PDP Chieftain Blasts Abaribe Over Guber Ambition

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia, Mkpa Uka, says the 2023 governorship ambition of Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe is a huge joke as it is the turn of Abia North to produce the next governor.
Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia on Thursday, Uka took strong exception to Abaribe’s expression of interest to contest the governorship seat in 2023.
He described Abaribe’s ambition as unexpected.
It would be recalled that Abaribe had during a visit to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu announced his ambition to join the 2023 governorship race in the state.
Uka faulted Abaribe’s pronouncement, saying he did not expect him, a former Deputy Governor, who hails from the same area with Ikpeazu to do so.
Although he admitted that the lawmaker, representing Abia South, was free to harbour any ambition, he insisted that the 2023 governorship slot should be the exclusive preserve of Abia North.
“Considering that the governorship position has gone round, beginning with Abia North (1999-2007), Abia Central (2007-2015) and Abia South (2015-2023), it’s natural that it should return to Abia North in 2023.
“Any attempt to disrupt the process and smooth power shift arrangement by senatorial districts will cause confusion as well as serious political tension and acrimony in our dear state.
“I’m not saying there are no qualified persons from Abia South and Central but it will be absurd for somebody from Abia South to desire to succeed his brother from the same Obingwa.
“I did not expect Abaribe to say that. It is indeed a huge joke.
“If he has declared to run for the President of Nigeria, we will all roll up our sleeves to support him because he is eminently qualified to be president,” Uka said.
He further dismissed the argument in some quarters that power should rotate between Old Aba and Old Bende Divisions.
According to him, the argument lacks merit because it is neither constitutional nor in consonance with the dictates of the Abia Charter of Equity.
He said the 1999 Constitution provided for rotation of power among the senatorial districts in all the states of the federation.
“It sounds illogical that a man that is agitating for power shift from the North to South at the national level would come home to demand a different thing,” Uka said.
He tipped Dep. Gov. UdeOko-Chukwu from Abia North to succeed Ikpeazu, saying he is a tested, trusted and proven man of integrity.
“He has what it takes to fix Abia and is acceptable to all sections of the state”.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia, MkpaUka, says the 2023 governorship ambition of Sen. EnyinnayaAbaribe is a huge joke as it is the turn of Abia North to produce the next governor.
Speaking with newsmen in Umuahia on Thursday, Uka took strong exception to Abaribe’s expression of interest to contest the governorship seat in 2023.
He described Abaribe’s ambition as unexpected.
It will be recalled that Abaribe had during a visit to Gov. OkezieIkpeazu announced his ambition to join the 2023 governorship race in the state.
Uka faulted Abaribe’s pronouncement, saying he did not expect him, a former Deputy Governor, who hails from the same area with Ikpeazu to do so.
Although he admitted that the lawmaker, representing Abia South, was free to harbour any ambition, he insisted that the 2023 governorship slot should be the exclusive preserve of Abia North.
“Considering that the governorship position has gone round, beginning with Abia North (1999-2007), Abia Central (2007-2015) and Abia South (2015-2023), it’s natural that it should return to Abia North in 2023.
“Any attempt to disrupt the process and smooth power shift arrangement by senatorial districts will cause confusion as well as serious political tension and acrimony in our dear state.
“I’m not saying there are no qualified persons from Abia South and Central but it will be absurd for somebody from Abia South to desire to succeed his brother from the same Obingwa.
“I did not expect Abaribe to say that. It is indeed a huge joke.
“If he has declared to run for the President of Nigeria, we will all roll up our sleeves to support him because he is eminently qualified to be president,” Uka said.
He further dismissed the argument in some quarters that power should rotate between Old Aba and Old Bende Divisions.
According to him, the argument lacks merit because it is neither constitutional nor in consonance with the dictates of the Abia Charter of Equity.
He said the 1999 Constitution provided for rotation of power among the senatorial districts in all the states of the federation.
“It sounds illogical that a man that is agitating for power shift from the North to South at the national level would come home to demand a different thing,” Uka said.
He tipped Dep. Gov. UdeOko-Chukwu from Abia North to succeed Ikpeazu, saying he is a tested, trusted and proven man of integrity.
“He has what it takes to fix Abia and is acceptable to all sections of the state”.