Acho Nwakanma, and Max Nduaguibe, (R), at the meeting


By Tony Icheku

The political stalwarts of Ukwa La Ngwa extraction yet  waxes strong, at least  rhetorically,  in their demand to keep the governorship seat for another 8 years.

The political actors, under the aegis of  Ukwa La Ngwa Elders’ Council,  UNEC, rising recently from a broad-based meeting comprising who is who in  Ukwa la Ngwa again 'unequivocally demand and insist'  that they be allowed to  govern Abia State for sixteen consecutive years, that is from 2015 to 2031 like the old Bende division did. Who else does not understand the power of repetition?

However, certain political messages if delivered repeatedly without panache and finesse, assumes a semblance of  noise or simply becomes redundant. Such was the case of the communique issued after that grand gathering. 

The communique and pictures slipped unto the social media, minus signatories and captions. It was becoming a joke,  then came Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's left-handed 'rejoinder'. From that moment, issues discussed at the meeting upgraded to front pages stories: Properly worded communique with signatories, photographs with captions were again shared on blogs and the social media. 

What is Gov Ikpeazu's business with UNEC's agitation?, one may ask. Abians from the Isiukwuato part of Abian have been vociferous in their agitation that come 2023, it is their turn to govern Abia. As a matter of, a friend of the Ikpeazu administration, Dr Greg Ibe from the Isiukwuato axis already have structures in every ward and is subliminally campaigning for the governorship, but not once has Gov Ikpeazu contrived a warning that 'timing is critical in these permutations and that there could only be one Governor at any particular time'

Was Dr Ikpeazu's fears of 'over heating' the polity an order from 'above' to call his brothers and associates to order? Or simply what it was: ''calm down'?

The governor failed to quench an already flickering fire, rather he added fuel to it. From the brightness of the bonfire, one can see the faces of those around it and read their lips.

Surprise, surprise, they are soldiers in the Ikpeazu's administration: Hon Goddy Adiele and Hon Ginger Onwusibe, respectively  members representing Ukwa-West State Constituency and Isiala-Ngwa-North State Constituency in the  Abia State House of Assembly. The duo moved and seconded the motion for adoption of the communique issued after the meeting

 In Abia's one party politics, it would not be strange to discover  former deputy governor, Chief Acho Nwakanma, former Speaker, Abia House of Assembly, Hon Christopher Enweremadu and Hon  Ngozi Ugwunagbo Ulunwa, also a former Speaker as camp followers of Ikpeazu

Now, the bone of contention: Does the UNEC demand merit serious consideration? Why not? Dont forget that Gov Ikpeazu's glib reaction just elevated the status of the conversation. The opportunity may not be there for the Umunneato Ngwa to grab power now, or wait for who knows how long.

For the Ukwa-Ngwa nation, with its 9 Local Government Areas, comprising:  Aba-North, Aba-South, Isiala Ngwa-North, Isiala Ngwa-South, Obingwa, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa-East and Ukwa-West, there is no better time to throw their weight around, and possibly hold everyone to ransome

Who loses if Ukwa-Ngwa grabs power for another 8 years? First to kiss the dust would  be the political dynasties of two former governors: Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore A. Orji,  that is if they choose to fight against the UNEC's demand.

Looking back, this is not the first time, the Ukwa-Ngwa attempted to rouse themselves to use their larger voting bloc as a bargaining chip.  Recall the 'Otu Onu' movement led by Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe? Don't get it twisted. An Ngwa son was not governor then.

But one is now, Gov Okezie Ikpeazu. Is he however attempting to deny what he is? Is that the reason for his hollow reaction to UNEC's communique.

Let's repeat again that Abia's one party dominated politics allows only unstinted praise singing and unrestrained bootlicking, and in UNEC's communique, there was surfeit of such for Ikpeazu

Why then does Gov Ikpeazu need to insist that 'he is still in charge of the State and will not be stampeded out of office' by people who want to alter the natural order of things.

Definitely UNEC are democrats, and would be the least interested either in wishing Ikpeazu out of office or desiring to alter the 'natural order' of things. Indeed, UNEC leader, Dr Max Nduaguibe, a lawyer and politician who since 1999 had actively participated in the political process  would be the last person to sully his reputation.

With such inherent contradictions in Gov Ikpeazu's statement signed by  Onyebuchi Ememanka, his Chief Press Secretary, one can only dismiss it as a janus-faced meddling, or was it a shot that failed to hit its target