By ,Chief Eneukwu Nicholas (Ezeudo 1 of Obinagu udi )
When the All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed in 2013 through the merger of several political parties, all the key leaders were carried along to ensure that every interest was represented.
During that period, Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu was made the Interim National Welfare Secretary, and he began the work with His Excellency, Chief Bisi Akande. At that time, Chief Julius Nyerere of Abia State was the National Interim Vice Chairman of the party in the South East zone, while Chief George Muoghalu was the National Interim Auditor.
It should be recalled that APC was then treated like a leprosy in the South East, where anyone who mentioned the name was seen as having committed blasphemy. Leaders such as Osita Okechukwu, Late Sen. Okey Ezea, Dr. Ben Nwoye, Gen. Joe Okoloagu, among others, struggled to sell the APC message to the people of Enugu. It was called a Boko Haram party, a party for people without vision, a party of killers, and a party of evil men.
It was very difficult to find candidates willing to run for elections in Enugu State. The then South East leader of the party, His Excellency Owelle Rochas Anayochukwu Okorocha, made several efforts to move the party forward. Other areas in Enugu produced candidates through sacrifice, except Enugu West Senatorial District. Seeing the situation, Owelle Rochas asked Chief Eneukwu to run for the vacant Senate seat, but he declined. He did not want to take that risk for the party. Rochas made the same request to Chief Nyerere in Abia State, and he agreed to run as the party’s governorship candidate.
When Chief Nyerere left his office to pursue the governorship race, Chief Eneukwu began lobbying for that position instead of focusing on the vacant Enugu West senatorial seat. It took the strong effort and sacrifice of Chief Onyemucheya Nnamani to persuade his close associate, Chief Phil Ezeh, to run so that the party could remain active, and this happened after the party primaries.
At the same time, there was no one willing to run for Senate in Enugu East Senatorial Zone because those who had shown interest disappeared. Dr. Ben Nwoye was asked by the National Working Committee of the party to take up the challenge and run for the election. He spent his time, energy, and personal resources and even risked his life to keep the party active. During that period, he traveled round major cities putting up APC billboards that were destroyed the next day, yet he continued until after the election.
Seeing that Chief Nyerere was committed to his governorship ambition, Chief Eneukwu began lobbying South East leaders such as Late Ogbonnaya Onu and Sen. Chris Ngige to support his bid to become the Zonal Vice Chairman of the party in the South East.
When Sen. Adams Oshiomhole became the National Chairman, Chief Eneukwu served under him until the committee was dissolved after two years. In 2021, Chief Eneukwu contested for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party and won. He has remained in that position since then. This means he has spent about thirteen years as a member of the National Working Committee of APC. He began this work during the administration of His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho Chime, continued during the tenure of His Excellency Rt. Hon. Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and has now served three years under the leadership of Governor Peter Ndubisi Mbah.
Looking at the history of his service, he has worked under seven National Chairmen of APC. They include His Excellency Bisi Akande, His Excellency John Odigie-Oyegun, His Excellency Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, His Excellency Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, His Excellency Umar Musa Ganduje, Hon. Ali Bukar Dalori, and currently Professor Nentawe Yilwatda. If allowed ,he might be eyeing the National Auditor or even youth leader just to remain at the helm of affairs of the party that is why ,this is the best time for him to come back home .
For many years he has remained in the national structure of the party, leaving his home base in Enugu because then we believed that politics requires energy, patience, and constant travel. So, after more than a decade in national leadership, it is wise to call on him to return home and reconnect with his political base. The people of Enugu do not know him, but he has benefited immensely from the party without much sacrifice for the grassroots. Therefore, coming home would allow him to contribute more directly to local politics, guide younger party members, and help strengthen the party structure in the state, especially now that APC has become the ruling party in Enugu.
Chief Eneukwu’s experience in national leadership, as an elder, can help build unity and encourage new leaders who are willing to serve to learn under him. He can also help resolve internal disagreements and promote cooperation among party members in Enugu State, especially in his local government, Udi.
With Chief Eneukwu’s knowledge of the party’s history and internal processes, he can support the growth of APC at the grassroots level, something that he has not done since the inception of the party.
Historically, many political leaders eventually return home to guide the next generation after years of service at the national level, and this is the right time for Chief Emmanuel Eneukwu to come home and rest, having taken record as the longest serving NWC member of APC .
