The longest-running and most successful political platform southeast of the River Niger is Ebeano. A political formation of Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani (HECON) between 1999-2003, Ebeano has produced practically all prominent political positions in the state for twenty years. No other state-wide and branded political formation comes close since the creation of states in the Igbo nation.
What is the etymology of Ebeano? The word comes from three distinct Igbo lexical items: “ebe a no” meaning “the place to be.” The term “ebeano” in Igbo lexicon now means the trendy, in vogue, or fashionable; in French, en vogue. Indeed, the Ebeano political platform is trending.
Ebeano did not die; it was diminished by an eight-year internal turbulence post-HECON’s tenure in the Lion Building. An experimental replacement branded “Total Mandate” failed before Governor Sullivan Chime (HESIC) left office. Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (HELIU) cruised on the calm waters of his new political order, the Gburugburu Doctrine, for four years (20152019) before making a beeline back to Ebeano.
It is proper to look back at the years of interesting intrigues to learn the lessons of both party discipline and political dysfunction, but this is neither the place nor the time. Ebeano has returned to PDP. HELIU has made it fashionable again and, fascinatingly, he keeps intact his Gburugburu Doctrine of inclusion of all elites with gracious rapprochement. However, the return of Ebeano is both best and bad, potentially, for the development of strong political traditions in Enugu State and the Igbo country in general.
First, the best: Ebeano has produced all the two-term governors of Enugu State since 1999, a senate president, the longest-lasting DSP, virtually all the Senate and House or Representative members, almost all members of the House of Assembly, and arguably all the chairs of local government administrations and their councillors. The only exceptions that jump to view are the 1999 member of the house from Oji River, Hon. Uche Anya (APP), and Senator Hyde Onuaguluchi (APP), who did not serve out a term for Enugu West.
Like him or loath him, the triumphs of HECON with Ebeano are substantial. Ebeano is a marvellous move that reveals the great things possible with politics. With disciplined and focused political platforms, politicians can do great good with the enormous powers that politics provides. The power is in the hands of voters; and it should be given to disciplined and functional platforms. Those who think that they can disrespect the people should be reminded of the clay that made them gods!
Second, the bad: As a successful political powerhouse that dwarfs others, Ebeano deserves all due respect. However, it may suck the air out of the political lungs of focussed and organized opposition, which is healthy for development. In Enugu State, where the opposition has not been successful, the renaissance of Ebeano means that the political fortunes of those outside the forum will weaken. In the absence of an organized opposition, radical rudeness becomes the norm, as we see on social media.
This is an issue for Ebeano to address, if only to avoid the internal intrigues of the past. Without a vibrant membership with the freedom to think outside the box or, even better, without a vibrant opposition platform willing and able to bring out the best in Ebeano, Enugu State will lose… head or tail. The solution is in learning from mistakes of the past, fostering the politics of ideas, and delivering the dividends of democracy. On the flipside, we should avoid backstabbing blackmails, insidious intrigues, and pathetic, petty politics of personal destruction.
Ebeano is still breathing because HECON did not walk away. However, the book on the renaissance of Ebeano is on the table of the current leader (HELIU). His no-victor-no-vanquished visage among the political elites appears to have birthed a winner in Senator Chimaroke Nnamani (HECON), the head honcho and capo di tutti capi of Ebeano political dynasty. Slowly, HELIU did the impossible in reconciling almost all political products of Ebeano. Thus, HELIU created an ample space for HECON to ease back in and now crown him the leader of Ebeano!
Like a lion unleashed, HECON has taken on the national stage with his celebrated cerebral sharpness on matters of national importance. Just when everyone was bowing to Senator Ike Ekweremadu (DSP), the primus inter pares and the longest serving de jure deputy senate president and mostly de facto senate president, HECON enters with an amazing whiff of sweet breeze and looks set to deliver on his potful of legislative agenda. As we say, “Ya kpotuwa: Enugu nwere mmadu!”
The renaissance of Ebeano is not without some shady spots, on which some lights will shine in the coming months. First, Chime (HESIC) is still chilling in the ruling APC. With HELIU’s Gburugburu Doctrine, a path of return to the fold is open. Unless Enugu State APC takes a sudden miraculous turn to the path to progress (unlikely with President Buhari in Aso Villa), or a new political order emerges, there is no immediate threat of overtaking Ebeano in Enugu State.
Another shaded spot is DSP Ekweremadu; he presents many moving parts. Take two: 1. The shambolic send-off of politically weak Senator Gill Nnaji, and 2. Ekweremadu’s bid for the 4th DSP slot, long after HECON had voiced his bipartisan support for APC’s Orji Uzor Kalu. The gist here is simple: DSP may be carving a trajectory that no longer coincides with the Ebeano new boulevard. His decision not to re-contest the Enugu West senatorial seat speaks volumes, especially when no one is a credible threat.
Whatever the outcome of the Ninth Senate, Enugu State cannot complain of not having a powerful delegation. The apparent loose link is Senator Chuka Utazi (Enugu North): He should make up for what he lacks in political celebrity in the national media by delivering notable dividends before the certain end of his two-term Senate run in 2023.
The next months are pregnant with interesting intrigues. Some shenanigans are bound to emerge. Out of the turmoil, we could have in the Tenth Senate all the former governors of Enugu State: HECON, HESIC, and HELIU! The path may be turbulent, but the calm after the storm will be a testimony to the wisdom of the renaissance of Ebeano. In addition to this possibility, Ekweremadu (the Distinguished Senator of the PeopleDSP)) may provide an icing on the cake to crown the double-dozen years of Ebeano successful run in state-wide and national political offices with a bid for a national elective office.
Happy Renaissance, Ebeano!
Many, many more moons.
THE ECHO 