More than one week after he was sworn-in as the fifth executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is yet to make a single political appointment.
Enquiries by DAILY POST showed that the development is not unconnected with conflicting interest of politicians in the State, especially those within the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The development has become a topic of discussion in several gatherings among residents of the State.
Unlike most States where the new Governors have at least announced their SSG, Chief of Staff and Chief Press Secretary, Governor Ugwuanyi is still keeping his plan close to his chest.
A source hinted that the Governor has found himself in a tight corner as virtually all the top politicians in the State have submitted one list or the other to him.
It was gathered that all serving and past political leaders in the State, including immediate past governor, Barr. Sullivan Chime, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, former governor, Chimaroke Nnamani, traditional and religious leaders, have shown interest in deciding who gets what in the new government.
The source hinted that the problem was compounded based on the fact that the PDP lost at the centre, thereby leaving all the politicians with the option of scrambling for the little appointment at the State level.
“I really feel for Governor Ugwuanyi because he came at the saddle when the political situation in the country does not favour the State.
“Ever since the APC won the election at the centre, it became clear to the PDP bigwigs in the State that they are in for a tough political period.
“If the PDP had won at the centre, Ugwuanyi would have easily absorbed a lot of people at the federal level by submitting their names for ministerial and board appointments, but that it not the case because APC is in charge.
“You also know that some PDP guber aspirants stepped down before the primary election with the hope that they will get federal appointments but all of them have been disappointed.
“The present chairman of the party in the State, Ikeje Asogwa is one of such. He would have had the opportunity of moving to the federal level for one thing or the other if Jonathan had won. Also, former Governor Chime may also have been appointed a minister, but all that calculation have changed”, the source said in anonymity.
As it stands now, the Governor would on Monday inaugurate the new House of Assembly for the State even before making his own key appointments, especially the Secretary to the State Government.
However, despite not making these appointments, the Governor has been working round the clock ever since he was sworn-in.
He has paid several unscheduled visits to schools, local government areas and hospitals, where he settled medical bills of so many patients at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane and Our Saviour Hospital, 9th Mile where he had gone to sympathize with victims of recent multiple accident, involving mostly students of the University of Nigeria.
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