The Awgu Progressives Vanguard (APV) has expressed immense gratitude to the government of Enugu state under the leadership of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. 
 
They revealed this in an open letter presented to the media, signed by their Coordinator, Hon. Udoka Chukwuneike, Secretary, Chief Chinedu Onwo, Publicity Secretary, Dr. Chibueze Peter Okolinta.

In their letter, they recognized the tremendous and illustrious efforts of the governor to give qualitative governance to the state. They equally appreciated him for all the appointments given to their indigenes.

In that same manner, they refuted the rumour of Insubordination being peddled by some no-gooders. It was alleged there have been plans to undermine, the Executive Governor of Enugu state, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, by raising the Issue of zoning and un-zoning of the Governance of the state.

They stated categorically, that the good people of Awgu can never exhibit such malevolent attitude.

However, the issues of Zoning in Enugu state Governance was always settled amicably.

The letter reads thus:

“AWGU PROGRESSIVES VANGUARD (APV)
…Equity, Justice and Fairness

*SETTING THE RECORDS STRAIGHT: _RE: Separating Enugu-West Senatorial Zone and
Greater Awgu Cultural Zone: Let the Truth be Told_

*Background to this Rejoinder:*

The attention of the leadership and members of Awgu Progressives Vanguard has been drawn to a press statement arising from a purported meeting held by the Awgu Progressives Forum, Enugu West General Assembly (EWGA), and Awgu Youth General Assembly (AYGA), last Saturday July 4, 2020 at Isu-Awaa Town Hall in Awgu LG Area of Enugu State.

There is no doubt as to what the promoters of that kangaroo meeting intended to achieve. Their aim was to create an impression that there are people or groups in Awgu LG and Enugu-West that are undermining the Executive Governor of Enugu State, H.E Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. This assumption is a lie from the pit of hell.

Whereas the people of Awgu LG and indeed Enugu-West are full of admiration for the Governor on account of his illustrious achievements in Enugu State, we are minded to observe that issue of zoning or un-zoning of the Governorship come 2023 is a critical issue, which has always been resolved amicably by the political, religious and community leaders in the State.

*Brief Historical Overview of Political structures in Enugu State:*

For the avoidance of doubt, we acknowledge the fact that Enugu State is structured into three political zones namely: Enugu-East, Enugu-West and Enugu-North. However, this political configuration does not in any way diminish the truth that Enugu State, traditionally and historically is composed of four cultural zones. These four cultural zones include: Nsukka, Nkanu, Agbaja and Awgu Cultural zones. These cultural zones correspond to the colonial divisions of: Nsukka, Udi (which is the Agbaja group), Awgu and Nkanu (which was carved out from Udi Division).

The above clarification is critical to rebut the claims of the historical revisionists and deconstructionists in our midst. The term “Greater Awgu” came because of the creation of Oji-River and Aninri LGAs out of the original Awgu Division. A little reading into Nigerian history will confirm that each of these colonial divisions in the country today constitute a Senatorial zone; while virtually all the colonial Provinces have become States.

When the foregoing is reduced to our political space, it becomes very clear that whereas the three other cultural zones in Enugu State have taken various shots at the governorship of the State, it is only the Awgu cultural zone that has not. Yes, Greater Awgu is in Enugu-West zone but truth is that this is the only zone with two cultural zones: the Agbaja group and Awgu group.

*The Issue of Zoning in Enugu State: Has it ever been respected?*

Talking about zoning, the question we have always asked is: Who and who made this zoning arrangement? Where was it made? When was it made? Can we see a supporting document? The truth is that there is none. Any good student of Enugu State politics will accept the fact that Chimaroke Nnamani would not have become Governor if not for some notable persons from Nkanu land who wielded enormous influence then in the PDP. Chief Victor Nduka Agu (from Udi) had defeated Chimaroke Nnamani hands down at the PDP primaries then but because of the influence of those powerful interests, the result of that primary election was upturned in favour of Chimaroke Nnamani. If Nduka Agu had won on that occasion, perhaps the zoning would have started from Enugu-West. At that point, was there any zoning in the State?

For the records, it is important to remark that Sullivan Chime became Governor only by the executive fiat of Chimaroke. This was a way of pacifying the Agbaja group that felt shortchanged when Nduka Agu was denied the governorship ticket; just like the Hausa/Fulani used Obasanjo to pacify the Yoruba after the criminal annulment of June 12 elections. At the twilight of Sullivan Chime’s tenure, the polity became agitated as to where the governorship would go.

