Former governor of Enugu State and Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, Senator Chimaroke Nnamami has reasserted his earlier position that it is the turn of the zone to produce the next governor of the state in 2023, going by the long-established zoning formula in the state.
Senator Nnamani, in a statement, reiterated that justice and fairness demanded that the zoning principle be respected by the political players in the state, stressing that it has fostered peace and harmony, while giving every zone a sense of belonging and involvement in the politics and governance of the state.
Senator Nnamani commended the former governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo, the former governor of the old Enugu State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, the former governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, and the former president of the Nigerian Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani for their recent independent statements affirming the zoning principle, as well as the turn of Enugu East zone to produce the next governor of the state.
Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East zone was the governor of the state from 1999 to 2007, followed by Mr. Sullivan Chime from Enugu West zone from 2007 to 2015, while the present governor since 2015, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is from Enugu North zone.
Senator Nnamani said that after reviewing the principled stands of the respected elders and statesmen, including four former governors from the three zones of the state and a former president of the Nigerian Senate, he was more convinced than ever that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the political leaders in the state and the various communities will be guided by a keen sense of history and conscience in picking the next governor of the state from Enugu East zone.
Senator Nnamani described zoning as a major selling point of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State, saying it has ensured peace, balance and even development in the state.
He expressed the hope that other political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will follow suit in upholding zoning and ceding their governorship tickets to Enugu East zone.
