Godwin Kingsley, Lafia As 2015 elections draw closer, there is absolute division in the house of the Eggon nation on the candidate to feature in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Nasarawa State.
The Eggons who are believed to be the largest ethnic group in the state have not had the opportunity to govern the state since its creation in 1996, hence, believes ‘it is our time’ to stir the ship of the state.
Apparently, the battle for the consensus of the Eggon candidacy lies between Solomon Ewuga, Senator representing Nasarawa North at the National Assembly and Labaran Maku, Minister of the Federal Ministry of information, in view of the fact that the duo are in the same party and axiomatically the strongest opposition party in the state.
On Monday October 6, Eggon stakeholders for the Actualization of Eggon Candidates 2015, came out to publicly endorse Senator Solomon Ewuga as their consensus candidates in the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).
Dogara Angbo, a representative of the group told newsmen at a joint Press conference that the decision came as a result of previously failed attempts by the Eggon nation to produce a governor saying it was as a result of selfish political interest by some of its kinsmen.
He noted that already, four Eggon sons, Labaran Maku (PDP), Solomon Ewuga(PDP), Matthew Ombugaku (APGA), and Dr. James Angbazu(APC) have already indicated interest to run for the office of the governor.
This, according to him, was viewed by the Eggons people as unhealthy hence a committee was set up to redress it.
Dogara explained that “after painstakingly analysing their responses vis-a-vis the extent of general acceptance, popularity and allied perimeters. The committee called on the Eggon people to support the aspiration of the Matthew Ombugaku in APGA and Senator Solomon Ewuga in PDP, in their quest to participate and hopefully win their primary tickets.
He however, vowed that should Labaran Maku defy the orders of the Elders, he would be disgraced.
Earlier at the Joint Press Conference, the Solomon Ewuga Youth Solidarity Forum led by its Director Abel Samuel threw their weight behind the senator describing him as amiable, charismatic, caring, decisive and eloquent.
According to the director, Ewuga is an impressive leader with a straight talking disposition that has no truck for undue grandstanding adding that the senator has built an enviable reputation as a veteran politician.
Abel added that “with public service record spanning over three decades during which he was Deputy Governor, Solomon Ewuga extraordinarily has not engaged in corrupt practices and has not been found guilty of immoral acts in the course of his duty, hence his public service career is intact and untainted.
He urged all and sundry to support Ewuga’s gubernatorial ambition to bring back the hope of the people philosophizing ‘ our time has come’.
“Our time has come. Our time has come. Suffering breeds character, character breeds faith, in the end of faith will not disappoint. Our time has come, our faith, hope and dreams will prevail. Our time has come. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
“Our time has come. No grave can hold our body down. Our time has come. Give Solomon Ewuga your time and huddled masses that yearn for education and property who will yearn for justice equality, which yearn for peace and democracy come 2015. There will be a change
because of time has come,” he philosophized.
Abel however, appealed to indigenes and inhabitants of the state to get registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and their voters card to enable them vote Ewuga as governor come 2015.
The endorsement of Solomon Ewuga however, trailed a swift reaction from the Eggon Political Elders Forum describing the statement as baseless and bias.
Musa Ayas, a former Chairman of Nasarawa Eggon Local Government and the leader of the group in a press statement posited that Dogara Angbo lacks the mandate to represent the views of the Eggons on any matter.
According to Ayas, “we were the ones who worked for Senator Solomon Ewuga in the past. But his political inconsistency and constant migration from one party to another has caused the Eggon people so much destruction and suffering in the state. We have therefore resolved overwhelmingly to work for His Excellency Labaran Maku (CON) whose consistency, vision and leadership qualities have endeared him to the Eggon people and a cross section of the people of Nasarawa State”.
He explained that the Hon. Minister of Information has come a long way and has risen through patience and performance at the local, state and national levels to be the most widely acceptable Eggon son in the race for governorship in 2015.
Ayas postulated that “no amount of hired attacks on Mr. Maku by miscreants such as Dogara Angbo and one or two persons who have since lost relevance in our community can turn the tide of support Mr. Maku now enjoys”.
Ayas continued saying “yesterday is not today. We all used to follow Ewuga, but the situation has since changed. Everyone have their seasons; this season is for Mr. Maku, the most accepted aspirant for 2015 governorship race. The best Senator Ewuga and his group who just returned from APC to PDP a few months ago can do is to support Mr. Maku”.
He posited out of frustration and desperation, Angbo and his sponsors deliberately ignored the fact that the Eggon political leaders from the three senatorial zones recently came out and announced Mr. Maku as their candidate for the governorship of Nasarawa State in 2015.
He noted that” Maku does not seek for an ethnic mandate. He is presenting himself to the entire people of Nasarawa State, as a true and faithful leader ready to serve, regardless of religion or tribe as a change agent who will return the state to the path of peace, unity and prosperity”.
He appealed to the people of the state “to ignore the worthless utterances and posturing of Dogara Anbgo, who lacks the visibility and credibility to speak for the Eggon people or any group of people for that matter in Nasarawa State”.
