As the race for the Abia South Senatorial Seat gathers momentum, interested candidates sponsored by their various political parties have thrown their hats into the ring contesting for the seat. Some of the candidates have been touring the six local government areas of the zone selling their programmes to the electorate while others appear to hope on some ‘magic’ to catapult them to the seat. On the other hand, certain candidates seem to be relying on the strength of their parties than the electorate to make it to the senate.
An analysis of the political situation of the zone reveal that it won’t be business as usual as the electorate long for a candidate with traceable achievements and records of service. The February 14 senatorial poll is a day of reckoning for candidates who at one time or the other failed to use their exalted positions to advance the cause of the people of the zone. Abia South could not afford to make mistake in the election of its representative at the senate. This is the time to check the score cards of all the candidates.
A peep into the candidates vying for the seat indicates that the Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP), Chris Nkwonta (APGA) and Chinonyerem Macebuh (APC) are the front runners. Abaribe who is seeking re-election for the third time appears to have lost a lot of ground due to under performance in his almost eight years at the senate. The poor state of basic infrastructure in the zone indicates how poorly Abaribe has been detached from the people who elected him to the senate. For Macebuh, he has lost touch with the people since he left the House of Representatives in 2007.
Of all the candidates battling for the seat, Chief Chris Nkwonta, has over the years demonstrated that life is all about service to the people. He has always been identified with philanthropic activities spanning the six local government areas of the zone. The Akwete, Ukwa East born shipping magnate trains over 100 students annually in his skill acquisition, secondary and tertiary institutions scholarship programme in Nigeria and overseas. Currently, the scholarship programme sponsors four students for post graduate studies abroad every two years.
Nkwonta’s life revolves around philanthropy as he has never hesitated to offer hope to the less privileged. The popular belief in Abia south is that if Nkwonta could make such a mark as a private person, he will do much better if he elected to represent the zone at the senate. Nkwonta is not the typical Nigeria politician known for making promises; he has in his private capacity as an international businessman and philanthropist, assisted people without making noise about it, contrary to the publication of names of constituents who received N10, 000 handouts in their appeal for assistance to their representatives for child dedication, burial, wedding and naming ceremonies. This explains the clamour by the people of the zone for Nkwonta to be their next senator.
Going by the current mood of the electorate in the zone, Nkwonta’s victory at the election is a fait accompli. His victory at the polls will give Abia South a new lease of life in the area of quality representation and ‘bumper harvest’ of dividends of democracy which the zone lacks. Political analysts insist that the APGA candidate is better placed to lift Abia South from the doldrums it currently finds itself due to poor representation. There is no doubt that Nkwonta is running a good race with all the elements in his favour. The unfair treatment meted out to him by his former party, the PDP has drawn sympathy to his ambition even as electorate in Abaribe’s local government, are rooting him to be their next senator.
Lamenting the predicament of his Abia South people, Nkwonta has gone strategic in his campaigns to all the local governments of the zone, selling his programmes. He has almost concluded his tour of the 66 wards of the zone as stakeholders, particularly of the PDP, fall over themselves to endorse him. His wide acceptance across the zone has led to the destruction of his campaign billboards. Nkwonta has worked so hard that it would be a travesty of justice if Abia South people do not reward him with a landslide victory on February 14.
Abaribe who is notorious for snobbery has been spending more time campaigning for the PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, than engaging his constituents in his bid to retain his seat, appear to be relying on his party’s ‘magic wand’ to win a third term at the senate. Abaribe who serves as the spokesman of the 7th senate has taken his constituents for granted for too long that most of them, even from his party, PDP, has vowed never to allow retain his seat.
It is clear that Abaribe does not have a strong case to make about his return bid to the senate after eight years of a wicked neglect of his people. Many people still nurse a grudge against him for the poor state of roads in the zone, particularly the Aba –Ikot Ekpene federal highway. The people appear to be tired of his ‘song’ that lawmakers have no role to play in attracting federal government’s attention to the problem of infrastructure in their areas. The clamour for quality representation has become louder in Nigeria; Ndi Abia South cannot afford to elect senators who will be in the National Assembly to enrich themselves.
There is no that Chief Chris Nkwonta is the right choice for the Abia South senate seat.
