The youths of Ikwuano/Umuahia extraction of Abia State, under the umbrella of, Nzuko Ikwuano na Umuahia Citizens, have asked the leaderships of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to adopt the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development and the governorship hopeful, Dr Uche Sampson Ogah, as their sole flagbearer for the upcoming general election in 2023.
This comes on the heels of the rocking the Abia State chapter of the PDP following Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s choice of ex-Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University Uturu, Professor Ikonne, to succeed him ahead of party primaries, and the main 2023 election in the state.
The unfolding development has pitched many leaders and critical stakeholders of the PDP against the state governor.
Rising from a well-attended expanded meeting held at Abia Hotels, Umuahia, the umbrella body of youths from the extraction, said it tipped Ogah for the plum job based on the tremendous strides recorded in the private and public sector which distinquished him from other aspirants in major dominant political parties jostling for the governorship seat of Abia State come 2023.
The Nzuko Ikwuano na Umuahia Citizens, made their position known in a communique, jointly signed by the President, Surveyor Samuel Aguiyi, issued to journalists in Umuahia, the state capital, on Saturday.
The group regretted at the uholy activities of some leaders of the ruling in Abia, which its posited have constituted as threat and clogs in the wheel of progress to the economic growths and Infrastructural development of the state, regretting also that the ugly scenario in the party has led to total loss of confidence by people of the state.
The Abia youth group further warned the opposition All Progressive Congress to tread with caution over the seeming clashes of interests for the soul of the party by its leaders and members to avert looming crisis that if not properly resolved, is capable to affect the party’s choice of standard bearers during its forthcoming primaries, and as well as, the main elections in 2023.
The youths further hinted that Ogah has demonstrated uncommon capacity and unwavering commitment towards the government’s positive efforts in the ongoing diversification of the economy, adding that the Minister has provided jobs to large population of youths, men and women from Abia State and beyond, through the industralisation and wealth creation.
The communique jointly signed by the President, Nwabuisi Emmanuel, the Secretary, Samuel Aguiyi and Publicity Secretary, Chijindu Emeruwa, made available to journalists in Umuahia, the state capital on Wednesday.
The socio-cultural group, posited that Uche Ogah has the needed capacities, expertise and competences to rewrite the narratives of governance in Nigeria and foster the basic socio-economic and Infrastructural growths and development in the state that has continued to elude the people, if supported to emerge as the governor in the 2023 elections.
It maintained that the current mood of Abia populaces is entrenching responsive and effective leaderships at all levels of the state, as they vowed to mobilize eligible Abia citizens and residents to cast their votes for credible candidates who would work for the interest of the masses.
According to the group,”we call on all lovers of democracy and all qualified Abian sons and daughters to obtain their PVC, because, PVC is the only weapon they can use to remove non performing leaders, they should make use of it to vote in credible people with visions, good plans, manifestos and blueprints for the development of Abia State, and enhance people’s lives”.
They further applauded the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration in Abia state for the uncommon leadership it had demonstrated since assumption of office in 2015, and also added that the governor has done his best to address the myriads of challenges facing the economic and Infrastructural growth of the state, which among others, is the ongoing establishment of Enyimba Economic City in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of Abia State.
The Nzuko Ikwuano/Umuahia Citizens (NIUC), also used the medium to task Governor Ikpeazu on peaceful and successful transition in 2023, and further advised the Abia Chief Executive to provide a level playing ground for all political parties from the opposition to make use state-owned facilities for their various electioneering campaigns and rallies to maintain the existing political stability in the state.