Former deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on Friday, March 11, 2022, formally announced his entrance into the Enugu 2023 guber race.
This has laid to rest several months of speculations on whether the Senator has an interest in the number one position in the State.
There have been debates on the zoning of the governorship position in Enugu State, with the proponents insisting that it is the turn of Enugu East Senatorial zone to produce Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s successor.
However, Ekweremadu, representing Enugu West Senatorial Zone, has now publicly joined the race.
Speaking at a media interactive forum in Enugu, Ekweremadu declared that “it is now time to focus on Enugu State and Enugu people. Governorship of Enugu State will help me to serve our people more and better.”
When asked to be categorical on his ambition in 2023, he said, “you want to know whether I will run for Governor? The answer is yes, I’m running for Governor.”
He said as a lawmaker, he had initiated and completed many life-changing projects across the three Senatorial zones in the State.
He promised; “If elected Governor, I will utilize all the experience, friendship, partnership, and global contact acquired over the years to transform Enugu State into a model State.”
The lawmaker said he would implement the vision through good governance, provision of water, road development, education youth and women empowerment, security, health sector reform, employment and economy, energy sufficiency, housing, and urban renewal.
Ekweremadu assured that restoration of the people’s faith in governance would be achieved through “open door government, delivering on our manifesto and promises to the people.”
He further stated that “we will fight corruption in a creative and effective manner. We will enthrone justice, equity, and liberty to all citizens and residents of Enugu State. Government service will be available 24/7 through well-designed e-government.”
He named a former lawmaker and commissioner for housing in the State, Hon. Ogbo Asogwa as his campaign coordinator.
When confronted with the ongoing debate on zoning, the Senator said no zoning agreement ever existed in the State.
He said none of the governors in the State was a product of zoning.
According to him, Chimaroke Nnamani was not a product of zoning because “I was the campaign director during his election and at no point did we discuss zoning. Sullivan Chime wasn’t a product of zoning.”
Ekweremadu added that his Enugu West zone had been marginalized in the guber position, noting that whereas Enugu East had produced three governors, Enugu North two, his Enugu West only produced one Governor.
He asked, “Where is then the equity?”
