Abia: Party Chieftain Faults Abaribe’s Governorship Ambition

Uche Nwosu, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) from Abia State, has berated the recent declaration by the Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe to vie for the position of Governor of Abia State come 2023.

Senator Abaribe had declared intentions to contest in the state’s governorship election in 2023.

The Abia South Senator disclosed this while answering questions from journalists at an event in Obingwa and Aba North Local Government Areas.

Abaribe had disclosed that he already informed the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu of his ambition to succeed him come 2023.

However, while making his position known in a worded statement issued to journalists in Umuahia, on Thursday, APC scribe, Nwosu posited that Abaribe lacked the moral justification to be Abia governor and also berated the federal lawmaker for remaining mute over the state of affairs in Abia State for the past 16 years.

He further insisted that Abaribe has failed to perform and deliver dividends of democracy in the last sixteen years in the national assembly, regretting that the latter’s senator status has completely disconnected Abia south from the federal government and lacked democracy dividends.

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Nwosu said, “it’s a recognized fact that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s length of stay in the Senate, doesn’t commensurate with the level of development on the ground in Abia South Senatorial district and the state generally. He practically made the Senate his permanent abode, having been there for over 16 years, but could not influence developmental change and address all the federal roads in deplorable condition in his Senatorial district (Abia South), right from President Goodluck Jonathan’s PDP led administration and the current President Buhari’s regime. I could say that Abia south zone has been existing without a voice since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.

Continuing, the former APGA Stalwart submitted, “that’s why one can’t travel by road from Osisioma/Port Harcourt Enugu express road to Port Harcourt-Rivers state. That’s why one can’t travel from Aba to Akwa Ibom and Calabar. That’s why one can’t travel from Opobo junction to Azumiri. And that’s why Rivers people, Cameroonians and Northerners hardly come to Ariaria and New Market anymore to buy foods wholesale.

“The people of his Senatorial district lack effective representation in the Senate. Championing the cause or speaking against actions against IPOB is quite different from championing the cause of a Senatorial district. It’s also different from being a state governor”.

According to Nwosu in his statement which party said, “I read through Nigerian National Newspapers about the formal declaration of Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe two days ago (Monday), to contest the Abia governorship seat at the 2023 general elections. In his declaration speech, he expressed his readiness to serve and to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people. Democratically and legally, he has the right to aspire for any elective position in Nigeria. But there’s a saying that “Charity begins at home and justice begins next door”. I know many in the state may not have the courage to ask the questions I’m about to put across to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. As a patriotic citizen of the state, I have decided to ask some of the Abia 2023 Gubernatorial aspirants a few questions, starting with Senator Abaribe, this is because Abians have been taken for a ride for too long by our political class.

“I have high respect for Senator Abaribe and other Abia political class and wish not to join issues with them. Abia South zone people have been electing Sen Abaribe for the past 16 years for a specific purpose, which is to effectively represent the zone, ensuring that all the federal roads in the zone are in good condition. Ensuring that there are enough transformers and armoured cables to decongest the overloaded transformers so that people can enjoy steady access to the regular electric current on the FEEDER WIRE. Ensuring that the people of his zone have access to prepaid meters to free them from unnecessary estimated billing and using his party connection as a member of the ruling party in the state to ensure that all the state roads in his zone receive proper attention. The people aren’t asking him too much”.