ENUGU STATE INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS’ GROUP IN DIASPORA - "OUR STAND ON ZONING"

After series of deliberations on the current and future affairs of Enugu State, the Enugu State Independent Professionals’ Group in Diaspora (ESIPGID), decided to make a public pronouncement. ESIPGID members are seasoned Enugu State citizens who are professionals with proven records domiciled in USA and other countries. They are drawn from various professional disciplines including Medicine, Academia, Law, Engineering, Accounting, Nursing, and Architecture. Over the years, we have remained silent and non-partisan but, behind the scene, we have been seriously engaged and monitoring the present and past political administrations in our beloved state. We are bona fide citizens of Enugu State. We choose to be structurally and financially independent of any government, political party or campaign organization. We, therefore, take our stand without fear or favor.

We believe that this is the ample time to speak up because we are concerned about the general status of Enugu State today. We are concerned about what we have analyzed and observed as follow:

(1) The sentimental issue of fairness as regards to access to executive power by the senatorial zones in the state has been, by commission or omission, addressed significantly at the end of the regime of the current governor of Enugu State. We attest, that candidates from every senatorial zone competed in every gubernatorial contest in the state, and fortunately it turns out that every senatorial zone has now tasted executive power and occupied the seat in Lions Building for eight years apiece. But Enugu state has not fared any better. We asked ourselves the question: “Are we better off now than we were prior to 1999?” after competitive democracy returned to the Nigeria. Devoid of sentiment, we concluded that the unambiguous answer is a resounding NO. Rotation of any sort has not served us well. We have all successively failed in:

 Education: Our public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions are, regrettably, now shadows of the establishments where we passed through and got the education that made us to excel both in Nigeria and overseas. We are now consummate professionals in our current dominions but unlike us the Enugu State students of today generally do not feel that the sky is their limit. Are we better off in education than we were in 1999?

 Industry: The state IGR (internally generated revenues) structure is progressively diminishing. There are fewer industrial projects and establishments left from what was handed over to the first civilian administration in 1999. Companies have packed up and left the state. Their buildings now house snakes, rodents and ants. These erstwhile vibrant companies now do not pay much tax into the state IGR. New companies are not rushing in. Are we better off than where we were in 1999? 

Health: The general health of the state citizens is profoundly poor. Public hospitals are now unhealthy for citizens. Private hospitals and clinics have sprung up and now permeate the geography of Enugu state even down to the slums and villages. The impoverished citizens find it difficult to pay for care in such private health care locations. For some years, needed aid has been coming from philanthropic individuals and associations in Nigeria and Diaspora. These patch up, ad-hoc, touch and go medical mission programs cannot and should never supplant the Enugu State constituted health care policies and their implementation thereof. Are we in better health than we were prior to 1999?

 

Employment/Unemployment: The state’s jobless environment is pathetic, to say the least. Every member of ESIPGID can provide a list of family members and acquaintances that have graduated from primary, secondary and university programs but do not have reasonable paying jobs. This phenomenon may be breeding irresponsible behaviors amongst the hopeless youth. It is, definitely, a part of the causes of mass exodus of both professional and nonprofessional classes of Enugu State citizens. It is also contributory to why a lot of Enugu State professionals in Diaspora feel very edgy about relocating back to our state and country to contribute our fair share to the much needed and overdue development of the land. Are we better off than we were prior to 1999?

Security: This is the most urgent and critical of all the issues. Without adequate and commensurate provision of security, the functions of the state cannot meaningfully be executed. The fear of the safety of life and limb is a recurrent topic during discussions within and outside Nigeria. Enugu State suffers the same fate as and possibly more than other states in Nigeria. Enugu was created by the colonials as the capital of southern Nigeria. It was created as a gentlemanly, cool and civil city. It is now debatable if we have maintained the same environmental character over these years. Are we safer than we were in 1999?

 

Enugu State needs to rise above sentiments, stay true and fair to our collective statehood, then elect, not select or anoint, a new governor who can tackle and resolve these nagging problems now and in future. Any phenomenon, plan or even agreement that breeds mediocrity should be jettisoned now.

