By: Promise Uzoma Okoro
Saturday 8th December 2014 was a day democracy cried naked to the grave in Abia state,it was a day under the watchful eyes of Governor T.A Orji,Sen. Emma Nwaka and some PDP leaders that democracy died a natural death in Abia State.
Abia State is one among the states in Nigeria where speaking against injustice may guarant your life being at Risk,Abia has turned to a dare devil state where freedom of speech is not allowed at all,Abia is a state where no man born of a woman can dare criticise the Governor and gets a free landing,Abia is a state where the power has left the People that ought to be the rightful owners.
In 2010,Governor Thedore Orji went on air to tell the whole world that Abia State has been liberated from what he termed Mamacray where appointments are being decided by a particular woman according to the Governor. One wonders the system of Government our dear Governor has taken Abians to. With what played out on that very day at Umuahia Township Stadium,PUO was Samong the critical scholars asking where Democracy has been taken to in Abia State. I believed that it is too late to tell the governor that he failed his people because he cannot use two months to heal the injurious hearts of Abians especially those in Aba.
Since the creation of my good Abia state in 1991,there has never been a time where Zoning or a time where the seat of the governor is reserved for a particular section of the State,it has never happened, Atleast as a young political commentator I can pinpoint the fact that the seat of Abia governor has always been made opened to whoever can use the miracle of “Abians Vote for me I am the best among all” I can remember one of the radio advertorials for the former governor of Abia state it reads”ndi abia kwekatara ka OUK chiwa dika governor,which means abians has agreed for Orji uzor kalu to govern as governor. It looked awkward to some listeners but back then when i switch on my small radio I always say this man knows the tricks of a good striker.
He used it and it worked for him,even when he was about handing over,he played what I call Political almighty formula,when he left PDP and established a party and his candidate won an election,such man needs to be consulted for the JUJU he uses,a true politician is one who understand where to play short or pass a ball in Politics
Where should the next governor of Abia State come from? That Is the most talking about language as far as Abia state is concerned.will he come from Abia South, Arochukwu,Isiukwuato, Ngwaland or any other part of the state?
Ordinarily, the question of who governs the state from 2015 should not have arose for two reasons. First, it is widely believed there is an Abia Charter of Equity which stipulates how power should rotate amongst the component parts of the state. Besides, a good number of the people agree that power should rotate among the three senatorial districts. Somehow, the Abia Charter and the zoning arrangement have become a little clumsy with politicians in the state interpreting it to suit their purposes.The so called Abia Chater of Equity is there but the current Governor solely collected Abia Central Senatorial District Ticket,the so called Abia Chater of Equity was there when the Governors so Engr.Chinedu Orji soley collected Umuahia central ticket that will enable become the speaker of Abia State House of Assembly. A nonsense must be called a Nonsense
Abia, like other states in the country has three senatorial districts including Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. There are 17 local government areas shared unevenly among the three senatorial districts. Abia North consists of five local governments; Bende, Umunneochi, Arochukwu, Ohafia and Isiukwuato. Abia Central has Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ikwuano, Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South and Osisioma Ngwa and Abia South has Aba North, Aba South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East, Ukwa West and Obingwa Local Government Areas.
The northern senatorial district had produced a governor in the person of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, who administered the state from 1999 to 2007. Kalu handed over the mantle of leadership to the incumbent, Mr Theodore Orji, who hails from the central senatorial zone.
With the incumbent governor in the last lap of his second term, not a few believe that power should go to the South, the only zone that has not produced a governor. While many people share this thinking, some political pundits in the state believe that the next governor should not emerge, based solely on the senatorial district that has not produced a governor. The Isiukwuato of Abia North shares this sentiment and as such, is making concerted plans to clinch the governorship ticket. Sources in the area argue that Abia is made up of four component parts from which initials, the name of the state was derived. According to those in this school of thought, the four parts that made up the state at its creation 23 years ago include: Afikpo, Bende, Aba and Isiukwuato. They argue that Afikpo, which is now in Ebonyi State, produced the first governor in the person of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu. Many argue that since Bende produced Dr Orji Kalu and his successor, T. A. Orji, Isiukwuato should be the next to produce the governor.
