Abia 2015: Ukwa/Ngwa people and leaders back Okezie Ikpeazu

Posted by admin | 9 years ago | 3,895 times



The people and leaders of Ukwa and Ngwa people of Abia State today invaded Umuahia in a massive show of solidarity and support for the governorship aspiration of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu.

As early as 8am, many Abians from mainly the South senatorial area had arrived the Abia state capital in preparation for the match tagged one million man march for Okezie Ikpeazu. The charged and excited crowd made up of people from all works of life marched to the government house Umuahia to meet the Governor of Abia State, Ochendo T. A. Orji to demand support for their son and inform the governor of their decision to support him as the consensus candidate from the area.

Among those present were Elder Emma Adaelu, Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara, DanGov,St Moses, Elder Chibuike Nwokeukwu & other notable Ukwa Ngwa leaders.

In his address at the government house, prominent Ngwa leader and statesman, Elder Emma Adaelu, said "after extensive consultations and deliberation,we have selected Dr Okezie Ikpeazu out of all the aspirants running for the guber position from Ukwa/Ngwa as our candidate come 2015. All facets of our people,comprising youths,elders and the traditional rulers have endorsed him as our governor to be. We hereby present him to you officially as our consensus candidate for the job. That is the reason we embarked on the one million man march from Aba to Umuahia. Today marks a turning point in the history of our people. We have fought unsuccessfully for this position in the past and you have made our dreams materialize. We appreciate you for standing by your words. From this moment,we no longer support any other aspirant from our zone for the governorship position"

In his address,  former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara told the Governor that "as a son of Abia South, I align myself with Elder Adaelu's comments. It is totally untrue the rumours going round that you have foisted Dr Ikpeazu on us but rather we, Ukwa/Ngwa people have found him worthy to be entrusted for the position. Come 2015, you will be handing over to a Ph.d holder. We commend you for resisting pressures from money bags to rescind the decision to zone power to Abia South. I also want to point out here that I am in the guber race by virtue of my brother, Marc Wabara who is vying for the same position but politics is no mathematics. So please accept our plea that Okezie Ikpeazu be made our consensus candidate."

In his response, Governor Orji said: "Zoning is not peculiar to Abia state, It is currently going on in other states in the south-east and beyond. It is in the interest of equity and fairness and for peace to reign. The party has spoken but it behoves on you to be united and faithful in this assignment which is achievable. If you fight amongst yourself, it is at your own peril. Ikpeazu is not new to me, I know his antecedents.You have made him the man of the moment. Now that you have chosen him from amongst the various aspirants from your zone, remember that he has to pass through the party primaries. some of you here will be delegates in the forthcoming primaries, stand by him and do not betray him on that day."

It will be recalled that the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State led by Senator Emma Nwaka zoned the Governorship slot to Abia South senatorial district in recognition of the fact that the other two zones have previously produced Abia governor. Other aspirants from the zone include Marc Wabara, Acho Nwakanma, Amb Okey Emuchay, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Chief Emeka Wogu. Other south east states including Enugu and Ebonyi are also pushing for candidates from zones yet to produce governors of the states since 1999. Anambra State have already elected Willie Obiano from the north senatorial zone, thereby ensuring equity.


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