As the battle for who occupies the Abia State seat of power in 2023 gathers momentum, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said that decisions on his choice of successor would not be based on primodial ethnic sentiments but rather on “what is fit and proper for the Abia populace”.
Governor Ikpeazu who stated this during a meeting held with the PDP executives in all the Wards and LGAs as well as the State Working Committee at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia opined that, decisions placed on the plank of ethnicity are not sustainable but breed contempt and disunity.
He noted that the decision on who would be the Peoples’ Democractic Party (PDP) flagbearer in 2023 would be done in consultation with the stakeholders of the party.
The Governor further disclosed that he has been holding discussions and consultations with party stakeholders in the state, including his immediate predecessor to fashion out the way forward for the party ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
“A party leader has the right to express his views and feelings and the challenge of leadership in the 21st century is that if you occupy the kind of position that i occupy, you should have the maturity to listen to those you are leading but the decision resides squarely with you (the people).
“What i want to say is that my duty is to give directions but i intend to work with you. I don’t want the decision about who will lead Abia after my tenure to be decided without the party. I want us all to be part of it.
The Governor directed the party leadership to immediately name the members of the PDP Elders Committee Council as well as conduct an in-depth analysis with a view to coming up with an acceptable candidate that would appeal to all sections of the State and maintained that once the committee advises him , he would make a statement on issues concerning his successor.
On the perceived acrimony between him and his immediate predecessor Ikpeazu said; “there is no quarrel, there is no disagreement. Those who are expecting tables to break are already disappointed because the table is even stronger haven been fortified with iron.
“There is no confusion about who is the leader of the party in Abia State today. There is also no confusion about what we need to do towards our election in 2023. The role everybody has to play is clearly cut out by the status and constitution of our party”.
He charged party faithfuls to moderate their comments so as not to destroy what they have laboured to build but rather to remain vigilant and work hard in addition to sensitizing the grassroots on the need to obtain their Permanent Voter’s Card.
Governor Ikpeazu assured of his preparedness to providing every tool required by the party to win the forthcoming elections in the State and also pledged to deploy everything at his disposal to ensure that Abia remains stable and one united entity.
Earlier, the PDP State Chairman, Dr. Asiforo Okere urged the Governor to allow the party advise him on issues concerning all elective positions, especially that of the governorship position.He thanked the Governor for convening the meeting while assuring the party faithful that they would be carried along and given a sense of belonging.
The meeting which was attended by the Deputy Governor Sir Ude Oko Chukwu and members of the State Executive Council among others also witnessed the passsing of a vote of confidence on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, while the PDP Elders Committee Council was also named with Chief Tony Ukasonya as Chairman and Chief Emmanuel Ibegbulam as Secretary.