Another school of thought in the state argues that the old Abia State consists of two parts-Aba and Umuahia. This group contends that the name “Abia” was coined from the first two letters of Aba and the last two letters of Umuahia. This school strongly believes that in the interest of equity and fairness, the next governor of the state should come from Aba which is the home of Ngwa people.
Ironically, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma, though part of the Ukwa Ngwa are in Abia central senatorial district. So you see the melodrama?
On 8th December 2014,Okezie Victor Ikpeazu emerged as the PDP candidate in the area,Ikpeazu hails from Obingwa L.G.A of Abia state,many social and political critic has lashed the PDP and the Governor for rigging the President of Masters Energy Dr.Uche Ogah whoses appearance in the race rikindled the hearts of many Abians that so far called the Governor unprintable names.
In Abia today, our people are not happy with the government. The leader feels he is hated but within him, he is doing his best. His followers are not happy but really can do nothing and have accepted its their own best playing out. A lot of them feel they government can do better but are indeed helpless.
The Governor is a humble man and that remains his staying power. During the last election, every other candidate was floating except TA Orji. The Party structure of PDP helped him, cash was available and Soldiers went round for him. People voted for him and some took money, rice, fertilizer, noodles and recharge cards. They are wiser now because the damage done to our state is glaring and is felt by all.So no more sabourtage in Abia
Any candidate who will reach out deeply into the minds of people will settle the score. He must have the resources and its easier now that the Governor is not coming back .But one wonders wether Okezie Ikpeazu has the resources to pursue his candidature especially the court case over his Tax
This balkanization of Abia into Ukwa Ngwa and should I say Old Bende beat my imaginations because there has never been a time the post of governor has been reserved for a particular section of Abia people. In 1991, Ogbonnaya Onu contested with a candidate from Ukwa Ngwa in NRC and beat him to disgrace in the primaries before squaring with Chief Sam Eke of SDP and beat him . OUK contested with other candidates of Ukwa Ngwa extraction such as Wachukwu and others before emerging as PDP’s flagbearer and then faced Vincent Ogbulafor of ANPP.
In 2003 Enyinnaya Abaribe contested the governor’s seat as ANPP flagbearer and lost to Orji Uzor Kalu. In 2007 Ngwa people again contested with T.A orji who had defected to Progressive peoples alliance PPA. Ukwa/Ngwa people contested in PDP and other parties during the primaries and lost to Chief Onyema Ugochukwu of the PDP .An Ukwa Ngwa man was the guberitarian candidate for APP. In 2011, An Ngwa man was the guberitarain candidate of Defunct Action Congress of Nigeria CAN, Another Ngwa man represented PPA .Another contested under APP. Another Ngwa man led in APGA .All lost to Chief T.a ORJI . Alex Oti who is the candidate of APGA has been seen as the man, likely favoured by the people of Abians,this was showed when the Governor of Abia State and the PDP candidate Ikpeazue were reportedly pelted with bottle waters at Christ the King cathedral Aba during the Burail of the late Catholic Bishop of Aba last two weeks.
Let Ukwa Ngwa people go and think,consult Ogbonnaya Onu of Ebonyi State,Tinubi of Lagos and Orji uzor kalu of Abia,after then,they should come out with their blueprints of how to contest and win a governorship election and not be encumbered with “2015 is UKWA/NGWA turn” uses and grafitation theory in communication can help them a bit.
I have always maintained that 2015 will be a unique year,thanks to INEC because rigging is no longer an option in Abia State else the masses will march against the Governor
Ukwa/Ngwa people,I have a question,Are you saying that Chikwe Udensi of the PPA,Alex Oti of Apga should step down because an anoited servant is on a throne that has a K-LEG?
The greatest mistake Pdp made in Abia state was allowing those who contributed to RAPE democracy in Abia state to perfect their evil plans. River State is a close state to evaluate,the outgoing Governor of the State Chibuike Amaechi comes from Ikwerre Zone of the state while the Man holding the PDP ticket Barr.Wike also comes from same Zone. If the PDP national Chairman Adamu Muazu can boldly tell Rivers People that Wike is on course,then while is Abia a state where white becomes Black?
Promise Uzoma Okoro
Blogger,Social media critic and Political Analyst
