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| Senator Ekweremadu |
OPINION
Today's radio appearance on the programme Freedom Square on Solid FM Enugu by former Deputy Senate president Dr Ike EKWEREMADU (on Saturday 12 , 2022 )has seemingly vibrated the Enugu polity as the build up to the guber elections continues.
Ekweremadu declared for the PDP Governorship race of Enugu state yesterday 11, March, 2022.
Many agree that this new development has rattled the polity bringing fort a new topic in the state causing interested politicians to start replotting and rejigging their strategies.
I thoroughly enjoyed my self listening to the man called Ikeoha, senator representing Enugu west zone of Enugu.
Most listeners and followers of Enugu state politics must be sharing same feeling with me.
If for nothing he exposed that he has seen many things in governance in Nigeria.
With over 19 years 'up there', Ekweremadu showed he is indeed very experienced in governance and well prepared for the office he just declared for.
Why should he not be?
Take note: Ekweremadu has been LGA chairman, Chief of staff to a governor, SSG then senator, and deputy Senate president and even chairing the Ecowas parliament.
He has also taken much time to improve his academic levels.
He indeed has very well loaded CV and portfolio.
These positions he held before now lead up to so much know - how in leadership.
In the programme, Ekweremadu was wholistic about his desire despite that he noted that he was not in the radio programme to campaign as campaign was yet to start.
He sounded authoritative and exposed so much eloquence.
Again he was very diplomatic and made sense.
He had very genuine answers to all questions posed by the presenter Uche Anioke who was as unbiased as possible despite his closeness to the subject.
He also was extra eloquent when he pointed at his many achievements for the people across the state.
Then prodded by the the presenter, Ekweremadu touched on his cardinal points in his hopeful Governorship including in the areas of infrastructure, water, industrialisation, agriculture, security etc.
In the case of zoning which is the biggest ticking bomb and controversial matter in Enugu politics, the former Deputy Senate programme said their was no zoning in Enugu and if there was any, it must be on the cultural blocks of Awgu, Agbaja, Nkanu and Nsukka.
He said that since the other blocks have tasted power, Awgu was yet to and should be supported to take Enugu state power.
When asked about the famously touted zoning agreement, Ekweremadu said three people cannot gather in an evening outing and decide zoning in Enugu state.
He also said leaders in Enugu have one time or the other denied that there was no zoning alluding to some media publications .
When prodded further, he acknowledged the bossship of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, the seniority of Senator Ben Collins Ndu etc adding that he does not wish to talk issues with his leaders on the radio.
That was very smart of him.
He also took some questions and noted to some comments.
On the final note, he wished Enugu state peace.
In my opinion, it was a good impression of him on radio.
No doubt the programme may have swayed views in Enugu polity.
But it is a big battle ahead even as we all agree that God makes leaders.
I however expected senator Ekweremadu to be asked questionss on his assault in Europe so as to make him speak on the issues of Nigerians in the diaspora most of whom seem disconnected with our reality.
It would also have made him speak on his plans for diaspora Enugu state indigenes.
I mean he may have used it as a point of contact on the Igbo question.
On a lighter note, someone should give the revered senator some etiquette in broadcasting.
As the programme progressed, he exclaimed in Igbo ..biko ka mu welu break a nyuomamiri.....( please let me use this break time to ease myself)
Was it the drilling by the presenter that made him want to wee? If that is the case, I give Uche Anioke much kudos for drilling a 'big man's on air.
I laughed so much...I heard him well.
It was very audible that listeners heard him too
He would just have given a sign to the presenter to pause rather than talk into the mic.(hahaha)
However it shows he is a man without airs...very real. Being real is key you must agree. And not fake.
By Fred IWENJORA
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