How Ikpeazu Humiliated Ngwa Elites – Lawrence Nwangwa Reveals | READ DETAILS

How Ikpeazu Humiliated Ngwa Elites – Lawrence Nwangwa Reveals | READ DETAILS

Mr Lawrence Charles Nwangwa is an industrialist of the Ngwa stock and hails from Obingwa, the same local government with the immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu. He tells Emenike Iroegbu in this interview, how happy he is with the outcome of the last governorship election in the state and how Ikpeazu humiliated Ngwa elites.

Please note that this interview was conducted before May 29, inauguration.

Can we get to meet you Sir?

I am Lawrence Charles Nwangwa, from Obingwa LGA, I’m an entrepreneur and currently the MD/CEO, RUFTECH ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIES LTD an industry sited in the rural area.

The elections have come and gone, how does the emergence of Governor-Elect Dr Alex Chioma Otti OFR make you feel?

The emergence of His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti OFR, was a fulfilment for me; I had predicted after the 2019 elections that Dr Alex Otti will be the next Governor of the State. I never hid it as I told all who cared to know.

When PDP members especially those of Ukwa Ngwa extraction were riling his candidacy, I confronted them and told all that the psyche of Abia had gone beyond sentiments and ad hominem but ‘Who’ can deliver Abia from the cesspit.

Therefore, I will say I am the happiest person over the victory of the Labour Party. Note it’s not about Alex Otti –that would be trifling. What is on board is that a dynasty installed twenty-four years ago has been dismantled. The victory is phenomenal and ground shaking. If you research, you will find out that it is only in Abia and Lagos States that their ruling dynasties have never been disrupted. Lagos State is lucky that theirs was built on a progressive and visionary structure and it has been working well for them. This is in contradistinction with that of Abia State.

Why do you think the people of Abia chose to vote out PDP?

In addition to what I analysed above, the PDP government and its shenanigans was becoming intolerable, nauseating and odoriferous. The level of impunity and administrative rascality had gone beyond bikini amber. Mediocrity became elevated to statecraft.

Abia State and her citizens under PDP had become something derisive beyond the shores of the state. Once you mention you are from Abia State, people start making negative jokes about you. It was this bad.

Almost everyone in Abia State today has heaved a sigh of relief even majority of PDP staunch members. As a matter of fact, most of them even within his Kitchen Cabinet worked against the Party.
As a key political figure in Obingwa, before the election, there was a campaign for an Ngwa project. What happened, why did it not work this time around?

I had stated that it will not work this time because the outgoing Governor himself provided a noose or cross to hang or crucify the Ngwa project or interest. He only remembered it when he felt that sentiment will help him but it was late. 80% of the true Ngwa elites never supported the ‘Ikpeazu’ Agenda this 2023.

Amongst the first things the outgoing Governor did was to humiliate the Ngwa elites except the very few you can count on your fingers that depended on his ‘blood tonic’!

Ngwa people are no fools. We have come of age and have worked so hard to be at par on individual basis with our neighbours and other Abia compatriots. Hence the currying of primordial irredentist sentiments this time around was dead on arrival.

Moreover, Dr Alex Otti has proved to be a true son of Ngwaland. He made his Isiala Ngwa South village a true home and added value to his community. He has visible achievements incomparable with any other living Ngwa man of his calibre or contemporaries. I stand to be controverted. For instance the only existing or operational Bank in what is Ngwaland today outside municipal Aba is the one attracted and built by him. So you can add roads within Isiala Ngwa North and South. I can go on and on.

Let’s look at the business environment in Abia State, as an investor, what are you expecting from the administration of Alex Otti that would better the business sector?

The enabling environment and ease of doing business, removal of incipient corruption and bottlenecks, putting necessary infrastructure like access roads, effective and micro governance; bringing to the fore, law and order, discipline amongst them effective traffic management and proper pavement of roads with adequate signs and creating of bus routes to reduce the stress and frustration of the very low income earners. I can go on and on.

The Good thing is that the incoming Governor is effectively accessible and I can always reach him. Most of his close aides are also my friends or people I know. Hence I will always engage them and together we will move this state forward.

Have you experienced double taxation in Abia State? If yes, what is your advice?

Finances and revenue have been poorly expropriated and appropriated. With Dr Alex Otti, it will be a breath of fresh air and new beginnings.

Economy and Finance are an area the incoming governor has expertise and worldly acclaimed competence. Put your seatbelt and watch as we cruise from May 29, 2023.