…says Zoning started in 1991
Dr. Josef Umunnakwe Onoh, son of one of the most prominent founding fathers of Enugu state, Late Chief C.C Onoh, has joined notable personalities in Enugu State to disagree with Rev Hyde Onuaguluchi over the zoning of Governorship Seat in Enugu State.
It will be recalled that Rev Hyde Onuaguluchi, at the Enugu West Zonal Rally held at Awgu and themed ‘Ife Emelu mma’ said that there was nothing like zoning of the Governorship Seat in the state.
Onuaguluchi’s statement generated tension in the arena and in the state since his statement ran counter to an already established mindset that the 2023 governorship will be zoned to Enugu East senatorial district, having rotated to the other two districts from 2007 to now.
Hyde is one of the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state a one time Governorship candidate in the state.
However, in a reaction to the debate that followed Onuaguluchi’s position, Onoh jnr countered Rev. Onagulachi and described Hyde as someone who is a perpetual soloist.
Onoh siad, People should not take Hyde’s statement on zoning of Governorship Seat in the state to the bank. He is someone who never agrees with the popular decision of stakeholders in the state.
“I can authoritatively confirm that there is rotation in Enugu state because I was in company of my father the day he made the statement at Odenigwe’s residence, after that they proceeded to sports club where Enechi Onyia came around 6pm to drop the minutes of their meeting.
“Hyde (Onuagulchi) rebelled against that decision and walked away and my father clearly told him openly that he will never be Governor of Enugu state. My brother Gabriel was then the Mayor of the coal city and last Mayor to rule over what is now Enugu East, Enugu South and Enugu North.
“The reason for my father’s decision on the rotation principle and why he asked Enugu North senatorial zone to go first was because of the call he received from Commodore Ibute Ukiwe who narrated the decision of the supreme military council informing him that he (C.C Onoh) wasn’t going to get the two states he wanted, Wawa state (changed to Enugu) and Adada state.
Ukiwe told my father that they opted for Enugu state and Adada was dropped which pained my father a lot. So in order to further encourage Nsukka Zone in the Wawa struggle, ensure peace and harmony, the zoning arrangement was born and it was agreed by these respectable and distinguished gentlemen of blessed memory that Enugu North senatorial District (Nsukka) had the grand honour of producing the first executive governor of Enugu state.
“The resolve was so strong that on the night of the day late Dr. Joe Nwodo was disqualified, my father insisted on a replacement rather than Hyde Onuaguluchi having his way to become the Governor of Enugu State. Joe Nwodo was replaced with Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo his younger brother we were at Mr. Adams House at Ogui road to pick him up by 10pm at night to come and take a photograph of Okwesilieze so he can rush and replace his form. The rest they say is history.
“Eventually in 1998, at about 7pm, a golden brown Lexus s400 pulled up at our family house in Ngwo, I was having my dinner with my father. I was drawn by the sleek design of the vehicle and behold three men walked out and I recall my father smiled and said, “James o’gunu bu ina cho bem? (What brought you to my house)? He smiled; I stood up and greeted Uncle Jim Nwobodo, the next person was H.E, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and a dark man whom I didn’t know as at then only later during the conversation he was introduced as Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani.
“Jim came to solicit for my father’s support to ensure Chimaroke wins the election and be elected as Governor of Enugu state. One statement he made that triggered my memory was when he said to my father, ‘CC, you brought Okwesilieze Nwodo in 1991 and I supported you and our agreement that it’s the turn of our zone to produce Governor still holds and my father swiftly asked him what zone, he now said Nkanu. At this point my father fumed and said Nkanu is just a local government and not a zone that it’s like Ogui, Ngwo, Nike-Odenigbo, Amechi-uwenu and Amechi-uwani, referring to the entire Enugu East senatorial zone.
“Then Jim corrected himself and said it’s the turn of Enugu East, at which my father now asked Chimaroke some questions I won’t go into and Okwesilieze assured him everything was going to be okay and he specifically said to Chimaroke ‘I hope you know after you it will Enugu west, I hope you will do the right thing when that time comes, he smiled and said yes.
“He now asked me if I will leave APP and join PDP because I was contesting for the position of a councilor at New Haven ward. That was how I joined PDP and despite all odds Chimaroke still honoured the same agreement, so did Sullivan Chime and so will Gburugburu (Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi). And when the time comes again tomorrow’s Ex Governor will hopefully do the same and take his place in the sun.” This is how rotational principle started.
