By Chinedu Adonu

ENUGU – PEOPLE of Enugu West Senatorial Zone yesterday

commended Deputy Senate President, senator Ike

Ekweremadu for good governance and services rendered to

the country, saying that they have the final say if he will

return to the Senate in 2023 or not.

Ekweremadu

Recall that Ekweremadu, during his birthday celebration last

week in Enugu, declared that he would not be contesting

for the Senate position again having been re-elected for the

fifth time

They pointed that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has a right to his

opinions, “but we, his people, have the final word, as

always, in his political decisions, now and in the future.

In a statement issued to pressmen on the matter by the

Concerned Citizen of Enugu West Senatorial District and

signed by Hon Alex Ogbonna, Rt. S.K.E Udeh Okoye, Hon.

Chigozie Akalusi, Rt. Hon Donatus Uzogbado, Hon. Ralp

Onovo, Hon Mike Chukwu and Hon. Princess Chioma

Chiaha, “in truth, His Excellency, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu is a

man of history whose destiny is intertwined with the

yearning and aspirations of his people. In real term, we, his

people have the final say on where he goes to on our

behalf in 2023.

“Sen. Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, Ph.D, CFR, Deputy Senate

President during his 57th birthday celebration recently in

Enugu State to the effect that he will not be seeking re-

election into the Senate come 2023.

“While our respect and admiration for the Distinguished

Senator remains unshaken, we are minded to state that

Senator Ike Ekweremadu is a product of our collective

mandate and to that extent answerable to his constituents

in all matters relating to his services to our people;

including his decisions concerning his political future in

2023.

“As a people, we reserve the right to determine where Sen.

Ike Ekweremadu’s services are most suitable for the overall

interest of our people. At the appropriate time, we will

decide if we are best served by his continued stay in the

Senate or otherwise.

“We are certain that in his meteoric rise to prominence in

Nigeria and the world at large, he has had little or no

control in determining his choice of service to his people.

For instance, it was members of his age grade in Mpu that

collectively decided to entrust him with the chairmanship of

the age grade at a time he least expected it at the tender

age of 10.

“The same is true about the decision of the entire Mpu

community to elect him as the President-General of the

Town Union. His election as the Executive Chairman of

Aninri LG was also the outcome of the collective decision of

the Leaders of Thought of Aninri LGA.

“His becoming the Chief of Staff to former Governor

Chimaroke Nnamani and later the Secretary to the Enugu

State Government was also a fortuitous interplay of forces

involving the former governor and other major stakeholders

in Enugu State at that time who wanted him to serve in

such capacities.

“The same is true of his election into the Senate in 2003,

which was a collective decision of the people of Enugu-

West. Of significance is the fact that in his recent re-

election into the Senate for a record 5th term, the decision

was not his but a collective resolve of the people of Enugu-

West who themselves bought the nomination form for him.

“We also make bold to state that his emergence as the

Deputy Senate President for a record third term was not of

his own volition but by the collective approval of his

colleagues in the Senate who saw in him an uncommon

trait and capacity to serve in that position.

“In essence, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s political trajectory

could be likened to the wind, which you can hear but

cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. In the

same vein, no one can actually explain how Ike

Ekweremadu got to where he is today; but one thing that is

certain is that he did not ascend to any of the

aforementioned positions by his own volition or decision

but by the Will of God and the consent of his people.

“Thus far, we are satisfied with his stewardship since he

emerged on our political horizon as a leader. He has

represented us effectively and has attracted numerous

democracy dividends to our people.

“We, therefore, charge him to raise the bar on his

performance in the 9th Senate, which will soon be

inaugurated and keep the flag of his illustrious performance

aloft. Presently, let us concentrate on the task ahead

essentially because we know that emerging events will

define our preferences in 2023.”