2015: ABIA GUBER RACE NOT FOR IHEJIRIKA, NWOGU
Posted by Stephen Uka | 10 years ago | 4,250 times
Some political groups in Abia State, have asked the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and the Senate Committee Chairman on Oil and Gas, Senator Nkechi Nwogu, to shelve their rumoured gubernatorial ambitions.
Coalition of Abia Professionals in a statement issued in Umuahia, argued that Ihejirika’s participation in the governorship race would disrupt the political equilibrium in the state.
According to the statement by their Chairman, Kelechi Onwudinjo, they contended that the retired General who hails from Abia North that had ruled Abia for eight years should show respect for Abia Charter of Equity which recommends power rotation among the senatorial districts.
The group also posited that “it would be self- lowering, divisive, and unpatriotic ” for Ihejirika to heed various self-seeking individuals and groups urging him to join the race, arguing that “a man who is being looked upon as a statesman with national and international connections could become a stool in destabilizing the political equilibrium of Abia state”.
It said Ihejiika should rather use his links to look for federal appointments or vie for national offices where he “is eminently qualified”.
The group said its respect for the ex-Army Chief would take a dive if he eventually “accedes the calls by sycophants to join the race in gross violation of Abia Charter of Equity “.
Similarly, Ukwa/Ngwa Interest Group has argued that Senator Nwogu’s participation in the 2015 governorship race would amount to injustice against Ukwa/ Ngwa extraction of Abia South .
Speaking exclusively with The PUNCH in Umuahia, National Chairman of the group, Comrade Okey Nwankwo, contended that since the incumbent Gov. Theodore Orji hails from Abia Central, simple logic demands that Abia South should produce the next Abia Governor as Abia North had taken its turn from 1999 to 2007.
Comrade Nwankwo who comes from Isialangwa South LGA in the same Abia Central zone with Senator Nwogu (Osisioma LGA) further argued that their Ukwa/Ngwa kinsmen from Abia South should be allowed to take their turn at the seat of power in the spirit of equity and justice.
The group advised Senator Nwogu to make proper consultations with stakeholders about her political future, and shield any plans about joining the governorship race in 2015 but wait till when next it would be the turn of Abia Central to produce the Governor.
According to the Ukwa/ Ngwa interest group, since the Umuahia / Ikwuano divide of the Abia Central zone has first produced the Governor in the person of the incumbent Orji , when the zone gets another opportunity to produce the Abia Chief Executive, the Ngwa clan of the zone comprising Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South and Osisioma will then take a shot.
Ukwa/Ngwa Interest Group said Nwogu should thank her stars for having the opportunity to represent the zone at the Senate for two terms after spending four years at the lower chamber of the National Assembly amounting to 12 years cumulatively, hence the need to allow other persons a chance to prove their mettle.
The group also advised other governorship aspirants from other zones of the state to withdraw from the race as it has been ceded to Abia South in the spirit of Abia Charter of Equity which recommends rotation of power among the constituent clans in the state.
Ukwa/ Ngwa interest group vowed to fire every arsenal in its political armory to ensure the actualisation of Abia Governor of Ukwa/ Ngwa extraction come 2015, maintaining that the political bloc parades a cream of accomplished individuals who are eminently qualified to govern the state.
Readers Comments
comment(s)
No comments yet. Be the first to post comment.
