Enugu LP running mate dispute: Onoh urges Edeoga to avoid Tinubu’s mistake

Dr. Gabriel Onoh, eldest son of former governor of old Anambra State, Chief Chukwuma Onoh, has written to Enugu State gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party (LP), Chijioke Edeoga, against picking his running mate from Enugu North Senatorial District.

According to sources, the issue of where his running mate should come from was one of the factors Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi considered in rebuffing pressures from stakeholders from Enugu North Senatorial District to support Edeoga for the governorship ticket of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Also, some members of Enugu chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) and supporters of the former Deputy President of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, opened discussions with Edeoga to deputise Ekweremadu on the gubernatorial ticket.

Barely one week after Edeoga’s emergence as LP gubernatorial standard-bearer, the party has now been confronted with the challenge of sourcing a fitting running mate for him, particularly as the incumbent Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Chuka Utazi, is in strong contention.

While Ekweremadu’s loyalists support Utazi, former APC stalwarts, including Ozo Joe Mmamel, insist that it would be hard to convince Enugu voters that Edeoga is not from Nsukka despite belonging to Enugu East Senatorial District.

Amid the tug of war over which geographical or cultural zone to produce the running mate, Onoh reminded Edeoga that the plan to pick an Nsukka indigene has become a cause for concern in the state.

In a letter titled, ‘Your Choice of Deputy Governor,’ Onoh, who was once the chairman of Enugu North Local Council, stated: “Permit me to disagree with your decision, if true. Those that advised you to even consider such are not politicians, but haters.

“First, such a decision will create polarisation amongst the cultural divisions we have in our state. The consequences are obvious. Second, we can’t, on the one hand, criticise Tinubu for his decision of a Muslim/Muslim ticket, and on the other hand, do the same thing.”

“Forget about politicians, who never studied Geography, but will bring up cardinal points like ‘East by Northwest’ and lead you to believe that those fancy words have any bearing on Enugu political culture. The truth is that your identity, as far as the people of Enugu are concerned, is Nsukka.”