The Ukwa La Ngwa Elders’ Council, have risen from its inaugural rotational general Amala meeting to resolve that come 2023, the Governorship seat would be retained in Ukwa la Ngwa, warning, that no son or daughter of the area should accept the position of Deputy governorship from any party.
Cross Section of Members Of The Elders’ Council
The five hours meeting which was held at the Isialangwa North Local Government Council, attracted stakeholders from the old Aba Bloc, the Leader of the Elders’ Council, Dr Max Nduaguibe, Deputy Leader, Rt Hon Eric Acho Nwakanma, Chief Victor Ubani, Chief Simon Eme, Rt.Hon.C O Enweremadu, Barr St Moses Ogbonna, Chief Rowland Nwosu, Hon K.O.Mgbeahuru, Chief Chinwe Nwanganga, Sir Don Ubani, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, Hon Godwin Adiele, as well as Traditional rulers, among others.
Giving his speech, the Leader of the Elders’ council, Dr Max Nduaguibe explained extensively how governance has been in Abia State since its creation.
According to him, when Abia state was carved out of the old Imo state, all the past leaders, including Military Administrators were all from old Bende.
The Leader of the group stated that the last two Governors of Abia state, before the emergence of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015,were from old Bende, and each of them took an eight years tenure, making it a total of 16 years consumed by the old Bende extraction.
Nduaguibe revealed that after the eight years tenure of the incumbent governor, Dr Ikpeazu, who happens to be from old Aba zone, the zone would retain the governorship seat for another eight years, to make up for the 16 years tenure that was consumed by the old Bende Bloc.
“Come 2023, Ukwa la Ngwa will complete its 16 years tenure”,he said.
The Leader, however, called for support from other parts of the old Aba zone to achieve the cause, adding that no Ukwa la Ngwa son or daughter, regardless of party affiliation should accept the position of a Deputy Governor from any party.
In his remark, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North
State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Ginger Onwusibe, who spoke for the host Local Government Area,Isiala Ngwa North, categorically stated that the old Aba zone do not want the deputy governorship position, stating that 36 deputy governors can not be equal to one governor.
He called all parties in Ngwa to keep up the agitation for power to remain in Ukwa la Ngwa land, adding that they should use every energy, as well as anything they could afford to drive the process of retaining power for 16 years, just like the old Bende bloc.
Onwusibe added that so far, the Governor has performed excellently, compared to other past governors in the state.
Pst Rowland Nwosu in his disposition, stated that the Ukwa la Ngwa extraction, would not hand over power to anybody that is not from the area, saying that the zone are nolonger ‘foolish majority’ as perceived before now.
“We have wise up.We are nolonger fools.We will use our wisdom to get things done well”, Nwosu said.
“Power will not leave Ukwa la Ngwa until we finish a 16 year tenure”.
In his remarks, the spokespersons for Isialanwga South, Osisioma LGA and their Ugwunnagbo canterpart, De Okey Ahuruonye, Hon Prince K.O Mgbeahuru and Hon Chinwe Nwanganga respectively, said it is fair and equitable, if the old Aba zone consumes the same number of years as the old Bende, because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
They said they would go further to their various local government areas to warn their people against going for the deputy governorship position.
However, the spokespersons added that it is fair enough, if the Umunneato is allowed to produce the next Governor of the state, pledging their full support to the cause.
The Aba South and Aba North spokespersons, Chief Simon Eme and Victor Azubuike Ubani, echoed their support for governorship to remain in Ukwa la Ngwa and for the next governorship candidate to come from either Osisioma, Isialangwa South or Isialangwa North LGAs (Umunneato)
The spokesperson for Ukwa West LGA,Sir Don Ubani, reiterated the area’s support to the Umunneato’s bid.
According to him, the Ukwa nation is 100% in support for power to remain in Ukwa la Ngwa, adding that by the virtue of equity, governorship should be zone to the Umunneato extraction of Ngwa.
Contributing, the Deputy Chairman of the Elders’ council, Rt.Hon Acho Nwakanma, stated that the meeting is apt, stating that the people should ensure the cause is structuralized first.
” Lets get our people to believe in this cause and forget for now, who will represent us.
“Our interest should be centred on this project.What can be a challenge to this move, is, if we begin to allow our self interest become paramount”.
Rt.Hon. Acho Nwakanma urged the members to harmonise others that are aggrieved and called for the youth to be carried along.
Moving forward, the Ukwa la Ngwa Elders’ council passed a vote of confidence on the Governor of the state, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, whose tenure they said deserves identification and commendation, having performed more than other past governors of the state,the council resolved that the governorship candidate should come from the Umunneato section of the old Aba zone, which comprises Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South and Osisioma LGAs, adding that no son or daughter of Ukwa la Ngwa, should accept deputy governorship position from any party and the Ukwa la Ngwa would support any political party who will give governorship ticket to their own.
In an interview, the Executive chairman of Isialangwa North LGA, Hon Chinwendu Ochulor, stated that a genuine look at the political scenario of the state right from 1999 and beyond, would show that the Ukwa la Ngwa agitation is fair.
Hon Ochulor said the people of Old Bende should ask their conscience if what the people of old Aba zone are agitating for is right.
However, he called for their support and asked the people of Ukwa la Ngwa to come together and fight for the cause ahead.
