Abia youths boil as power shift war claims first casualty
* Condemn Ikpeazu for sacking Wabara instead of heeding his counsel
* Want Ukariwe, Nwaka to reject ABSU board appointments
*Warn against Ngwa self-succession agenda
By Steve Oko
The agitation for power shift in Abia State yesterday claimed its major casualty following the sack of former Senate President, Dr. Adolphus Wabara as the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Abia State University Uturu.
Wabara was removed as ABSU Pro-Chancellor hours after warning against the dangers of Ngwa man flying the governorship ticket of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
His sudden removal has drawn the ire of Abia youths who rather see it as a political vendetta.
Wawa News Global checks revealed that Wabara should be serving out his tenure by next year.
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in a press statement signed by the Secretary to State Government SSG, Chris Ezem, removed Wabara as the Chairman, ABSU Governing Council, and announced the re-constitution of the Board now headed by Chief Mba Ukariwe from Abriba in Abia North.
The Youths under the aegis of Abia Youth Vanguard berated the State Government for what it called “repressive postures and intolerant attitude.”
They urged Wabara’s substitute, Chief Ukariwe, to turn down the appointment as a mark of honour and patriotism for Abia North District that Wabara was making case for.
The youths described the former Senate President as the hero of Abia Charter of Equity, assuring him of the unalloyed support of Abia youths.
They said that Abia needed more courageous elders who would speak truth to power not minding the consequences.
In a statement issued in Umuahia by the Chairman of the group, Comrade David Onwuneme, the youths warned that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was heading towards a crisis if it fails to cede power to Abia North.
It wondered why Wabara, “a respected statesman should be humiliated for speaking the truth and warning of dangers ahead.”
The statement made available to Wawa News Global read in part:”Why should they remove him (Wabara) because he warned against the self-succession agenda of the Ngwas.
“This is a dangerous trend that should be condemned by all men of goodwill”.
According to the youth group, the removal of Wabara for insisting on power shift to Abia North should be a wake up call to Abia North to fight doggedly for what belongs to them.
The youths urged all Abia North people nominated as members of the re-constituted Governing Council of the State University “to outrightly reject the appointment”.
“We are calling on Chief Mba Okoronkwo Ukariwe and Senator Emma Nwaka to reject the appointments because it is an insult to Abia North that is looking for the Governorship in 2023 and not Board appointments.
“Except Emma Nwaka who has declared to contest the Governorship is satisfied with this token, they should throw it back to the Government”.
The youth warned against further polarisation and heating up of the polity by Ngwa people over “this inordinate self succession agenda”.
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