*As supporters says he is not qualified to be governor
But for the swift action of men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as well as his bodyguards, governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), in Abia State, Chief Chikwe Udensi would have been battered by a crowd of his supporters in Aba who were protesting the nonpayment of mobilization fees to them.
The irate crowd could not understand why they were being directed to the Udensi’s campaign headquarters at Okigwe road, Aba, to collect the mobilization fees after they had earlier in the day, stayed under the biting sun during the PPA state rally at Recreation Club field.
The situation which created a heavy gridlock on the ever busy Eziukwu/ Okigwe road junction as the bus drivers engaged for the rally could not find space to park their buses among the sea of human heads.
Sensing that the PPA candidate was bent on playing games with them, the crowd of supporters surged forward into the second floor of the one storey building where Udensi was holed up in his office with his wife, the state PPA chairman, Chief Emeka Okafor, among other party officials.
From 6.30pm to 8pm yesterday, the NSCDC men and Udensi’s bodyguards had a hectic holding back the surging crowd who were struggling to find their way into his office.
Confusion reigned supreme as the bus drivers who were shouting Udensi’s name to come and pay them while the supporters insisted that they would not leave the campaign office if he didn’t pay them even as the PPA Candidate was at his office, said to be shouting at people. According to a supporter who struggle to find his way into the office, “I can’t under Udensi today, he has been shouting at everybody on top of his voice. The state party chairman is also shouting at people, they are not attending to anybody.it is all confusion there.”
One of Udensi’s aides was overheard lamenting that the problem is that the PPA wants to handle everything by himself as he appears not to trust any of his aides.
“This crowd of people has no business coming to the campaign office after the rally. They should have been settled at the campaign ground, but the problem is that our principal, Chief Chikwe Udensi wants to handle every detail by himself. It is like he doesn’t trust any of us. I don’t think we will go far with this style.”
One of the ward chairmen from Ikwuano L.G.A said they were asked to get buses to convey their ward members to Aba while they would get the money at the rally.
“This is the problem we are having with Chief Udensi, nothing is organized in his camp. He handles everything and this brings confusion. Is this how he is going to be the governor? Look at the time now, it is 7.40pm and we are going back to Ikwuano. You know what it means. The bus driver has been on my neck since 10am we came for the rally. Next time, they must give me money before I call the bus driver or mobilize my ward people.
Even journalists who were engaged for the event were enraged when Udensi sent words that he owes no journalist that they should leave his campaign office. Most of the journalists vowed never to have anything to do with the PPA candidate again. He was said to have queried the crew of one of the radio stations who covered the event,”Why are you here? I have paid your station. You don’t have to disturb me.”
Even his wife’s plea that he should take it easy with the newsmen was not heeded as crowd kept raining curses. In all, it looked like a wake keeping scene as they kept waiting for Udensi as the time our correspondent left around 7.45pm.
The question on everybody’s lips was, “Is this how Udensi is going to be the governor? He is not qualified to be governor. If he is behaving like this, playing with people when he has not been given power, What do you think will happen when he becomes the governor?”
