Enugu Govt Declares Today Work-Free Over LG Polls

The Enugu State government has announced that Wednesday, February 23, is a workfree day because of the Local Government elections in the state.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information, Steve Oruruo, which also disclosed that movement will be limited from 8 am to 4 pm.
“The Enugu State Government (ENSG) wishes to notify the public that Local Government elections will hold on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, across the State,” the statement read.
“Consequently, the Government has declared a state-wide work-free day on Wednesday, February 23, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to allow the people to exercise their constitutional suffrage.
“During this period, markets and offices shall be closed and movement of persons and vehicles restricted, except for those on essential duties.
“All residents legally qualified to vote are therefore encouraged to go to the polls and cast their ballots.”
The statement then concluded with the state promising the public a smooth exercise, reminding residents of the intention to safeguard the nation’s democracy.
Meanwhile Enugu Rescue Group has dismissed  Chimaroke Nnamani’s zoning proclamation, saying that the power-sharing arrangement has never been a fixture in the state.
Nnamani, who governed Enugu from 1999 to 2007, stated on Sunday that the state’s East Senatorial Zone ought to produce the next governor due to the zoning arrangement.
In a strongly-worded response to the former governor, the pressure group lambasted the senator.
“We have observed the reckless utterances and claims of Dr Chimaroke Nnamani and wonder when he became the spokesperson of all former governors and Enugu political leaders, including those he does not see eye to eye with,” the group’s statement via its national coordinator, Ejike Iloh read.
“Nnamani in his usual air of arrogance is playing God. We make bold to say that by verifiable records on the contests for the governorship of Enugu State since 1998/1999, there is nothing like zoning principle in the state.
“Power has gone round the three geopolitical zones, but not based on any predefined zoning principle, as Nnamani seeks to sell to unsuspecting Nigerians.”
Several instances were then listed by the Enugu Rescue Group, seemingly corroborating the absence of zoning in Enugu over the years.
“Where was zoning when Nnamani contested against Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu of the All Peoples Party (APP), who hails from Enugu West in the main election in 1999?
“Where was zoning during the highly volatile 2003 governorship election that became a straight fight between Nnamani of Enugu East and Ambassador Fidel Ayogu of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), who hails from Enugu North?
“Where was zoning when even Nnamani’s deputy, Dr Ezenwata Okechukwu Itanyi from Enugu North contested against Nnamani’s anointed successor, Sullivan Chime, from Enugu West, in the 2007 PDP governorship primary and only lost by a narrow margin?” the group said.