By  Dennis Agbo

ABAKALIKI — AHEAD of the 2011 general elections in Ebonyi State, former Governor of the state and Minister of Education, Dr. Sam Egwu together with his former aides and loyalists have convened a political rally in Egwu’s palatial home at Ezzangbo, in Ebonyi.

Rally as opposition
Meanwhile, the administration of Governor Martin Elechi has interpreted the rally as an opposition to his second term ambition.

The Ezzangbo rally, which was boycotted by all serving council chairmen, Commissioners and other political office holders was attended by all the former council chairmen, Commissioners and other aides that served in Sam Egwu’s eight years administration. Other notable politicians that attended the rally, who are being accused of opposing Elechi’s government, includes presidential political adviser, Polycap Nwite, former PDP chairman in the state, Obinna Ogba among others.

Though Dr. Egwu denied that the rally was an opposition to Governor Elechi, the state Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, youth leader, Chinedu Ogah, insisted that the rally was the commencement of a coalition against Elechi’s second term, using  the attendance of the rally by  people like Polycap Nwite and Obinna Ogba to justify his position.

At the rally, Dr. Egwu urged all those who felt aggrieved in one way or the other and left PDP for other political parties to come back to the ruling party,  insisting that PDP will still maintain control of the state even beyond 2011. The Education Minister denied the allegations that all was not well between  him and his successor, Governor Elechi,  describing those peddling the rumour as political jobbers.

Egwu’s position

When confronted by newsmen shortly after the rally with the allegation, that the rally was the beginning of opposition to the Elechi government, Egwu said, “well I am happy you are here, before your  eyes and your  ears, you saw and you heard. People who served under me just came to show appreciation and for me,  it was a good thing and you can’t tell them not to come because it is a good gesture that needed to be commended.

“Though this was like an expanded gathering but they have been doing this for some time now. I actually wanted to call them myself to thank them but they said no, that they were coming.

“Those who are talking about me and the Governor are just day dreamers. Who informed them that I don’t want Elechi’s second term. What informed that opinion? You know some people are political jobbers,” he added.