The people of Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State have decried the unfair treatment being meted to them with regard to power sharing in the state.

The people bemoaned their fate on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 when leaders and stakeholders from the local government paid a courtesy cum solidarity on the state governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, at his Umuobiakwa country home in Obingwa local government area,

Speaking on the issue, a former member of Abia State Legislature who represented Isuikwuato State Constituency, Hon. Obinna Ekekwe, told Ikpeazu that Isuikwuato was being misconstrued as part of Old Bende.

The Isuikwuato people attributed their misfortune to the erroneous lumping together of Isuikwuato district with Old Bende, though both were contiguous and enjoy cordial relationship.

Ekekwe lamented that “major and juicy government positions always go to the people of Old Bende on the assumption that Abia North has adequately been represented and rewarded.”

According to Ekekwe, no son or daughter of Isuikwuato as a District has ever been appointed into such positions as Governor of the State, Deputy Governor, Attorney-General, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Head of Service, Secretary to the State Government, among other top positions. He implored the Governor to use his good offices to correct such imbalance.

Current Chairman of Abia Founding Fathers, Dr Onyike James Onyike, while buttressing the sentiment expressed by Hon. Ekekwe, took the gathering down memory lane on the matters of movement and creation of Abia State.

Dr. Onyike made it clear that the issue of equity, Justice and fairness to all was the dream of the founding fathers of Abia and how Isuikwuato District was existing in denial.

Also speaking, HRH Eze Silas Chukwu, called the attention of the governor to the security issues around and about Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) and prayed him to find a lasting solution to the security question as the people of the local government now live in constant fear.

He thanked the governor for the ongoing construction of Isunabo - Ukwunwangwu Road, adding that he was satisfied with the quality of work being done.

In his remarks, President-General of Isuikwuato Development Union, Engr. Osondu Onyedimara, thanked the governor for the recently awarded contract for reconstruction of the eight-kilometer road, stretching from Nunya junction to Ahonta Eluama.

Onyedimara pleaded with the Governor to extend the road contract to Ogboro junction as it was a major trunk road for the people, just as he pleaded with him to consider Akara Ahaba link road. He similarly made a case for Acha Road “to link us with our brothers in Uturu,” noting that Acha is the food basket of Isuikwuato LGA.

The President-General assured Ikpeazu of the continued loyalty of Isuikwuato people to his administration.

Earlier, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant and a prominent son of Isuikwuato, Senator Emma Nwaka, had extolled the cordial relationship between the governor and the Isuikwuato people, saying he was not surprised that the governor granted their request for the visit at a very short notice.

Responding, the Governor thanked his guests for the visit and promised to finish strong with the people of Isuikwuato, revealing to them he was building one of best diagnostic centres in Isuikwuato General Hospital.

Recalling that both late Bob Ogbuagu and Dr Anagha Ezikpe gave him copies of the Abia Charter of Equity, the Governor agreed with the people that the charter of Equity had been implemented more in the breach.

He equally agreed with his guests that the people of Isuikwuato District have not been fairly treated in terms of power sharing, promising that there would be more discussions on the matter, going forward, to assuage the frayed nerves.

Members of the delegation also included HRH Eze Alata, HRH Eze Peter Ginikanwa, HRH Eze (Engr) Augustine Udeh, Nkalu Ukwu of Umunnekwu, Dr Pharm Chris Ike, Dr Chinonyerem Uwadinjo, Sir Reuben Onyeabo, Chief Frank Ebere Ikoro, Prince Okezie Isiocha, Hon Chinedu Igboko, Dr Francis Eleizu, Hon Monday Ajaegbu, Dr Martins Okoji, and Chief Ben Egwuonwu.