Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said that justice, equity and political stability all support the emergence of the next Governor of Abia State from the Isiala Ngwa area of Abia Central Senatorial District.
The Governor made this assertion on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the representatives of the leaders of the people of Isiala Ngwa North LGA led by the Chairman of the State Council of Traditional Rulers, Hrm Eze Joseph Nwabeke at the Governor’s Lodge Aba.
Governor Ikpeazu said that the emergence of a Governor from the other half of Abia Central was in accordance with the spirit and letters of the Abia Charter of Equity.
According to a statement from his Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Emenaka, Ikpeazu stated that the Abia Charter of Equity was entered into in 1981 between the old Umuahia and Aba Senatorial Zones with the recognition of Isuikwuato as a District.
According to the Governor, while the old Umuahia Senatorial Zone represents the entire old Bende of today covering the entire Abia North Senatorial District and the Umuahia half of Abia Central, the old Aba Senatorial Zone represents the entire Old Aba Division covering today’s Abia South Senatorial District and the Ngwa half of Abia Central.
The Governor noted that while the old Umuahia Senatorial Zone has produced two consecutive Governors spanning 16 straight years, the old Aba Senatorial Zone is just about completing their initial 8 years, and as such it is only just for the old Aba Zone to take another shot at the Governorship seat to bring it at par with their brothers from old Umuahia zone, adding that the choice of a running mate from the old Isuikwuato District which is today’s Isuikwuato and Umunneochi LGAs puts the Abia Charter of Equity in full swing.
Governor Ikpeazu noted that the election of his successor from Isiala Ngwa in 2023 will pave the way for the completion of the full swing of the Charter of Equity allowing the rotation to commence again from Abia North, thereby giving every known section of the State a proper sense of belonging.
He stated that the choice of Professor Uche Ikonne was as a result of his proven track record of experience in administration and public service, and tasked the people of Isiala Ngwa North LGA to seize this great historical opportunity, expressing confidence in the ability of Professor Ikonne to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Abia State.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu also explained that while Osisioma Ngwa LGA was part of Abia Central, it was impracticable and unjust for his successor to come from Osisioma Ngwa because Osisioma Ngwa and Obingwa are in the same Federal Constituency.
According to him, getting his successor from Osisioma Ngwa is akin to getting his successor from Obingwa, his own Local Government.
The Governor said that no other equation will justly provide an equitable explanation to the question of management of power rotation in the State and appealed to the people of Abia State to elect Professor Ikonne as the next Governor of Abia State.
He thanked the people of Isiala Ngwa North LGA for their consistent support to his administration assuring them that he has enjoyed the unparalleled support of their sons and daughters who work with him in his Government.
