…Over comment on guber ticket
* Don’t set State on fire, Ochendo begs gladiators
The Abia State government has berated the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe, over his opposition to zoning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship ticket ahead the 2023 general elections.
The Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo, who spoke on behalf of the government, said: “The recent unnecessary diatribe by Distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who is currently representing the good people of Abia South in the Senate against the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, is very unfortunate and totally unbecoming.
“First, the party has spoken and it remains binding on all law abiding members of the PDP in Abia State. Therefore, any personal attack, either overtly or covertly on the party and or the person of the leader of the party, Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, is a wasteful exercise unexpected of a senior official of Senator Abaribe’s standing.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, Abia State, is a democratic institution whose decisions at all times must be based on the ideas, opinions and aggregate interests of members and stakeholders at all levels.
“In the instant case, Abia PDP decided to zone it’s governorship ticket to Abia Central and Abia North based on the feedbacks they got from the recently concluded tour of local governments in the entire State wherein leaders, stakeholders and the entire membership freely proclaimed their preferences and made submissions as it affects the 2023 governorship ticket.
They rightly observed that only local governments from Abia North and Abia Central indicated interest to fly the flag of the party for the upcoming guber elections during the fact finding tour.
“Specifically, Senator Abaribe’s Obingwa Local Government Area asked the party to support their bid to have Senator Abaribe to run for the Presidency of Nigeria.
“Thus, the party simply acquiesced to this noble request and will definitely help Obingwa Local Government Area in this regard.
“Instead of Senator Abaribe to embarrass himself by embarking on this fruitless adventure of confronting the masses of PDP in Abia State, it is expected that he would go back to his LGA and initiate consultations in order to help them realise their lofty objectives of supporting him, Senator Abaribe, for a higher office such as the Presidency.
For one person who has been deputy governor, and four-time Senator, it will naturally be a thing of joy for him to answer the clarion call of his people. It would be unthinkable to believe that any right thinking Abia patriot will find nothing wrong in locating the guber ticket in the same LGA as the incumbent given the prevailing sensibility of the generality of Abians at this point in our history.
“Nobody is against the desire of anybody to run for anything, however, Senator Abaribe’s disruptive ambition cannot be prosecuted at the expense of equity, fairness and stability of the PDP and the Abia polity as a whole.
“Trying to blackmail, cajole, bully, threaten and or disrespect the party in any manner would not only amount to a flagrant display of insensitivity but an invitation to unpleasant consequences. The personal obsession of an individual cannot override the common good of all Abians.
“The party cannot be said to have imposed anyone because no individual was named in their Press Release rather aspirants interested from the identified Zones can now deepen consultations in line with laid down ethos and conventions.
“Undeniably, zoning is an integral part of our party, the PDP and Senator Abaribe has benefitted from this formula countless times.
“He was the progenitor of the Otu Onu movement that demanded for zoning of governorship to his people. Now, that his folks have had their turn, he should respectfully give way for areas that have not tasted the governorship to take their turn.
“Crying foul and making unguarded statements, arising from self interest, is clearly a calculated attempt to destabilise the PDP in Abia State.
“Abians from all walks of life, particularly the peace loving PDP leaders and stakeholders are urged to call Senator Abaribe and his collaborators to order. “There’s nothing personal about the current zoning of the gubernatorial ticket of the party. What we need now is not a self-serving one-man show but a collective pursuit that will ensure the victory of our party at all levels in the upcoming polls.
“The leader of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, is a very humane and considerate leader who, at all times, has remained true to a good conscience in his approach to issues affecting individuals and groups in our polity. The concerns expressed by Abians, which formed the basis for the adoption of the current zoning arrangement of the PDP is pertinent.
“It is, therefore, curious that elders like Senator Abaribe, who ought to applaud this ingenious political solution, would resort to comments that are based on delusions of grandeur.”
Meanwhile, the immediate past governor, Senator Theodore Orji (Ochendo), has also warned against actions that might cause trouble in the State.
Orji, who represents Abia Central at the National Assembly, reiterated his position on the governorship ticket saying:
“My attention has been drawn to the news on social media platforms and handles concerning Abia State governorship and where it is zoned to.
“Let me state categorically clear that my earlier position on the subject matter remains sacrosanct and unambiguous.
“All those working to set Abia State on fire should toe the path of peace, do a rethink and sustain the peace we have been savouring as God’s State.