Cry, the Beloved Enugu

By Ikenna Ugwuoke

In 1948, Alan Paton, South Africa’s anti-Apartheid activist, wrote the novel, “Cry, the Beloved Country.” The book offers a prescient insight into the coming darkness that Apartheid would bring upon South Africa. A highly referenced book, it was later turned into a motion picture with a musical adaptation running on Broadway for almost one year.

Paton’s prophetic title lends itself easily to efforts to capture the catastrophe that is about to overwhelm my beloved Enugu State. Enugu of the somnolent hills. Enugu of the exotic delicacies; of memories exhumed from tree-lined streets. Enugu of nostalgia wrought in anguish, of innocence and disarming simplicity. Enugu that was adjudged one of the 100 Most Resilient Cities in the world by the Rockefeller Foundation barely eight years ago.

Well, eight years is a long time in the life of a city. Isn’t it? At least it’s long enough for Enugu to lose all its glory. And now, the city where the first rain of the season washes the leaves clean of their red garment of dust for new buds to sprout has been splattered all over with the red blood of its peaceful residents. Just the other day, a pregnant woman was slain by gunmen at New Market. Her body lay lifeless beside the historic sculpture that stands in memory of the 21 coal miners gunned down by the colonial authorities in 1949. That incident marked Nigeria’s first organized resistance to colonial rule and provided an edge to the growing agitation for independence. The dead woman’s wide open eyes stared quizzically up in an eyeballing contest with the skies in a manner that seemed as though she was asking God how a state that makes a song and dance of being in the hands of God could have gone to the dogs. Will her death spark off a chain of events that will drag down the indifferent PDP led government in Enugu?

When the eyes of the innocent dead accuse the living of indifference to their murder, the heavens usually take the matter in their own hands.  No wonder why, in a sudden twist of fate, PDP is thrashing about in the throes of its final moments in Enugu. They didn’t see it coming, but it is here already. For when the Spirit of God left Saul, the Lord sent him a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear. The Lion Building, as the Enugu State house is known, is tormented by a deadlier spirit than the one that afflicted Saul. It is obvious that they have been sent “a strong delusion that they should believe a lie.” Yes, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi is living a lie!

And that is why fate has conspired to put PDP in certifiable apoplexy. At the moment, the party is in paroxysms of pain inflicted by Chika Idoko’s court case that has taken the steam off its campaign efforts? Almost overnight, PDP has fallen off its high horse. Their cocky claim that “tomorrow is here” has turned ashen in their mouths as uncertainty and doubt swaddle the political climate of Enugu. Their narcissistic swag has become ungainly steps. The panic attacks created by Idoko’s case has left Gburugburu aghast and Peter Mbah gasping for air. Today, he moves around without the usual mien of a conqueror, surveying a fallen territory. He has been taught humility. He has been reminded not to occupy the seat of power until votes are cast in his favour. In the aftermath, Idoko who was considered a middle-of-the-road politician has gained tremendous political weight overnight. All of a sudden, Enugu voters are looking in the direction of Labour Party. That is the X-factor in the affairs of men. It resides only with God.

And that also is why the governor of Enugu State, the former capital of the old Eastern Region which consisted of today’s South East and South South minus Delta and Edo States would turn himself into a bag-carrier for a fellow governor; grinning sheepishly like a dull school kid in uniforms handed out by the senior prefect?  Indeed, as one fated to end up in the pigsty of history, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the modern Nero fiddles while Rome burns.  He junkets from Port Harcourt to Umuahia, Makurdi and London while death stalks Enugu like a passionate sniper, snuffing lives out in a gale of insecurity never seen before in these parts. From Eha-Amufu to Udi, Enugu-Ezike, and Ugwuogo Nike, Ndi Enugu have perfected the art of living in the valley of the shadow of death while Ugwuanyi frolics with Wike and his G-5 comedians. Delusions!

In God’s grand design for Ndi Enugu, a new leader will emerge from the ashes of PDP’s demise to restore the glory of the Coal City State. It’s not hard to tell. Labour Party is the young David that slew Goliath of Gath to set his people free. Cry no more, my good people of Enugu State, Chijioke Edeoga is sufficiently prepared to lead Enugu to its manifest destiny. Enugu is the scriptural city on a hill; it cannot be hidden. In the past eight years, PDP tried to hide the incandescent glow of Enugu and failed. Ndi Enugu, this is our chance!