By PETER ANOSIKE

A major stakeholder in the Abia Arise family of Umunneochi chapter of Labour Party (LP), Comrade Bethel Eze-Onyedikachi, has called on the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, to wade into the crisis rocking the party.

This is as the crisis rocking Labour Party in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state is taking a very dangerous dimension.

He also said that the fastest way the governor could put to an end the crisis is by sacking some of his appointees from Umunneochi who are the ones causing the crisis.

Eze-Onyedikachi, who spoke recently to journalists at his Umunneochi country home, alleged that the crisis is orchestrated by the entrance of some strange elements into Abia Arise who did not work for the success of the Labour Party and the victory of the governor during the 2023 election but became ultimate beneficiaries of the victory through appointments, and thereafter started working against the best efforts and personal sacrifices of those that brought the party to victory.

He accused Hon. Amobi Ogah, member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Hon. Nwachi, member representing Umunneochi State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Housing, and Hon. Oluebube Chukwu, Special Adviser to the governor on Due Process, and Hon. Matthias Umeh whom is contesting the leadership of Abia Arise with Chief Ike Opigwe, as those behind the crisis.

His words: “Amobi Ogah has practically abandoned those that worked for him to emerge victorious in the election, and is rather working with members of the opposition to destabilize the party. And for Chaka Chukwumerije, we kept begging him to rejoin the Labour Party and he rebuffed all our entreaties, and came back home only two weeks before the election, and for Oluebube Chukwu he was an aspirant for the Umunneochi State constituency ticket in the PDP, and only joined the Labour Party when he lost the primary election in the PDP. So how come these late corners are the ones trying to destabilize the party by displacing the original founders of Abia Arise and true leaders of the Labour Party in Umunneochi?”

Eze-Onyedikachi extolled the virtues and capacity of Governor Otti and praised “the good work he is doing in Abia State.” He admonished him to be vigilant with those around him as some of them are merely pursuing selfish interests. “The governor must ensure that he entrusts responsibilities with those that worked for him genuinely and be wary of pretenders because they don't have the interest of the masses at heart. Only genuine members of the party should encouraged so that the party would come out stronger in 2027,” Eze-Onyedikachi said.