today, the bare truth is that whatever he has as his political credential is traced to one and only one source -the bequeathals of his benefactor, former Governor Nnamani.
Now bring in the challenge. With Nnamani’s political success still looming large in Enugu, 2015 brings the true test of Chime’s desire to be his own man. Having ascended into political limelight on the back of his erstwhile boss, Chime has become acutely conscious of certain undeniable facts. First is that his aim to dismantle the political dynasty nutured by his predecessor has not been successful because the political class in Enugu State as of today has remained fully, the creation of his former boss, starting from him, the greatest beneficiary to all national assembly members. It became obvious that Chime has failed in his projection to groom a new political class when he started to champion the anointment of Ugwuanyi who was also brought into political fame by Nnamani. In some quarters, some wondered why Chime could not see to the anointing of one of his own to succeed him, rather he appears to have gone back to his vomit by relapsing to the Nnamani-made politicians that he so much wanted off the radar.
Checkout Nnamani in the same situation in 2007. Not only was he able to see to his successor, Chime he ensured he filled all available elective political posts available in the State and finally crowned it all by getting himself into the senate. In usual parlance, he was “totally in charge”. This was a feat he attained while engrossed in a similar battle for supremacy, then with a sitting President of the Senate who then was fond of referring to himself as “the number three man” to emphasis his seniority over the then governor in the national protocol priority listing. But Nnamani, the true Lion, surmounted all hurdles and had his way. That is the nature of Chime’s challenge.
So, the coming 2015 elections presents the last chance for Chime and he feels that he must prove to the world that he has truly come of age, politically. Since he feels pressured to meet up and, if possible, outclass the political achievements of Nnamani, his predecessor in office, 2015 is do or die for Chime. Otherwise, he would have failed in the self-declared and voluntary challenge that is quickly becoming the metaphor of his political history –to be his own man, which in his words in 2007, as he was being ushered into the exalted office, and in mockery of his erstwhile bosses political style, “I will show Enugu people how politics should be played”
Therefore, anybody believing that Chime is in contest or supremacy battle with Ike Ekweremmadu is missing the point. Just like a symptom, that is what floats on the surface. One deeps to take a deeper look. It is Chime versus Chime! Bringing in the Nnamani angle is simply a means to create the relevant background because, politically, Nnamani himself has become like a flat battery, no thanks to Chime’s unending mauling for the past 8 years almost. However, a flaccid Nnamani has proved tough for Chime to dismantle, because he successfully groomed a separate political identity tied to all those he has groomed into successful political life, and there are very many of them.
The fallout of the Chime’s political situation has been inconsistent policies, speaking from both sides of the mouth and those watching or intervening have seen a surprisingly recalcitrant Chime –somewhat, a breed of him different from the one they were used to before. It should not be a surprise. Time is running out and 2015 is definitely hit or miss for Chime –the final chance to redeem himself. Now, to compound the matter, any attempt to truncate Chime’s political ascendancy especially assured in elective office will spell doom for his political life. Unfortunately, while a senator can continue to vie for his seat, a State governor is allowed only two tenures in office after which he cannot re-contest for that seat.
So, for those who mediate in the Enugu political imbroglio –the elders, senior political friends from outside the State, the Party and the presidency, a true understanding of the real motivation behind the fiasco will be of great help. Chime is fighting the political battle of his life. He is no sinner. Put more aptly, Chime is simply fighting for his political life. As the mediation continue and several peace talks and agreements are made and failed, I posit that Chime’s ambition may never be assuaged because the motivation is deep rooted. It is about his political survival and he is self-propelled much like a mechanism hell bent to self-destruct. Chime is fighting raw and hard knowing that it is a do or die for his political life.
Emmanuel Ejinima is an independent public affairs analyst. (emmanuelejinima@gmail.com)
