By Tony Adibe
Says …I Don’t Need A Manifesto To Govern Enugu
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu State, Hon. Chijioke Edeoga, has said that he is more experienced in leadership than the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi.
He said that he rose to prominence way back in 1992 as Chief Press Secretary to former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, and was also elected Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, in 1997 when Obi was nowhere near public service. This was even as he said those attacking him for not presenting a manifesto to show his blueprint for Enugu State did not understand governance, insisting that he did not need any statement of purpose to lead Enugu State to glory.
Speaking during an Energy 105.5 FM interactive radio programme monitored in Enugu, Edeoga said: “Peter Obi had not entered public service in 1997. I have been in public service since 1992 on a continuous basis. I was Chief Press Secretary. By 1997, I was elected Council Chairman. I was elected on my own strength. I went to the House of Representatives in 1999.
“I am not trying to take away anything from Peter Obi, but was Peter Obi in PDP when I became the person to beat?” Also, speaking on another radio programme on Urban 94.5 FM, Enugu, Edeoga said a good leader didn’t really need a manifesto to know what is good for his people.
Asked if he did not think that his failure to present a manifesto could affect his chances, Edeoga retorted: “It is not going to affect my chances. Those people who are nipping those things are looking for excuses because they know it does not matter. And those who are presenting manifesto, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, which one (manifesto) did he follow? Who in Enugu state has said, okay, why did you say you are going to do this and who has benchmarked him? Even you, who is asking about manifesto, have you asked Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi what did he do or what did he promise on education, what did you do, why not?
“So, this tendency, when somebody does a thing, everybody follows does not help. The critical thing is, the things he (a candidate) even said, are they original? In serious climes, what they do is to ask questions to those people who presented those things, and you will see that most times, it did not come from them; it is not original. It is not autochthonous. That’s the point”.