For the discerning, it was only reasonable, and in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice that Nsukka should take a turn. Today all the senatorial zones have had a shot at the governorship. It is left for the political leaders of Enugu State to sit down and decide what happens next; and not for a group of cranky fellows claiming to have met at Isu-Awaa; and who obviously must have been suffering from delusional imaginations on account of their inebriation, to decide. 

It is also important to note that the issue of zoning has never been respected in Enugu State. For instance, Fidel Ayogu from Nsukka gave Chimaroke a dogged fight in the governorship election of 1999. During Chimaroke’s second term, he had to slug it out viciously with the likes of Ugo Agbala (Udi), Okey Ezea (Nsukka) and others. Yet, Okey Ezea, Peter Okonkwo (all from Nsukka) questioned the zoning pretensions when they mounted spirited battle to wrestle the governorship from Sullivan Chime. Even when it was obvious that the 2015 governorship would go to Nsukka, we still had people from Nkanuland and Awgu that fought for that position. In 2015, for instance, Barr. Charles Ibe and Barr. Linus Anya Ibekwe (all from Mgbowo) contested the governorship against Governor Ugwuanyi. Even in the last last general election, Engr. Ben Eche (from Awgu town) and Chief Ekene Uzodimma (from Ngene-Ugbo) also contested the governorship against Ugwuanyi. Where were these zoning tigers then? If any of these contestants had won, wouldn’t he be sworn-in as Governor? But in all these, Enugu State political leaders had intervened to point the way forward.

*On the Claims of the purported Isu-Awaa Meeting:*

So it is preposterous and ridiculous for anyone from Greater Awgu to begin to assume that Governor Ugwuanyi has zoned the Governorship to Enugu-East Senatorial Zone, even when the Governor has not made such declaration. We are certain that when the time comes for the Governor to make such a huge political decision, he will consult widely and Enugu State will come out with a common stand acceptable to all of us. But until then, common sense, equity, justice and fairness would only demand that since all the Senatorial zones have taken their turns, we should come together again to decide where to start. And where to start is not cast on stone!

It smacks of political naiveté and crass understanding of the political dynamics of Nigeria for anyone or group of people to suggest that “Our nation is a federal unit known for its political zones and not cultural zones”. This assumption is revisionist at best and fatalistic at worst. The truth is that all the geo-political zones in Nigeria are structured according to their cultural and historical dynamics.

It is interesting to hear these misguided mascots declare that they belong to “Enugu-West Senatorial Zone AND not Greater Awgu Cultural Zone”. This is political imbecility at the highest level. The day of reckoning is coming. 

*Our Declarations:*

Having made the foregoing clarifications, we want to make the following declarations:

a)That the motley gathering of these political imps, naysayers, fair-weather friends and wheeler-dealers at Isu-Awaa last July 4th 2020 does not and cannot approximate to a meeting of Awgu LG leaders. These people do not and cannot speak the mind of Ndi-Awgu LG. They do not have our mandate and are merely acting out a tragic script that will consume them.

b)That we have recognized political leaders in Awgu LG and Enugu-West in general who exercise our mandate. We have our elected representatives at the National Assembly, State Assembly, LG Council, Commissioners and Political Appointees. When they speak we will hear. Our leaders and people have not spoken.

*Note of Caution to their Sponsors:*

We hereby put the general public and the sponsors of these political leaches on notice in the sense that the leopard does not change its colour no matter the situation. If you hire these people today to do your dirty jobs, be certain that you are not safe from them because they have a price tag. Pay their price and they will do your bidding.

Secondly, the leaders of Awgu Progressive Forum, Enugu West General Assembly (EWGA), and Awgu Youth General Assembly (AYGA) are men of questionable characters; men with dubious and dark pasts; who just came back from their ill-fated sojourns outside Enugu State and felt that they should recalibrate our system. The character of these people reads like a  parchment from the scroll of mindless iniquities.      

**Conclusion* :

In concluding this rejoinder, we wish to reiterate our undiluted support for our leaders especially our dear Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the State leadership of our great party, the PDP, for the great works they are doing. We salute His Excellency for the various interventions in Awgu LG.

We thank him for the numerous appointments he has given to our people. We thank also our Council Chairman, Hon. Pedro Nwankwo and his team for complimenting the efforts of the State Government; and our Commissioners and other appointees for discharging their duties effectively.

We strongly believe that power belongs to God and He gives it to anyone he chooses; “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalms 75:6-7).

We have written for the records, for the absolution of our consciences and for generations yet unborn! He who has ears, let him hear!!

Long Live Awgu LGA
Long Live Enugu State
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria

Signed:

Hon. Udoka Chukwuneike
Coordinator

Chief Chinedu Onwo Secretary

Dr. Chibueze Peter Okolinta
Publicity Secretary

For and on behalf of Awgu Progressives Vanguard