*Why Nnamani's unhappy with Mbah


*Why Chimaroke is uncomfortable with the endorsement


Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, and former governor of the state, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, have fallen out, it has bern authoritatively reported.


Although insider sources said all had not really been well with their relationship since Mbah’s emergence as the governorship candidate of the PDP, the final straw that broke the camel’s back was the recent endorsement of Mbah by Barr. Sullivan Chime.


It is recalled that Chime, while hosting Mbah to an interactive session with businessmen and leaders at his Enugu residence last weekend, endorsed the PDP gubernatorial candidate, noting that “Mbah is the best Enugu State can offer now” as Enugu did not need a career politician as governor at the moment.


“When we were working with Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Mbah wasn't a politician. Peter Mbah is still not a politician.


“I have had interactions not just with him (Mbah), but also Frank Nweke, Chijioke Edeoga, and to me, looking at the field, Peter Mbah is the best, credible candidate Enugu can offer now.


“I have no reservations whatsoever in endorsing and supporting him. I believe, knowing Peter Mbah too well, that he will not disappoint Enugu”, he said.


However, former governor Nnamani is not taking it lying low.


“Yes Chimaroke was very angry on seeing the viral video, and he complained bitterly, calling Mbah a betrayer and also saying he now knew those influencing Mbah’s actions since he picked the PDP ticket. He described Chime as a paperweight whom he made, but who betrayed and nearly destroyed him both economically and politically. He said that Mbah’s close ties with Chime was a conspiracy against him and now showed why Mbah had refused to recognise the Ebeano structure or even the slogan throughout his campaigns. He equally said it was high time he phoned that young man, as he referred to Mbah, and put him in his proper place”, our source revealed.


Why Nnamani's unhappy with Mbah


Sources, however, said that the break-up was long expected as there were strains in the relationship all these while, only that it was managed and shielded from the public.


Mbah’s original sin, according to impeccable sources was the appointment of Ikeje Asogwa as the Director-General of Enugu PDP Campaign Organisation, over and above Shere, who was Nnamani’s choice. Shere was, however blocked by Mbah, who insisted on Asogwa instead.


Shere is a very close ally of Nnamani and one of the remnant ardent Ebeano disciples. He was Secretary to the State Government in Nnamani’s administration and also former governorship candidate of the defunct People for Democratic Change (PDC) founded by the ex-governor after Sullivan Chime forced him out of the PDP.


“It was learnt that Nnamani protested to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, but Mbah still insisted on Asogwa, as he could not adduce any good reason it shouldn’t be Asogwa. The governor then said it was better to allow Mbah’s choice since he is the one funding the campaign”, the source said.


Meanwhile, insiders said that Nnamani’s real grouse with Ikeje Asogwa dates back to the latter’s tenure as the General Manager of the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation under the Sullivan Chime administration. It was gathered that after the former governor closed the Enugu Zoo and converted it to estate property, he kept some of the plots to himself. However, Asogwa, upon his appointment, converted them to government plots and sold them off to private individuals.


“Chimaroke Nnamani has never forgiven Asogwa and making him Campaign DG was more like adding salt to an injury”, the source stated.


Furthermore, Chimaroke opposed the appointment of one Nana Ogbodo as the spokesman of the campaign organisation even though he is from Akpugo, Nnamani’s neighbouring village in Nkanu West LGA.


Ogbodo and Nnamani, it was gathered, are sworn enemies dating back to Chimaroke days as governor. Although previously close, their relationship became irreversibly soured after Nnamani bulldozed Ogbodo’s duplex at Trans Ekulu and converted it to a refuse dumpsite overnight following a disagreement. All efforts to reconcile the two men have not yielded fruits.


Nnamani equally opposed Hon. Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi’s appointment into the Campaign Council.


Nnamani was said to have told Mbah that appointing Asogwa and Ogbodo into such strategic positions was like serving him (Nnamani) wild hemlock and swore never to participate in the Mbah or Enugu State PDP’s campaign until both men were removed. However, Mbah stuck to his gun.


