By MATTHEW KALU, Umuahia

The quest by High Chief Ikechi Emenike to become the governor of Abia State in 2023 received a major boost on Sunday, August 14, 2022, as the people of Ukwa/Ngwa unanimously endorsed him as their sole consensus governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections.

The endorsement was announced by Ukwa/Ngwa APC caucus from across the nine local government areas that make up Aba Division during a meeting at the country home of Chief Emenike who used the opportunity to unveil the Director-General of his campaign organization ahead of the commencement of full swing campaigns next month.

Aside from endorsing Emenike, the governorship candidate of APC in Abia, the Ukwa/Ngwa APC leaders assured that they would embark on aggressive mobilization of people of the zone across party lines to vote for the party’s standard bearer in the 2023 governorship poll.

APC National Welfare Secretary, Barr. Friday Nwosu, a two- governorship contender in Abia, who led other party leaders of Aba Division to the Sunday meeting held at Emenike’s country home in Umuahia, said the people were desirous of enthroning a government that would sanitise Abia which, he said, was in a state of decay.

A communiqué containing the endorsement under the auspices of APC Stakeholders Forum, Aba Division, during its meeting held at Nwosu’s house in Mgboko Umuoria of Obingwa local government area on Saturday, August 13, 2023, explained that the people came to the decision after fully considering and appraising the political developments in Abia APC.

The three-point communiqué reads: “The entire members of APC in Aba Division comprising the seven local government areas of Ngwa land and the two local government areas of Ukwa land hereby endorse and adopt High Chief Ikechi Emenike as our consensus Governorship Candidate for Abia State in the 2023 general elections.

“The Forum further unanimously adopts whosoever High Chief Ikechi Emenike shall in his wisdom choose as his Deputy Governorship Candidate from Ukwa land of Aba Division of Abia State for the 2023 general elections.

“The Forum shall aggressively mobilise APC members and non-members in Aba Zone to enhance the victory of High Chief Ikechi Emenike as the Governor of Abia State in the 2023 general election.”

The communiqués was signed by Nwosu, members of the State Working Committee of Abia APC from Abia Division, including Mrs C.C Erondu, (State Women Leader), Engr. Solomon Alozie, State Auditor), Sir Justice Onwumelu (Zonal Chairman,Abia South); Barr. Nnadozie Okpokiri (House of Representatives Candidate, Ukwa East/Ukwa East Federal Constituency), Hon. Nnamdi Chidiebere (House of Representatives Candidate, Obingwa/Ugwunagbo/Osisioma Federal Constituency), all the nine local government party chairmen and other stakeholders.

Addressing the meeting which had in attendance APC State Working Committee members, National and State House of Assembly candidates of the party, among others, Nwosu explained that the Forum took the step because it was “committed to seeing to it” that Emenike becomes the Governor of Abia State.

He said that many support groups and structures have keyed into the project, adding, “we are not going back. We will use our flesh, our blood, our sweat to get this thing done,” insisting that all hands must be on deck to realize the goal of making Emenike governor in 2023 to rescue the state.

“Abia is bleeding, Abia is in a state of decay, the state of Abia State is a natural dust bin and we cannot continue to behave as if it is good, it is not good. We are not just coming back from somewhere, we have been here since 1999 and we know the people who have kept us in a state of disrepair, in a state of decadence and decay. We have to reject them,” he said.

Describing Emenike as a strict disciplinarian, who has not committed any fraud, Nwosu noted that if Emenike emerges governor, “everything will be in accordance with decent society.”

“Let us work together and install somebody who when he is there, they will know that we have put up somebody that will administer and recover the resources of the state. May we know that we are in a state of revolution. Revolution is not for you to carry gun, revolution is for you to say no, this thing going on badly for long is not our tradition, we have to change it,” he said.

Responding, Emenike, thanked the people for taking the bold step, saying, “I thank you for your steadfastness and I thank you for your faith that Abia should and can be better and would be better in Jesus Name. This is the great foundation for the new Abia and after today, there is no going back until we get to Government House, rescue this state and develop it to the glory of God and benefit of all Abians.”

While unveiling Chief Uche Ogboso as the Director-General of his campaign organization, Emenike described the former Ohafia Local Government Executive Chairman and a former Commissioner who was also the first Chief Whip of Abia State House of Assembly, as an educated man; an astute businessman, and a veteran, decent politician who would add value to his governorship project.

He appealed to all to accord the DG all the necessary cooperation “so that we can achieve victory.”

In his acceptance speech, the DG thanked Emenike for choosing him to help in the task of bringing about the new Abia, adding that he would adopt innovations and team work in driving the campaign.

“I don’t know it all, but God in heaven, at a time, makes things happen. I am happy that all of us present here, including my humble self, have been chosen by God, at this time. I am going to work with everybody. I am going to consult extensively, and I am going to accept advice that are necessary for this job to be done,” Ogboso promised.