Citizens of Enugu West Senatorial Zone have declared that the decision over who would represent them in 2023 lies in their hands.
This is coming in reaction to the statement by the Senator representing the zone, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu that he would end his stay in the Red Chamber by 2023.
He dropped the hint during his birthday celebration in Enugu last Sunday.
But in a statement signed by stakeholders from the zone, among whom are Hon Alex Ogbonna, Rt. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, Hon. Chigozie Akalusi, Rt. Hon Donatus Uzogbado, Hon. Ralp Onovo, Hon Mike Chukwu and Hon. Princess Chioma Chiaha, they said the constituents reserved the right to determine where Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s services were most suitable.
The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a remark by His Excellency, Sen. Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, Ph.D, CFR, Deputy Senate President during his 57th birthday celebration recently in Enugu State to the effect that he will not be seeking re-election into the Senate come 2023.
“While our respect and admiration for the Distinguished Senator remains unshaken, we are minded to state that Senator Ike Ekweremadu is a product of our collective mandate and to that extent answerable to his constituents in all matters relating to his services to our people; including his decisions concerning his political future in 2023.
“As a people, we reserve the right to determine where Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s services are most suitable for the overall interest of our people. At the appropriate time, we will decide if we are best served by his continued stay in the Senate or otherwise.
“We are certain that in his meteoric rise to prominence in Nigeria and the world at large, he has had little or no control in determining his choice of service to his people. For instance, it was members of his age grade in Mpu that collectively decided to entrust him with the chairmanship of the age grade at a time he least expected it at the tender age of 10.
“The same is true about the decision of the entire Mpu community to elect him as the President-General of the Town Union. His election as the Executive Chairman of Aninri LG was also the outcome of the collective decision of the Leaders of Thought of Aninri LGA.”
They added that “his becoming the Chief of Staff to former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani and later the Secretary to the Enugu State Government was also a fortuitous interplay of forces involving the former governor and other major stakeholders in Enugu State at that time who wanted him to serve in such capacities.
“The same is true of his election into the Senate in 2003, which was a collective decision of the people of Enugu-West.
“Of significance is the fact that in his recent re-election into the Senate for a record 5th term, the decision was not his but a collective resolve of the people of Enugu-West who themselves bought the nomination form for him.
“We also make bold to state that his emergence as the Deputy Senate President for a record third term was not of his own volition but by the collective approval of his colleagues in the Senate who saw in him an uncommon trait and capacity to serve in that position.
“In essence, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s political trajectory could be likened to the wind, which you can hear but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. In the same vein, no one can actually explain how Ike Ekweremadu got to where he is today; but one thing that is certain is that he did not ascend to any of the aforementioned positions by his own volition or decision but by the Will of God and the consent of his people.
“In truth, His Excellency, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu is a man of history whose destiny is intertwined with the yearnings and aspirations of his people. In real term, we, his people have the final say on where he goes to on our behalf in 2023. In real terms, whereas His Excellency, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has a right to his opinions, we, his people, have the final word, as always, in his political decisions, now and in the future.
“Thus far, we are satisfied with his stewardship since he emerged on our political horizon as a leader. He has represented us effectively and has attracted numerous democracy dividends to our people.
“We, therefore, charge him to raise the bar on his performance in the 9th Senate, which will soon be inaugurated and keep the flag of his illustrious performance aloft. Presently, let us concentrate on the task ahead essentially because we know that emerging events will define our preferences in 2023.”
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