By Hon. Barr. Fraben Agwu; JP.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A statesman is a political leader who rises above narrow partisan, clan, or tribal considerations in the discharge of public duty. He is not merely a politician driven by electoral advantage or sectional loyalty, but a custodian of fairness, equity, and long-term social stability. A statesman consciously injects morality into politics, even when the political environment tolerates expediency over ethics. He is willing to endure criticism from allies if necessary, in order to advance justice, inclusivity, and balanced representation. Above all, he governs with an eye on future generations, ensuring that no group is structurally excluded from the political community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the context of Nkanu politics, statesmanship may be understood more concretely as the deliberate effort to dismantle historical patterns of exclusion and to ensure that all identifiable community blocs\u2014particularly the Odenigbo segment and other previously marginalized groups\u2014are meaningfully integrated into governance and political representation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially when during the past PDP nomination exercise of 2023 none of the electoral tickets from Senate, House of representative and eight House of Assembly seats were alloted to the Odenigbos, and even now as an Nkanu Governor he has the ultimate power to repeat such total ticket denial to Odenigbos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it is against this backdrop that the recent political actions of Governor of Enugu State deserve objective reflection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following his strategic political alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government, there were earlier appeals and engagements urging him to deepen inclusivity in Nkanu governance by ensuring that all family and community blocs feel a genuine sense of belonging in the political structure of the state. These engagements consistently emphasized the need to address perceived patterns of polarization and unequal access to political opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At engagement meeting with the Stakeholders of Enugu South at the Government House in February, 2026, the Governor was again confronted by our organisation with concerns about political polarization within Nkanu. In response he acknowledged these concerns and gave assurances that deliberate steps would be taken to reduce perceptions and realities of exclusion, and to strengthen unity across community lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the 4th of May, 2026, the Governor took what many observers have described as a significant and unprecedented step in the political history of Nkanu. In the distribution of party nominations for National Assembly, State Assembly, and related elective positions, there was a more visibly balanced consideration of the different community blocs within Nkanu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike previous electoral cycles where one dominant pattern of selection appeared to exclude certain groups\u2014particularly segments of the Odenigbo population\u2014this new arrangement reflected a broader distribution of political opportunities. Notably, Odenigbo representation was included in both Senate ( Distinguished Senator Kevin Chukwu for the Senate) and House of Representative( Hon. Chimaobi Atu for Enugu North \/ South Federal Constituency) tickets, as well as multiple seats in the State House of Assembly. This development has been widely interpreted as a shift toward greater political inclusion and equity within the Nkanu political structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some stakeholders describe this as a politically sensitive adjustment, others regard it as a necessary correction that helps restore a sense of belonging across all segments of Nkanu. In that sense, it can be described as a form of \u201cpositive political disruption\u201d\u2014one that strengthens unity by addressing long-standing grievances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, statesmanship does not end at the level of party nominations or higher elective offices. The next critical frontier is governance at the grassroots level, particularly the local government system, where political exclusion is often most deeply felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is therefore important to encourage the Governor to extend this principle of fairness and inclusion to the forthcoming local government chairmanship arrangements. A deliberate effort to ensure equitable distribution of Chairmanship and Councillorship positions across communities would further consolidate trust and reduce long-standing perceptions of marginalization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this regard, special attention has been drawn to communities such as Akwuke, which, according to longstanding political history since 1992 when Enugu South Local Government was established with the Community as one of the four foundational Communities, has not produced a Local Government Chairman in Enugu South, nor held comparable state or federal appointments such as Commissioner or Board Chairmanship positions. This historical pattern of exclusion, whether perceived or structural, continues to generate feelings of political isolation and exclusion within that community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing such disparities this time also would not only strengthen equity but also reinforce the legitimacy of governance in Enugu State obliterate the perception of segregation in the minds of every Odenigbo. Truly inclusion at this level is not merely symbolic\u2014it is foundational to sustainable peace, loyalty, and political stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In conclusion, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah\u2019s recent actions have been received by many stakeholders across divides as an expression of statesmanship in its practical sense: the willingness to balance political power with fairness, even when easier partisan alternatives exist. It reflects a leadership style that seeks to unify rather than divide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our organization commends this direction and expresses optimism that, if sustained and extended to all tiers of governance, it will further strengthen cohesion within Nkanu and Enugu State at large. We also express confidence that such inclusive leadership will translate into broad-based support and continued political stability as the state moves toward future electoral cycles, including 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
True statesmanship is not measured by political victory alone, but by the number of communities that feel seen, heard, and included in the life of governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(Hon. Barrister Fraben Agwu, JP, Legal practitioner, former Enugu State House of Assembly member is Executive Director,
Centre For Elimination of Racial Discrimination and Segregation Practices in Nigeria (CERDSPIN).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Hon. Barr. Fraben Agwu; JP. A statesman is a political leader who rises above<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,4,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features","category-south-east-news","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n
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