Ahead of the 2015 governorship election, a socio-political group in Abia state, Ukwa/Ngwa Professionals (UNP), says no aspirant from the zone will run as a deputy governorship candidate in the state.
In an interview with journalists in Aba, Leader of the group, Chief Theo Nkire who said his group is committed to assisting Gov. Theodore Orji fulfill his promise of handing over power to the area in 2015, lamented that the zone has over the years been ridiculed as the land of deputies and should be supported to produce a governor of Abia state.
He vowed to resist attempt by any individual or group to foil the governor’s promise to shift power to the zone or deny the people of area the opportunity of producing a governor.
“Never in the history of our nation, Nigeria has an Ukwa/Ngwa man occupied the pre-eminent position of Governor in the land; from the Eastern region to East Central state to Imo State and now, Abia State. Over the years, our area was ridiculed as the land of deputies. This is why we say; never again! Never again shall an Ukwa Ngwa man run as deputy to anyone, any candidate in 2015.Never.”
“The founding fathers of Abia state enshrined the principle of equity in a Charter handed down to us through the generations. The Abia charter of Equity has over the years been more honoured in breach than in principle, it is comforting to note that everyone in Abia State today, indeed everyone has come to the realization that society has been unjust to the Ukwa Ngwa nation and that 2015 is the year to remedy this injustice. We thank Gov. Theodore Orji for his support to the aspiration of the zone,” he said.
Nkire warned people who seek to sow the seed of discord among the Ukwa/Ngwa nation to desist from such acts and support Gov. Orji’s efforts to shift power to the zone or face the wrath of the collective will of the people of the area.
Asked to comment on the large number of aspirants from Ukwa/ Ngwa zone jostling for the governorship seat, Nkire described it as a non issue which would be settled at the appropriate time.
“We have asked all our sons and daughters who want to run for the office of the governor in 2015 to declare interest in their respective political parties and present themselves to the people. But one assurance we can give you is that come the day of party primaries, the Ukwa Ngwa nation will have only one candidate.”
