*Nkanu people frown at meddlesome role by Senator Nnamani
There were indications on Monday that the embattled Deputy Governor of Enugu state, Chief Sunday Onyebuchi may only consider resigning from office if the panel to be constituted to handle the allegations against him was manipulated.
Some members of the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus that met with Governor Sullivan Chime on Saturday following the directive of the National Working Committee, NWC, had asked the Deputy Governor to resign or risk impeachment but others who believed that he had not committed any serious offence to warrant his being forced out of office, kicked against it.
Sources said the State House of Assembly may next week empower the State Chief Judge to constitute a panel to probe the allegations against the Deputy Governor should he fail to announce his resignation before then. The development came as Onyebuchi’s kinsmen from Enugu East senatorial zone (Nkanu land) cautioned former Senate President, Ken Nnamani over his alleged “meddlesome role”, which they said has further escalated the matter.
Nnamani, who also hails Nkanu land , they said, has “chosen to be a spoiler rather than a father who should play the re-conciliatory role”.
Sources said yesterday that though Nnamani has championed the call on the Deputy Governor to resign or risk impeachment having allowed his relationship with the governor to derail irredeemably, Onyebuchi “is not willing to succumb to the calls as he is certain that the allegations which have seriously being deflated are merely to undermine him”.
“He will not be cowed to resignation. If he is sure that the panel is one that can look at the issues dispassionately, I tell you, he will face them because he has not done anything wrong. He will only decide not to face them if the panel is manipulated and filled with person with a mind set.
“If you look at the entire thing so far, you will discover that their claim that he did not represent the Governor at the flag off ceremony of the second Niger Bridge has been defeated. That is loss number one and so shall others. Even if he is resigning, he will like to clear his name”, said the source who was at the PDP Caucus meeting held at the Governor’s lodge on Saturday.
The PDP state caucus meeting held at the weekend which the embattled Deputy was not invited was divided over the impeachment move. While serving members of the National Assembly wanted a second chance for Onyebuchi, former National Assembly members led by Ken Nnamani wanted him to resign in what looked like the continuation of the “war” against members of the now hated Ebeano political family left in Chime administration.
Senator Gilbert Nnaji, who represents his zone, Enugu East, House of Reps members including Princess Peace Nnaji and Patrick Asadu had reportedly pleaded that the governor tamper justice with mercy and rescind his decision in the interest of the party.
Asadu, was said to have asked that the meeting be rescheduled to enable the embattled Deputy be present to apologize to the Governor Nnamani but Fidel Okoro and Dubem Onyia had contrary views, insisting that having allowed their ugly relationship to become a public knowledge, he should resign or face impeachment.
The source said that Senator Nnamani informed the meeting how Onyebuchi visited his residence in Abuja, went on his knees and admitted his guilt on the allegations brought against him by the House, adding that he had advised him to go back to Enugu and resign. But Onyebuchi could not be reached to confirm Nnamani’s claim by press time yesterday.
One of the lawmakers who said he regretted attending the caucus meeting queried its rationale, saying, “We thought the Governor called us to discuss on the issue and agree on the way out and not for him (governor) to read a script and resort to abusing those who pleaded for pardon for the Deputy governor”.
At the caucus meeting were former and serving members of the National Assembly from the state Chairman of the party, Vita Abba, Speaker Eugene Odoh as well as Chime’s chief of Staff, Mrs Ifeoma Nwobodo who though not a member of the caucus, was present at the meeting. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, was however absent. Speaking on the development Monday, a native of Nkanu, Chief Ikechukwu Agbo said that his people were not happy with the role the former senate president had played since the matter erupted, stressing that “even if Onyebuchi is guilty, Nnamani who is our kinsman should not be the first to prosecute him”.
He added: “ We know he has been recruited to do some job by Enugu state government in the governor’s bid to ensure that only those he wants in 2015 receives the party’s ticket, he should at least do it with decorum. He is not the first and certainly will not be the last and no matter what he is receiving now, it is not bound to continue forever”.
Agbo who described himself as a community leader, said they would continue to raise their head high on the fact that “Onyebuchi is not a criminal”.
The House of Assembly had last week commenced impeachment proceedings on the Deputy Governor over allegations of gross misconduct and disobedience to the directives of the Governor of the state. The impeachment notice was later served on the deputy governor through substituted means but he is yet to respond to it.
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