True to his words, Chimaroke did not participate in Mbah or PDP’s campaign for a day. He did not also attend the Enugu East Senatorial Zone Endorsement Rally where all the who-is-who in Nkanu land, including former governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo and former Senate President and APC chieftain, Senator Ken Nnamani endorsed Mbah as the zone’s sole governorship candidate.


It is also insinuated that these must have also informed the ex-governor’s decision to not only pull out of PDP campaign, but also openly campaign for Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the annoyance of Enugu people and Igbo in general who overwhelmingly preferred Mr. Peter Obi.


“Those in the know believe it was part of Nnamani’s efforts to hit back at Mbah because it is common knowledge that Mbah served in his government and that he supported Mbah ahead of the PDP primary election. So, those who are angry with him may likely cast a protest vote against Mbah”, said an insider.


But the last straw that broke the camel’s back was Sullivan Chime’s endorsement of Mbah, and he is particularly peeved at Chime’s lecture to Mbah on how to dismember what remains of Ebeano philosophy and structure as he, Chime, did during his tenure.


Meanwhile, some PDP members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they only found out about the cold war between the duo during Mbah’s town hall meeting in Nkanu West.


“Although Senator Nnamani returned from Abuja, he failed to show up at any of Mbah’s four town hall meetings in his Nkanu West LGA. He was instead expecting Mbah to pay him homage at his Ojiagu Agbani country home after the whole exercise, but Mbah snubbed him and headed back to town.


“Many of us (party members) who left to Nnamani’s home to receive Mbah were surprised to hear that he was already on his way to Enugu. From then many started to suspect that all was not well” another source revealed.


Why Chimaroke is uncomfortable with Sullivan, Mbah Alliance


Although Chimaroke singlehandedly made Sullivan Chime, who was his Special Adviser, Legal and later the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, governor, they fell out soon after the election.


Even before he was sworn in, Chime was said to have told banks and permanent secretaries not to honour any further directive for financial expenditures and releases until he was sworn in.


Also whereas it was agreed that Dan Shere would be nominated the minister for Enugu State, Chime was said to have reneged and nominated Fidelia Njeze instead, causing serious friction between him and his former boss, Nnamani.


On assumption of office, Chime cleared out many of the Ebeano surrogates and appointed many non-career politicians to man the government.


He made veiled statements on this while endorsing Dr. Mbah at the weekend.


“All the contestants - Edeoga for Labour, Frank Nweke for APGA, and all the contestants, and even that of APC, Uche Nnaji, all played a role under Chimaroke Nnamani. We were all part of the Ebeano Family because from 1999 to 2007, it was like there was no other political party in Enugu. The governor then chose to have everybody answer Ebeano so almost everybody that held public office in Enugu State, including me was part of the Ebeano family.


“But just like Mbah rightly said, once you take your oath of office; once you say, 'so help me God', it's your business, not Ebeano.


"If you were here from 2007 to 2015, I'm sure you would remember that you never heard about Ebeano. We decided it was PDP all the way. I told them during my administration that the government is not about Ebeano; that we can do that during politics and politicking, but during governance, Ebeano should disappear. That was what we did. And I am sure that's what Peter Mbah will do. So, I don't see Dr. Mbah coming up with one funny name. I don't also see him putting Enugu in the hands of God. By the Grace of God, if Mbah becomes the Governor of Enugu State, politics will disappear, governance will begin, and the process of rebuilding Enugu State from where I left it will start”, Chime said.


Nnamani is, however, angered and feel threatened by the statements. He was said to have described Mbah and Chime as rebels and swore to teach them some political lessons. Our sources quoted Nnamani as saying that although he always knew Mbah to be independent minded, his association with Chime makes Mbah’s case a hopeless one.

Asiri ochia

If Chimaroke the killer of Oyibo Chukwu endorse Mbah, then forget Mbah is a goner.

Chimaroke will be held accountable for killing Oyibo Chukwu after elections, when his senatorial ambition falls with a very big thud on the ground.

ENUGU is LP through and through, but if Frank Nweke of APGA wins the Guber I will be more elated. The battle is between APGA and LP. PDP and APC are not in the picture.

See how Sullivan made Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi's 8yrs inconsequential.....mennnn Ugwuanyi is a big disappointment.