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The people of Ukwa and Ngwa in Abia State have dissociated themselves from the endorsement of the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for re-election as done by some elements among them.
They, in turn, adopted the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah, who they said has a better programme.
In a statement signed on their behalf by Hon. Martins Azubike, Sir Marc Wabara, Engr Joseph Enyinnaya, Chief Emeka Nwogu, Barr. F. N. Nwosu, Hon Donatus Nwakpa, Great Imo Jonathan, Chief Chamberlain Adiaso, Dr. Bright Onyendi, Dr. Okey Nwachukwu, Hon Humphrey Azubuike and Okey Nwauba, the Ukwa and Ngwa people said the purported endorsement of Ikpeazu was unacceptable as the governor’s tenure in office had brought “ridicule and shame to our people.”
They said those saying the Ukwa and Ngwa people are behind Ikpeazu are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agents who are interested in monetary gains.
The two groups said they prefer progress of their people and Abia State and therefore are supporting Ogah, who is a “better candidate and we see his manifesto as a robust plan for development of Abia State and the Ukwa Ngwa nation.”
They therefore called on Ukwa Ngwa people to shun Ikpeazu and embrace Ogah in Saturday’s governorship election.
The statement reads: “We the Oha Ukwa Ngwa Nile, wish to, on be behalf of our people, reject in totality, the purported endorsement of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the Executive Governor of Abia State and the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, for re-election on Saturday, March 9, 2019. At the same time, we want to use this medium to debunk the notion that our people are hinged on his candidature and are against other candidates.
“Again we take exception to the intimidation of Ukwa Ngwa indigenes who have chosen to vote according to their conscience, candidates of other parties. And we want to warn seriously that we will go to any extent to resist the move being made by agents of the PDP to put our people under diabolic oaths and to lay a curse on those who want to exercise their God-given rights.
“The tenure of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, the acclaimed son of Ukwa Ngwa, has brought nothing but ridicule and shame to our people. He failed our expectations greatly and we can boldly say that we are not happy with him. Those who are running around in the name of Ukwa Ngwa, endorsing his re-election bid are nothing but agents of the cabal domiciled in the PDP and those whose only interest is monetary gain and not the progress and development of Abia State.
“We are a people of conscience and our determination is to ensure the progress and development of Abia State. Anything to the contrary is unacceptable to us. We want posterity to judge us right, that we stood on the side of truth when it mattered most and it was not convenient.
“In the light of the foregoing and in line with good morality, we wish to publicly disassociate our people from the purported endorsement of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his candidature. And we wish to use this medium to also endorse Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). We consider him a better candidate and we see his manifesto as a robust plan for development of Abia State and the Ukwa Ngwa nation.
“We pray the almighty God to grant Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah victory on Saturday. And we ask that His wisdom will come upon him to lead Abia State into prosperity.”
