…Says zoning is by Senatorial districts not by clans
…Accuses Governor of narrowing Abia Charter of Equity to clannish politics
By: Toby Chuks
A People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in Abia State for the 2023 general elections, Mr Ndubuisi Etugo Ogah has opposed the decision of the incumbent Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu to concede the governorship ticket of the PDP to Professor Uche Ikonne of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area in Abia Central Senatorial zone saying that it is the turn of Abia North Senatorial zone to produce the next Abia governror because the Charter of Equity is by Senatorial zone not by clans
Governor Ikpeazu who spoke on the Charter of Equity to defend the choice of Professor Uche Ikonne from Abia Central as PDP governorship candidate during a meeting with leaders of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area at the Governor’s Lodge Aba stated that the emergence of a Governor from the other half of Abia Central (Isiala Ngwa) was in accordance with the spirit of the Abia Charter of Equity.
The Governor recalled 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.
In his reaction Etugo who has dragged Ikpeazu and PDP to court over the issue of zoning said that Ikpeazu’s explanation amount to reducing the issue of zoning to clannish politics which is not the acceptable way to go insisting that Abia Chatter of Equity should go by Senatorial zones as obtained in other States across Southeast zone where governorship has been going round by Senatorial zones since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999.
He cited the case of Awgu people in Enugu State as a case in point noting that several attempts by Awgu clan led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu to lay claim on the governorship seat in Enugu State on the basis of zoning were resisted by the people of other Senatorial zones because Awgu clan is under Enugu West Senatorial zone which has taken its turn through Sullivan Chime from Udi clan.
The PDP aspirant recalled that that Abia State was created from Afikpo, Bende, Isikwutao and Aba which were divided into three Senatorial zones of except Afikpo now in Ebonyi State noting that the Charter of Equity is for the three Senatorial zones of Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South to follow as they follow it in other States.
He added “the picture of zoning is very clear that it started from Abia North in 1999 through Orji Uzor Kalu who finished and handed over to Theordore Orji of Abia Central. Orji finished and handed over to Ikpeazu of Abia South. So it has to go back to the North after Ikpeazu. In 2015, I refused to support my brother Samson Ogah and others from Abia North for governror and supported Ikpeazu from South so that South should take it and let it come back to the North. I wonder why Ikpeazu decided to truncate a smooth run of things”
