As the 2015
general election approaches, tension now brews in Enugu North Senatorial
Zone, Enugu State between two biological brothers jostling for one political
position, under the same party, to represent Nsukka/ Igbo Eze South
federal constituency in the House of Representative.
It was gathered
that the two are of one womb and natives of Echara in Nsukka local government
area. One is Kenneth Okonkwo (a.k.a Andy), the famous Nollywood actor, while
the other is Luke Okonkwo (a.k.a Aguma). The two were said to be locking
horns for the occupation of Nsukka /Igbo-Eze South federal constituency seat at
the national House of Representative under People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to
investigation, Luke, who is Kenneth’s younger brother, had first indicated interest
to vie for the seat. He had sent out his campaign posters earlier than
Kenneth and other contestants, who later advised Luke to step down for
his elder brother, Kenneth, for peace to reign in the the family.
Rumors are
however rife at the University town of Nsukka over the feud between the two
brothers. It may be of interest to know that their eldest brother, Peter
Okonkwo (Ohamadike), had severally contested the governorship election
under different political parties from 2007 without success, and
has now allegedly decided to take a shot at again in 2015 under the platform of
APC.
In a telephone
interview, the famous Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okwokwo, said there was no rift
in their family over 2015 general elections, explaining that no other person in
his family is running for election to the House of Representative apart from
him.
Kenneth said he
wants to change the face of the constituency for effective representation,
pointing out that he will not speak for any other person from a different
political party, but he remains the only one from his family that picked the
PDP form for the House of Representatives for the 2015 general elections.
Mr. George
Okonkwo, chairman, Nsukka Building Materials Union, who is also a brother to
Kenneth and Luke, said that politics is all about interest in any given
position. He confirmed it was Luke who first showed interest to contest for
election into the House of representatives under PDP.
Later, Kenneth
queued in for the same position under the same political party. According to
George, Luke has to step down for his elder brother, Kenneth, not minding that
he had distributed his posters for the 2015 race. “There is no problem in our
family in connection with the way the two showed interests; we are bounded by
one blood, one love and one interest.
Luke cannot
battle for an elective position with his elder brother. The entire family
supports the ambition of Kenneth to reposition honesty, accountability and
transparency in Nsukka /Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency,” he said.
A prominent
politician in Nsukka, Mr. Festus Omeje, said the emergence of the two brothers
from one political party sends danger signal which shows that all may not
be well in the PDP family.