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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The oil producing area of Abia State, Ukwa West, has condemned what it termed political marginalisation concerning the representation of the Ukwa East/Ukwa West federal constituency, demanding the seat of the House of Representatives in 2027.
Speaking through a group, Ukwa Federated Forum (UFF), the people appealed that the House of Reps seat of Ukwa Federal Constituency should go to Asa land of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State for political justice, equity, fairness and human moral justification.
The group, in a statement by Dr Nwabuike Ekeke and Chisom Odemenam, President and Secretary General of UPP, respectively, accused Ukwa East of dominating the seat meant for both Ukwa East and Ukwa West LGAs.
“We are calling on all political leaders of Ukwaland, Abia State and the entire country to prevail on the politicians of the area to ensure that Asa man from Ukwa West emerges winner in 2027 for the federal seat.”
The statement lamented that for 24 years of the present political dispensation, Ukwa West has only been at the House of Representatives for eight years, while the rest years have been occupied by people from Akwete in Ukwa East Local Government Area.
“The late Chinonyerem Macebuh from Ukwa West was in the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2007 and in the mutual spirit of rotation of two tenure per each local government, he handed over to our brothers in Ukwa East and since then, the position has remained in one village, Akwete in Ukwa Easta with Uzoma Abonta 2007 to 2023 and now Chris Nkwonta, both from Akwete.
“Already, Nkwonta who will be completing his tenure in 2027 has started scheming for a second term against the gentleman agreement he had with Ukwa West people that he would go for only one term.”
The group called on political leaders of Ukwa land, including the former Senate president, Senator Adolphus Wabara who hails from Ukwa East, and Governor Alex Otti and all political parties to prevail on Ukwa East to cede the seat to Ukwa West Local Government Area.
“Ukwa West politicians should shun greed and selfish tendencies but should have the collective interest of Asa people uppermost on their minds and not be divided or seen as gullible and political servitudes.
“It is now becoming a mockery on our people of Asa and we must endeavour to lay political foundations that the future generation would be proud of.
Our Ukwa East brothers should honourably vacate the position to show brotherliness and mutual political accommodation. Nkwonta must be told to shelve his ambition for the Ukwa West people.”
