A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and former Special Assistant to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Grassroot Mobilization, Dr. (Sir) Stephen Ukpai Ohafia, has countered the statement credited to Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, the member representing Isialangwa North State Constituency, in which he asserted that Abia North do not have the numbers to deliver PDP in 2023 gubernatorial election.
Recall that THE WHISPERER, yesterday, reported that Hon. Onwusibe, while defending the call for Ukwa la Ngwa people to succeed Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in 2023 in an exclusive interview with All Facts newspaper questioned the voting strength of Abia North.
He said, “You have to show us your strength first. Party will consider where it’s going to win election from. If Ikpeazu was not able to be getting 80,000 votes from Obingwa he couldn’t have won. So you must show us where that 80,000 votes will come from for PDP so that we can start considering them(Abia North). Nobody wants to fail, I am a practical politician.”
While reacting to the statement, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former BOT Chairman, National Association of Abia State Students (NAASS), faulted the comment, describing it as ‘childish’.
Dr. Ukpai stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to THE WHISPERER.
In his words, most of the votes from Abia South, especially Aba and its environs are voted by people from Abia North.
“In all honesty, the statement by Hon. Ginger is childish.
He should be reminded that a large percentage of the voters in Abia South are indigenes of Abia North residing in Aba and it’s environs. Hon. Ginger and other Ukwa la Ngwa politicians should stop boasting unnecessarily. I want him to remember that majority of the voters in Aba, Obingwa, Osisioma and even Ugwunagbo are indigenes of Abia North.
“PDP members from Abia North respected and kept to the agreement of Abia Charter of Equity in 2015 and 2019 respectively. If not, we would have blocked the Obingwa result that Hon. Ginger is now using to boast.
“That Charter of Equity must be respected by returning power back to Abia North. We don’t believe in burning of INEC offices, burning of council secretariats or carrying of gaskets to intimidate voters. We are peace loving people that believes in unity of the state and we will do everything within the ambit of the law to defend Abia North mandate of producing the next Governor of Abia state in 2023.”
Ukpai, who is a revenue consultant and member of Abia State Students Advisory Council wondered why some greedy elders of Ukwa la Ngwa would want to destabilise a peaceful state like Abia on the altar of greed and ego.
According to him, “These same elders issuing statements and communiqués were the same people touring Abia North for support in 2019. They pleaded with us to allow their son complete his second term like other senatorial districts; and then return power back to Abia North. We won’t allow them to set the state ablaze under the altar of greed and ego. It is better for them to obey the initial agreement and allow power back to Abia North.” He said.
This so called Elders will not be found when the chips are down, let me ask where were they in 99 when the understanding was reach.