2019 Abia central senatorial seat : On equity we stand – Umunneato council of chiefs
. Adopts Sen Orji, tells evey aspirant of Ngwa extraction to perish ambition
. As Orji donates vehicles to churches, state unions
Steve Oko
Council of Chiefs from Umunneato in Abia Central Senatorial district has advised any son or daughter of Ngwa origin aspiring to contest the seat with the incumbent Senator Theodore Orji to quickly perish the ambition.
The elders who gave the advice when they visited Senator Orji in his Umuahia constituency office said for any Ngwa person to contest against Orji who is from Umuahia /Ikwuano bloc in 2019 amounts to violating the Abia Charter of Equity which recommended power rotation.
Umunneato clan comprises three Local Government Areas in Abia Central zone of Ngwa origin namely : Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Osisioma LGAs.
They said the Ngwa nation has been the greatest beneficiary of the charter enforced by Sen Orji when he facilitated power shift to Abia South in 2015.
Leader of the delegation, Chief Daniel Ugochukwu, said they came to inform the senator that after due consultations with their subjects he had been adopted as their consensus candidate come 2019, hence their visit to schedule a date when the adoption would be publicly declared.
He said that apart from giving a good account of himself so far at the red chamber, “Orji as equity keeper deserves to be rewarded with equity”.
Chief Ugochukwu said for facilitating power shift to the Ngwa nation in 2015 against the wishes of many stakeholders, no Ngwa son or daughter challenging the senator would receive a single vote from them.
” For giving us governorship in 2015 and earning the anger of even your own kinsmen, we have resolved that no Ngwa son or daughter contesting with you in 2019 will have our support “.
He also acknowledged that unlike most politicians in the state Senator Orji has positively touched many lives.
Adding his voice, Chief Chibunna Nwanosike (Okosusu) advised every senatorial aspirant of Umunneato extraction to perish their ambition or be humiliated at the poll.
Responding, Orji thanked the delegation for their wise counsel which he noted, was in tandem with the sipirt and letters of Abia Charter of Equity put in place by the founding fathers of the state.
The former Governor who said his predecessors sat over the vital document until he came on board and insisted that political power should move to Abia South senatorial zone in 2015.
He noted that but for his firm belief and stance on equity and justice some power hawks who had selfishly resolved to retain their political dynasty never wanted the Ngwa nation which is the most populous clan in Abia to take a shot at the governorship seat.
Orji therefore, insisted that the power zoning arrangements in the state should be respected by all political parties in the spirit and letter of Abia charter of equity.
He said that the Abia charter of equity agreed upon by the founding fathers of the state recommended power rotation among the three senatorial zones in the state.
Orji argued that since other zones in the state had “done two terms ” it would be only proper for Abia South to be allowed to complete its turn by renewing Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu’s mandate in 2019.
He further argued that the Umunneato clan in Abia Central should allow the Umuahia/Ikwuano bloc (where he hails from) to also complete its turn of two terms at the senate.
The first term senator explained that before his predecessor, Senator Nkechi Nwogu came on board the two blocs in the zone had been taking only one term in alternate manner.
He contended that since Senator Nwogu distorted the initial unwitten agreement, he should equally be allowed a return ticket in 2019 so that his Umuahia /Ikwuano clan would not be shortchanged.
The former Governor, therefor, enjoined the Umunneato Council of Chiefs to prevail on senatorial aspirants from the clan to perish their ambition in 2019 in the spirit of equity and justice.
Meanwhile, Senator Orji has distributed three Sienna cars to the winners of Umuahia Central state constituency choral competition.
The beneficiaries were St. Finbarr’s Catholic Church Bende Road Choir, St. Stephen’s Anglican Cathedral Eket by Niger Road Umuahia, and All Saints Anglican Church World Bank Housing Estate which came first, second and third respectively.
Senator Orji who said the gesture was to promote evangelism also donated another three Sienna cars to Anambra, Enugu and Imo State Unions , Umuahia branch.
He appreciated their immense contributions towards the development of Abia State and urged them to continue to live in peace with their hosts, and not to neglect the development of their home communities.
Responding, the Rev. Emmanuel Igbokwe of Anglican Church World Bank; President of Enugu State union, Chief Sylvester Ewo; his Imo and Anambra counterparts, Sir Emeka Opara; and Sir Mike Obiano respectively thanked Senator Orji and assured him of their continued support to his political ambitions.
End.
<
More Stories
Glorious home call of late elder Boniface Achiwo Ubosi
Reasons for Abia 2024 Christmas carol
Journalists celebrate Abia media day