IN EBONYI State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State since the dawn of civil rule in 1999 with emergence of the first executive Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, who was succeeded by Chief Martin Elechi, another PDP governor in 2007.
The PDP dominance continued in 2011 with Elechi winning a second term despite strong anticipations of the opposition that they would win the polls at the expense of the ruling party. Obviously, Elechi won the elections not only because of his rising political profile and popularity of his administration in the state, but also because of the diehard structures built by the PDP over the years.
To emerge victorious, Governor Elechi defeated his political opponents in the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, among others in 11 out of the 13 local government areas of the state
Governor Elechi, who was sworn-in along side his Deputy, Chief Dave Umahi, by the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, is now in his late 60s and believes that under his administration, Ebonyi would undergo transformation in every sector of governance.
The Governor in his early days was commissioner in six different Ministries in the defunct East Central State and executive secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, in the old Anambra State.
In 1999, as a member of All Peoples Party, APP which later metamorphosed into All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Elechi contested governorship on the platform of the party and lost. This failure did not deter him from repositioning himself for another trial. He defected to the PDP and by twist of destiny, won the governorship election in 2007. This victory was reinforced in 2011 as way of reestablishing his supremacy on Ebonyi political terrain.
Issues before Elechi
Having been re-elected, several issues that would dominate Governor Elechi’s second term in office range from his dicey case at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, completion of major projects in the state before the visit of the President in June, formation of a legal backing for the establishment of the Ministry of Environment, renovation of 13 general hospitals and Primary Health Centres, implementation of N18,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state, sustaining peace in the Ezza/ Ezillo communities, and tackling the menace of kidnaping currently being witnessed in the state among others.
However, prominent among them would be his tribunal case with the governorship candidates of ANPP, APGA and People for Democratic Change, PDC, Senator Julius Ali Ucha, Ambassador Franklin Nchita Ogbuewu and AIG Kelvin Okpoke, respectively, who have filed their petitions at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital. They claim to have massive evidence to prove that the last governorship election in the state was marred by rigging and monetary inducement; which were captured with hidden video cameras planted at different polling units.
Accordingly, it is expected that the Governor would devote public funds to ensure speedy completion of all roads, bridges, electricity, water schemes such as bore holes and mega water treatment plants and construction of Rice Milling sites before the arrival of President Goodluck Jonathan to the state.
Elechi is aware of the challenges. During his swearing-in, he said: “Understandably, the clarion call of Ebonyi people for me to seek a second term in office was predicated essentially on the need to compete and consolidate our ongoing projects and programmes. True indeed, it would be meaningless to exit from the state, leaving behind a plethora of uncompleted projects which constitute the basis of the economic take-off of our State. Therefore, the completion of ongoing projects will be my priority in the first year of the new tenure.”
The realisation of these objectives might not be an easy task for the Elechi-led administration considering the meager Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and its Federal allocation every month. The government might borrow to fulfill its campaign promises to the people.
Chief Elechi’s political henchmen are still in the loop of governance of the state. This class of personalities are the determinant factors of what, where and how events occur in Ebonyi. They have been operating skillfully in the manipulation of the machinery of government.
They formed the kitchen cabinet of Elechi’s government during first term. Prominent among them are former Commissioner for Grant and Donor Agency, Elder Fred Udeogu, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Celestine Nwali, the Son of the Governor, Elechi Elechi, the Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Josephine Elechi and the PDP Youth Leader, Comrade Chinedu Ogah.
These men and women of caliber influence government policies and programme at all levels. They are expected determine to a great extent, who among former commissioners and special advisers would make the new cabinet list.
This power bloc is usually made of up top politicians from Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State. It is still in doubt if Elechi’s power bloc would be reconstituted within the former political perimeter, considering the recent appointment of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF.
Governor Elechi would like to play safe by working in close alliance or relationship with the new SGF so as not to fail in whatever he wishes to achieve especially at the Presidency. The status of Senator Anyim would not only play out at the Presidency, but also in Ebonyi as his attention would always be drawn to appointments/ constitution of the new cabinet in the state, giving the fact about his intimidating political profile. It is hoped that the governor and SGF would relate harmoniously to the betterment of Ebonyi and her citizenry.
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