A chieftain of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has berated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for choosing to back his Rivers State counterpart Nyesom Wike to clinch the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the primary election.
Udensi, a governorship aspirant in Abia State, wondered why Ikpeazu would decide to abandon all Igbo aspirants for office of the President on the platform of the PDP to support Wike, a South -southerner.
Speaking on a radio programme – Open Parliament on Love FM Umuahia on Wednesday – the Interpol Systems Consultant noted that Wike has severally voiced his dislike for Ndigbo.
Udensi said Wike had in the past openly renounced Igbo despite that some persons from South-south bear Igbo names.
While noting that Wike is not being forced to become Igbo, the APGA chieftain said it is wrong for Igbo to support Wike when it is the turn of South-east to lead the country.
While admitting that Wike has done well in terms of developmental in Rivers State, the governorship hopeful maintained that 2023 is the time for Igbo to lead the country as President. Udensi further recollected that after the civil war, it was only in Rivers State that Igbo were denied access to their property, whereas in the North, South-west and Middle Belt, Igbo property remained intact for them.
“After the civil war, Igbos who were in the North gained back their properties; even in Yoruba land, Lagos and Ibadan, their houses were safe.
“Those who were even in the Middle Belt and in Benin, nobody’s property was tampered with. It was only in Rivers State that people lost their properties. “Up till today, they are clamouring. No form of compensation or restitution was offered, we lost our property and Wike continues to adhere to these tenets of stopping our people from accessing their hard earned wealth from our neighbours – Rivers State,” he said.
Udensi further noted that when a presentation was made to Wike to stop efforts to entirely delete Igbo, especially names of places like Rumuola, Rumuigbo, Rumuibekwe and others from Rivers State, he reacted to it negatively.
While further stating that Wike kicked against Rivers representation in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Udensi insisted that Wike does not deserve the support of Ndigbo.
He called on Governor Ikpeazu to withdraw his support for Wike, stating that prominent Igbo men have indicated interest to lead the country as president, and they deserve Ikpeazu’s support.