Against the clamour for the governorship seat to remain within the precinct of old Aba province in Abia State, the leader of Ngwa Renaissance Group, a socio-political movement in Abia South senatorial district, Chief Charles Nwanga, has called on all stakeholders in the state to allow reason to prevail by ensuring the emergence of an indigene of the district as the next governor. Giving a breakdown analysis on the structural framework in the Ukwa -Ngwa council constituting both the Abia South and Abia Central districts, Nwangwa pointed out that it would be wise for stakeholders in the state to stick to Abia South.
According to him, even though the zone is the most dominant among Ukwa-Ngwa extraction, it is the only senatorial district that has not produced the governor. To this end, he noted with dismay, the exclusion of the people in the political calculation of the state and described the continual neglect of his people since the creation of the state as against the principle of fairness and equity.
“It is sad that nobody from our zone has governed the state despite our huge contribution to the socio -economic growth of both the state and Nigeria as a whole. In fact, a greater percentage of the population and revenue accruing to the state is largely accounted for by Ukwa-Ngwa council,” he said.
He nonetheless emphasised on equitable rotation of power among the three senatorial zones to avoid rancour, pointing out that it is now the turn of Abia South to occupy the exalted seat. “Ukwa-Ngwa constitutes the largest sub-clan in Nigeria. The largest percentage of the state revenue comes from this zone. Sixty per cent of the population is from there. But funny enough, they have never been reckoned with in the sharing of power. All appointments were given to Old Bendel division except the recent appointment of Emeka Wogu as Minister of Labour and Productivity,” he added. “Now, if we are to look at Ukwa-Ngwa on the strength of Local Governments’ allotment, Abia South has six Local Government Areas while Abia Central has three Local Governments. Based on this, Abia South stands on a vantage position. Apart from that, it would be wrong for aspirants within Abia Central to capitalise on a purported agreement reached to cede power to Ukwa Ngwa bloc having failed to secure the slot during the last election, ” he said. According to Nwangwa, the view of these set of people amounts to absolute greed. “I see this as selfish, and being myopic on the part of these leaders. It smacks of lack of vision to have considered themselves worthy. I see these set of people as collaborators, conspirators against Ukwa-Ngwa people which has always been the bane of the Ngwa man,” he enthused. He however urged stakeholders to rise above partisan interest by allowing equity, justice, fair play to prevail in the distribution of power in the state particularly among the senatorial districts. “Equity, fairness, common sense, and justice dictate that Abia South automatically gets the gubernatorial slot. We have been largely short-changed in the past, so it would be unjust to deny them of that opportunity,” he said. Commenting on the number of qualified aspirants in the zone, Nwangwa identified a long list of suitable candidates that are prepared to take over the mantle of leadership from the incumbent governor. “There are enough competent hands that can handle the affairs of the state in the zone. We have distinguished personalities which include the former deputy governor of the State who is now a senator, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, a philanthropist, the present Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, Chris Nkanta, among others. While paying tributes to the impressive work done by the present governor since assumption of office, Nwangwa commended the effort of the administration in bringing the state back on the path of peace as opposed to what was witnessed in the inglorious era of the former governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.