Enugu poll: Why Ebeano political thugs are angry over my articles — Ugwuonye
7 min read
Emeka Ugwuonye
Harvard trained attorney and founder of Due Process Advocates International, Emeka Ugwuonye, has broke his silence and waded into the political impasse in Enugu State with serious scatting comments challenging what he called the abysmal performance of INEC in the just concluded governorship election in the state.
As usually, the powerful voice of Emeka Ugwuonye would not go unnoticed. His views are believed to be ruffling the feathers of some entrenched interests behind the alleged INEC manipulations of elections.
While speaking with News Band Newspaper, Emeka wondered how these vested interest intend to silence him when they already know him as one who is not ready to capitulate no matter the circumstance.
Those against his scatting criticisms have reportedly resorted to the same old tactics that have failed many times in the past, which is to dredge up very old recycled stories from certain Nigerian bloggers alleging all manner of stories against him.
But these appears not to bother Ugwuonye. “If there is any validity to those stories, how come that Ugwuonye had remained a force and has continued to make remarkable advances with DPA? Jealous is most acute when it is local. Some elements in Enugu State will fear Emeka Ugwuonye if he were really to step into the arena of the debate in Enugu State.”, the human rights lawyer queried
Though, Emeka Ugwuonye in one of his recent opinion piece titled, “WHY I SUPPORT TRUTH IN THE POLITICS OF ENUGU STATE AND WHY THAT HURTS SOME PEOPLE”, recounted that he was aware that his latest opinions concerning the outcome of Enugu State controversial governorship election will offend some dangerous political vipers in the state.
Ugwuonye while declaring his support for Ifeanyi Edeoga, the Labour Party candidate in the state, also described the outcome of the election as daylight robbery which he said will not stand the test of time.
Part of the opinion piece reads, “I have always known that my public comments relating to Enugu State politics, particularly the disgraceful performance of INEC in the last governorship elections, would stir up passion and controversy. It is natural that if I stood up for the truth, I would offend certain dangerous elements in Enugu State who have enjoyed the darkness and criminality that have bedeviled the state since the past 24 years. It is natural. So, I was not surprised to hear that some nitwits and the usual political thugs are slandering me on the social media with the same old lies that have lost credence everywhere else. For me, in that respect, there are two things that give me joy. First, they could not afford to ignore me. Emeka Ugwuonye is not a person you can afford to ignore – whether you are for him or against him. Second, they have no weapon against me except the long-discredited rumors and silly and unsubstantiated claims on social media. Third, their weapons have no effect either on me or on the fact that I created and am running the most innovative private sector justice organization in Africa – the DPA International Group – despite these desperate rumors and slander.
“Since 1998, I have had the opportunity to join one way or the other in the politics of Enugu State. Then, I was at the World Bank, Washington, DC, as Counsel. But that has never been my passion. I had always wanted my independence, my freedom, the ability to do what I wanted and to create things and institutions, without the patronage of any government. However, I have always watched events in my home state of Enugu because whatever happens in Enugu affects my people, my relatives, the people of my community and certainly the future of my children. Rather than try to align with any of the elements in the Enugu politics, I had quietly prayed and hoped that my people would find the path of light out of the darkness they have endure over the years.
“In this election circle, I saw an opportunity for the people of Enugu to finally see the light out of the tunnel. Instead of the politics of selection, patronage and Godfatherism championed by the Ebeano political cabal and thuggery, the 2023 elections offered the people of Enugu their first opportunity since 1999 at a true competitive politics. And for the first time, a sitting PDP Governor was no longer sure that his anointed candidate would automatically become the next Governor. I saw in that a breath of fresh air. I thanked God for the fact that the people of Enugu State finally would have a choice.
“What had obtained in Enugu State prior to now was too dangerous and should never be allowed to continue. We have had a system in Enugu where the Governor could sit down at his desk and write up the names of the 17 Local Government Chairmen and they would become Chairmen without elections. We had a state where the Governor could misappropriate the money meant for the Legislature and money meant for the Judiciary and money meant for the Local Governments, and nobody, nobody would dare to ask questions. We had a system where the Governor could borrow any amount he wanted for any purpose he wanted without a single question asked in the legislature. There was absolutely zero checks and balances in the governance of Enugu State. We had a system where the Governor could convert public land and institutions like the former Enugu Zoo, the WTC lands, the Government Lodge in GRA, and many others, and sell such prime lands to his friends and covert much of them to himself and pocket the money. In all this, no question was asked, and no question could be asked. That was the dangerous state of politics in Enugu State. It was a dictatorship with depraved criminal mentality. It had to stop.
“Is it a surprise therefore, that Chimaroke Nnamani, the Godfather of Ebeano, is said to have 40 million dollar property in Florida State, which the Unites States Government is seeking to forfeit because they say it was a fruit of public corruption? That is actually Enugu people’s money that may soon be seized by the United States Government. Is it a surprise that Enugu West senatorial district has had no representation in the Nigerian Senate for nearly one year now because our own highly celebrated Senator ended up in a sad case of human trafficking in the UK? Poor Enugu! That was the Enugu we must change now.
“When 2023 electoral circle came and I saw hope, even my apolitical soul yearned for change. I watched keenly and hoped that the people’s will would emerge through the votes. I was devastated when, first, the same vultures that have ravaged and plundered Enugu State avoided a competitive primary and handpicked one man, Peter Mbah, as their anointed. I was also similarly devastated when the INEC carried out the most brazen daylight rubbery of the will of the people and declared Mbah the winner of the elections given the absurdity in the counting of votes in Nkanu East. I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. My soul was stirred for justice and truth.
“Why am I supporting Edeoga of Labor Party? Have you ever wondered why? Edeoga is the underdog. He is the man outside, trying to come in. He was the one cheated. I didn’t know him from Adams. He is not my friend. We have not had anything in common. It would have been easier for me to support Mbah, but why didn’t I support Mbah who enjoys the support of the blessings and money of Godfathers of Enugu State? Mbah has incredible amount of resources at his disposal. Most powerful men and every billionaire with a mansion in Enugu, even those not from Enugu State, have staked their cash and support for Mbah because they had assumed that PDP must automatically win the governorship of Enugu State. Some of my rich friends support Mbah. All past Governors of Enugu State support Mbah. So, why would I take the risk of supporting Edeoga, instead of supporting Mbah, the man with money and power?
“I support Edeoga of Labor Party because I will always choose the truth. I will always choose justice. And I am not afraid. Edeoga won the elections of February 18, 2023. There is no way the number of votes cast could be greater than the number of accredited voters. It is an impossibility. What happened in Nkanu East was an impossibility. I am confident, judging by the history and judicial precedent, that the absurdity of Nkanu East electoral results will be set aside. But let me warn you, regardless of whether that outcome materializes or not, I will not change my position or my beliefs. The results announced by INEC was a broad-day robbery.
“As for the insults hauled at my person by the thugs of Ebeano, they mean nothing to me. Indeed, I can only be happy when I realize that the same people hauled similar or worse insults at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, whom they called “Ogba Oso”, alluding to the fact that he left Biafra and went to Ivory Coast at the end of the Nigerian Civil War. The same people abused Chief Onoh and called him “Oji okpa aghu tea”, alluding to the perception that our people of Udi enjoy eating okpa. The same people abused Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. So, it is an honor to be abused by petty souls who have been robbed blind by their leaders. To be cursed by such is to be truly blessed. The task of seeking justice for Enugu State shall continue unabated, little rumors and mischievous gossips notwithstanding.”
