By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
Professor Ene Nwa Nnaji James, an academic and education administrator from Akpugo in Nkanu West LGA, has declared his intention to contest for governor of Enugu State, under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). He said the state has not lived up to its historical status and needs “a fresh person” to deliver real governance.
His party conducted primary elections recently and, according to the media reports, Ene Nwannaji was said to win the elections.
Speaking during a media interaction, James said he has no advice for the national executives of the NDC at this time. “They are gentlemen, they are experienced politicians, they know what is right, they are into the system,” he stated, expressing confidence that they will act in the best interest of the party and Nigerians.
The professor argued that Enugu State should not be struggling with basic challenges. He noted that Enugu has served as capital of the Eastern Region, East Central State, Anambra State, and now Enugu State, and should therefore be a model. Instead, he lamented the collapse of public water infrastructure and the proliferation of boreholes with unknown geological implications.
James recalled his background in community leadership. He said he once served as secretary of the Enugu State General Assembly in Abuja and is currently Vice President of the body. The President General, he added, is currently from Arkwu. These roles, he said, exposed him to the yearnings of Enugu people.
He claimed that after sensitization tours across the 17 local government areas, one message was consistent. “Let a fresh person take over this seat and let Enugu people have space to say this is our state,” he said. According to him, Enugu people want political freedom, economic liberation, and a working, result-oriented education system.
As a professor of education and proprietor of a school, James said he speaks from experience. He disclosed that 85% of his working life has been in the classroom and that he is currently National President of the National Association of Technical Educational School Proprietors of Nigeria, with his tenure expiring in 2027.
He advised Enugu voters to “practicalize their aspirations” during the primaries and beyond. James said leadership should inspire followership, and that when a family is not doing well, the focus must be on the father or mother. He described his own life as one of service, citing past roles as national and village chairman and current chairmanship of his town in SCP.
On the nature of politics, James rejected the “do or die” approach. “Anybody who sees politics as do or die is not a politician, is a transactional person,” he said. He argued that politics of service means offering oneself to be hired by the people, not investing money to reap personal benefits.
The governorship aspirant acknowledged that power ultimately belongs to God. “I am not ruling out the possibility of not winning,” he said. His role, he stressed, is to offer himself to Enugu people with the promise that if hired, he will deliver what they have never had before, and Enugu will be better for it.
James concluded by thanking the media for the opportunity to present his vision. He said Enugu people deserve governance that matches the state’s history and potential, and that his candidacy represents a push for visible change and a real political experiment that Nigerians can be proud of.
