Chief Charles Obioha Ogbonnaya, (Evulogu Ibeku), has reacted to the controversy trailing a scene where he was seen pouring libation while stating that no Ngwa man will become governor of Abia State in 2023.
The people of Isiala Ngwa North had fumed at the Evulogu pouring libation, an act they described as capable of disrupting the political peace of the state. They noted that it is their constitutional right to contest for any position.
There has been an uproar in the polity ahead of the 2023 gubernatorial election and the zoning formula adopted by the state in the charter of equity.
While some are clamoring for power to be shifted to Abia North senatorial district, the people of Ukwa La Ngwa wants the governorship position to be retained in their axis.
Chief Ogbonnaya, a founding father of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), and others alike, have maintained that power should go to Abia North amid the party PDP zoning their ticket to Abia North and Central, a formula that has sparked reactions.
Reacting to the controversy trailing his position and pouring libation, the Evulogu Ibeku in a press conference with journalists in his residence in Umuahia on Monday, April 4, noted that he may have made a mistake by pouring a libation, however, he maintained his position that the governorship position will not go to the Ngwa people.
“I may have made a mistake when I was pouring libation that no Ngwa man; I meant that in 2023 no Ngwa man will be governor, I still maintain it and I will work hard to make sure that no Ngwa man becomes the governor come 2023, there is no going back to that”, he stated.
He noted that the same people kicking for governor Okezie Ikpeazu to hand over power to the people of Ngwa were against him when he was contesting for governorship position in 2015.
“we took it upon ourselves for them to come back and accept Okezie Ikpeazu as governor”.
“Okezie Ikpeazu’s friend came to my house one early morning, he woke me up and asked me why I am supporting Okezie Ikpeazu as governor and I looked at him, brought my drink, gave to him and asked him to leave.
“there was serious opposition against him , but as God may have it, because we have the capacity, we were able to deliver him two times.”
He queried the contributions of Ngwa people in the success of the governor’s ambition adding; “I generated a single donation, the highest donation you can think of to Okezie Ikpeazu which no Ngwa man was able to raise(he however did not mention the amount).
“if I hate Ngwa people, how come I was that serious to make sure that Okezue Ikpeazu was governor and I still support him to be governor, I still advise him frankly? Ogbonnaya queried.
He also revealed that the governor had informed him ab- initio that he will hand over power to a younger person from Isialangwa North/South, Osisioma.
“and I told him no. He turned around today to hand over to a 75-year-old man. What is a 75-year-old man going to do after being the rector of ABSU, wrecked that place down, and you are bringing him to come and wreck Abia down? We say no.
“I want to use this opportunity to tell Ngwa people that I am not their enemy and I don’t hate them for anything.”
He noted that he choose to stand by the truth as either way, a man must surely die.
“Okezie Ikpeazu is my friend but if he decides to throw me away as a friend, so be it. I brought him, I Charles Ogbonnaya made sure that he became governor I brought him and gave him to the people that made him governor
He pleaded with the PDP to ‘prevail on Ikpeazu to zone the governorship seat to Abia North where it naturally belongs’.
There has been speculations that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu prefers former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Professor Eleazar Uche Ikonne as his successor.
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