(2) Clannishness and nepotic tendencies, and the appearance thereof, have, apparently, been openly practiced and hailed in the state since the return of democratic politicking in 1999. We cannot accept this as the norm. The holders of our collective executive powers now seem to be evaluated by their clans of origin based on what, when, where and how they acquiesced to the demands of their respective clans of origin and not how they served the needs and interests of the entire Enugu State. It is common to either beret or praise a governor based on how many schools, hospitals, roads and universities that the individual cited in his village, during his tenure. Other villages and clans are simply neglected, ignored or even excluded from citing of state-owned programs and projects. This pervading issue of clannishness goes contrary to the fact that the domain of the Enugu State governor is Enugu State and not just Nsukka, Udi or Awgu, all which are component parts of our dear state.

Every aspiring governorship candidate should show us a platform and authentic manifesto, which detail their intention and concrete plans to better the entire state by the end of their tenure. We should jettison the phenomena of clannishness and nepotism if we wish to remain and function as a viable state in the Nigerian nation. Individual clans can be improved but never to the exclusion of other clans.

(3) The act of selection of individuals to occupy elective positions breeds mediocrity. Politicians vying for elective positions should aggressively seek, campaign and obtain popular mandates. They should rise above other contestants both in reality and appearance. ESIPGID believes that the Nigerian democratic expectation and constitution are based on this tenet. To win a popular mandate we believe that our next governor should possess qualities that include the following:

 

(1) Be perceived to be declannized in all its forms.

(2) Be experienced in local, state, national and international affairs.

(3)Show tangible and factual evidence of a proven track record of activities.

(4) Show evidence of winning Enugu State popular mandate as opposed to selection.

(5) Must campaign with a winning manifesto that can be publicly audited in future.

(6) Must be fearless and ready to guard the entire state, selflessly.

(7) Must show regard and respect for all citizens and areas of Enugu state.

(8) Must be a candidate from the most viable political party in Enugu State.

ESIPGID has noted the high quality of individuals that have officially announced their interest in being elected as the next governor of Enugu State. We have exhaustively debated and examined their qualities and qualifications. We collectively concluded that one of the aspirants checks off on all criteria that we listed and debated. Without sentiment or favor, the Distinguished Senator, Professor Ike Ekweremadu comfortably checks off favorably on all points and criteria, at this time. 

We therefore throw our unalloyed support behind his candidacy. He should run, he should win and he should ascend to the seat of the next Executive Governor of Enugu state in 2023.With due respect to all aspirants, Senator Ekweremadu is the most popular, most experienced, most declannized and most prepared candidate in the current Enugu State gubernatorial election contest. He has shown his approachability and openness of character even to the market men and women in remote corners of Enugu State. They know him, just ask them. He has promised us that he will not indulge himself with our collective purse. He is assuring us that he will apply the wealth of experience that he has garnered as a Senator, Deputy Senate President, and Nigerian representative to West African, African and Worldwide political events. 

He would strategize, formulate and promulgate policies and infrastructural plans that will elevate our state again to its original status as the hub of Igboland and Southern Nigeria. We can and should hold him to that assurance. But we have to give him the chance. Enugu State electorate, please let us minimize unneeded sentiments, focus on factual information and rise to the call of the moment. Elect Distinguished Senator, Professor Ike Ekweremadu, as the next Executive Governor of Enugu State. God bless Enugu State. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

ESIPGID is represented by the following individuals:

 Prof. William Onyebeke

Chairman, ESIPGID

Assistant Professor

Hofstra School of Medicine

New York, NY USA

 

 Dr. Vincent Mbogu

CEO, All County HealthCare of New York, Inc

New York, NY USA

 Dr. Kanayo Ubesie

CEO/CMD, One World Healthcare USA

Houston, Texas USA

 

 Ephraim O. Obi

Attorney & Counselor at Law

Los Angeles, CA USA

 

 Dr. Ogonna Orjiekwe D.M.D

President & CEO, Diamond Dental Group PC

New Jersey, USA

 

Atty Mrs. Ajah, Esq

Attorney & Counselor at Law

New York, NYUSA