The Abia Peoples Congress has said that the decision by Dr. Alex Otti, the labour party’s governorship candidate from Arochukwu to choose Ikechukwu Emetu from Ohafia who also shares the same Aro ancestry with him as his running mate in the 2023 Abia governorship race is akin to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
The group said that the decision is not just an insult to millions of Abians but also confirms that Alex Otti is an agent of divisive politics and exclusionism.
Ekele Nwagboso, Secretary of Abia Peoples Congress said that Alex Otti has never hidden the fact that he is a native of Arochukwu in Abia North senatorial zone and only uses Isiala Ngwa South for political conveniences.
“He built his country home which he boldly crested “NO PLACE LIKE HOME” and cannot in good conscience deny his Aro nativity. This is totally unacceptable and should be rejected by anyone who means well to the state.
“The state is made up of people who are highly qualified to be governors and deputies from the three senatorial zones and it has been the standard practice from the days of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu that once a governor comes from Old Bende the deputy should come to Ukwa/Ngwa and vice versa, but for Dr. Otti to chose someone from the same zone as himself as his running mate will rightly be likened to APC,s Muslim-Muslim ticket which has been roundly condemned by Nigerians.
“Dr. Alex Otti has not only displayed his dislike for not just the Ukwa/Ngwa people, but he has also insulted other senatorial zones by choosing a deputy governorship candidate from the same zone where he is from.
“For us, as a group, Dr. Alex Otti and his LP have lost the opportunity to compete favourably in the forthcoming election.
“Abians who mean well for the state should rise and resist this politics of exclusion to the last because we believe there is more to this than meets the eyes.
“We are concerned that Dr. Alex Otti, if allowed will institute a divisive political system that will exclude other sections of the state from participating or gaining from such a government if they eventually climb to power.
“Every sincere leader should, first of all, seek the unity of the people he intends to rule and no leader will achieve any meaningful progress in an atmosphere of disunity occasioned by exclusion.
“This is about all-inclusiveness, this is about equity, this is about justice, this is about peaceful co-existence with each other, with our neighbours. No zone wants to be in an acrimonious relationship with the other but unfortunately, Dr. Otti and his group want to introduce bitterness and acrimony into our political system by adopting such an insensitive ticket.
“We urge Abians to reject it by not voting for Dr. Otti and his party as he will further deepen his divisive agenda rather than bring us together”
