Several markets in Enugu State were agog, weekend, as a former Governor of the State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani’s campaign train gathered momentum.
Our correspondent reports that he is emphatic on his message: “100 percent votes for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi”, who he said was used by God to revive his political career, after the immediate past administration in the State, led by Barr. Sullivan Chime did everything to ‘knock his political engine.’
He is equally asking the people for a mandate to further represent the Enugu East Senatorial District, with a promise that the people would again feel the impact of quality representation at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
This is not the first time Nnamani is taking Enugu by storm. His door-to-door campaign is not new to the resident of the State.
However, his movement this time is with a difference, having returned to his original political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party.
His return has also no doubt boosted the PDP’s chances in the general elections, considering his political influence.
Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who acknowledged Nnamani’s political prowess during one of their campaign rallies, had said the ex-governor was deserving of respect by the politicians in the State.
He appreciated Senator Nnamani’s human empowerment gesture, especially the leadership role he played in the political life of virtually every politician in the state today, and appealed to the people to remember him in prayers and give him 100 percent votes to return to the Senate.
It could be re-called that the former Governor after one term in the Senate made two more unsuccessful attempts on the platform of the Peoples for Democratic Change, PDC. Although he was believed to have won both elections, the rest is now history.
Before he rejoined the PDP, there was also said to have been intense pressure from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to woe him into their camp but he chose his former party.
DAILY POST reports that the power play was expected considering his political influence in the State. It was observed that though he left power several years ago, his followership has not dwindled. The leader of the Ebeano political dynasty has continued to command what many considers as a mass movement.
Known for his door-to-door campaign, he has commenced a tour of all the markets in the Enugu East Senatorial District, an area he seeks to once more represent in the Senate.
Although he has completed ward to ward ralliers, Senator Nnamani said he must always find time to meet the traders as he always did in the past.
He took the trip to the Garki Market, Kenyata Market, Timber Market, Coal Camp among others, where the rally turned to a carnival of a sort.
Security agencies had hectic time controlling the crowd in the markets as the enthusiastic traders struggled to have a glimpse of the Senator.
In every of the markets visited, it was same statement from the traders, who said it was not even necessary for him to go that length campaigning.
Like the Chairman of the Timber Market, Mr. Ndubuisi Nnamani put it “we know who you are. The entire traders are for you. Your achievements in Enugu State cannot be forgotten, in terms of infrastructure and empowerment.
“All the people who are in politics today in Enugu State are your children in one way or the other. No wonder, it appears you are not going into this election unopposed.
“So, your victory is sure; we have already decided that we will vote for you, and that is why we are all your campaign managers in our various streets and villages. All we know is Ebeano. We ask you to go and sleep.”
To cap it all, the executive members of the Timber Dealers’ Association rendered a special song, which they composed for the former governor, an act he acknowledged had never happened in all his campaign life.”
At Kenyata and other markets visited, it was not a different scenario as the traders in their numbers lined up to receive Senator Nnamani, with the Chairman of the market union also declaring that their votes were for him.