There is serious anxiety in Enugu State following the failure of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to make relevant appointments.
DAILY POST reports that nearly two weeks after Ugwuanyi was sworn-in, he has not appointed key political aides.
The situation is causing serious tension among the political class as many see it as a hindrance to the smooth take-off of the new government.
Residents are more worried that instead of appointing key aides who would facilitate government activities, the Governor has kept mute on the matter.
Instead, he has been engaged in tours, including making frequent visits to his predecessor, Barr. Sullivan Chime.
DAILY POST reports that out of the first one week Ugwuanyi spent in office, he spent three days with three different groups to pay thank-you visit on Chime, a development residents see as a further confirmation to the fact that Chime may be running the government even after quitting office.
Besides, two of Chime’s loyalists were on Monday elected as the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, leaving Ugwuanyi at the mercy of the former governor.
The House leaders were part of the nine lawmakers who defended Chime when a group of fifteen lawmakers, including the former Speaker, Hon. Eugene Odo wanted to impeach him few weeks to the end of his administration.
A resident of the Coal City State, who spoke on the matter said “it appears the governor has been caged. Otherwise, I’m at a loss how a governor will stay this long without making key political appointments.
“Many concerned residents are really wondering when he will hit the ground running or we will continued with thank-you visit to Chime on daily basis. This is not what Enugu people bargained for.
“Some people said he has not made appointments because of pressure from many interested stakeholders; but what I want to say here is that if he is waiting to satisfy all those selfish politicians, it means Enugu people are in for more trouble.
“I have also noticed that some of Chime’s aides are still hanging around him; obviously the former governor still wants to be in total control but that is so bad and only Ugwuanyi can navigate himself out of this, but a situation where he spends one week in paying thank-you visit to Chime is what so many people cannot fathom”.
Observation by DAILY POST showed that the development has topped discussion at every gathering across the State, with most people expressing concern over the situation.
Apart from Governor Ugwuanyi, all the other newly sworn-in governors in the South-East have appointed their key aides, and hit the ground running.
It was further gathered that the Governor had convened a meeting of the PDP stakeholders in Enugu last Saturday, where he allegedly sought their input on how best he would go about making the choice for political aides.
This is even as inside sources hinted that apart from not being in control of the House of Assembly leadership, there is also plan to impose key political aides on him. As such, he is unlikely to decide those who would occupy the positions of Chief of Staff, Secretary to the State Government, Chief Press Secretary and commissioners for some juicy ministries.
“This is what the people of the State should expect when the Governor goes on at every point in time describing a former governor as his ‘leader in and out of office’. Those of us that are members of the PDP are really worried over that is happening.
“Nobody is saying that he should be at loggerheads with his ‘leader’, but he should know that if he fails to meet the expectations of the Enugu people, who overwhelmingly gave him their mandate, he would be held responsible and not ‘his leader’. So, I think he should hit the ground running and take charge of affairs”, a concerned party member who spoke under anonymity quipped.
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