Gov. Ikpeazu and the Great Ukwa-Ngwa Declaration 2

 
By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Before now, the endorsements were sparing, but as the new dawn of the year was recorded, the endorsements are coming in torrent.Groups are competing for spaces to be captured in this new trend.Virtually all the groups in the state have been identified with this cause to ensure that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, the first Ukwa- Ngwa man to have a shot at the number position in the state extends his stay beyond 2019 as the other counterparts of the Ukwa-Ngwa extraction have done two terms.
Early in the year and right at the door step of the governor at his country home home in Umuobiakwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area, stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Abia South zone of the state gathered to endorse one of their own, Okezie Ikpeazu (PhD).
The endorsement reverses the frequently quoted scripture that” a prophet is without honour except in his home town”, and was remarkable for some reasons. One, it is an obvious indication that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu is at home with his people. Two, there is also a strong resolution that no Ukwa-Ngwa son or daughter would accept any offer of a running mate from any of the governorship aspirants. Three, is it a clear testimony of the outstanding performance of the governor. Fourth, it is the re-affirmation of the call for justice and equity which stipulates that the Abia South people must do two terms as done by their counterparts from Abia North and Central.
Few months later came the climax of the endorsements when the people of Ukwa- Ngwa, constituted by the indigenous people of Old Aba Administrative Division, gathered in their ancestral home to mark the Great Ukwa- Ngwa Declaration 2. The Ukwa-Ngwa people in the present administrative composition of Abia State occupies nine out of the 17 local government areas in the state. Ukwa- Ngwa ethnic nationality is one of the largest ethnic-nationalities in the country. One unfortunate situation of this ethnic- nationality is that they have not produced the governor of the state, despite their numerical strength, since its creation in 1991.
Th e narrative changed prior to 2015 general elections when the governorship position was ceded to the zone.To ensure that equity and justice, Gov. Ikpeazu, coming from the Ukwa- Ngwa extraction should be allowed to have a second shot at the governorship position of the state to be at par with other ethnic- nationality in the state who have had two terms.
This is the essence of the Great Ukwa- Ngwa Declaration 2.The founding fathers of Abia State, in their profound wisdom during the creation of the state, developed a document known as “Abia Charter of Equity”.The document was to ensure that equity, justice, fairness, unity, peace and progress would reign in the State.
“One good turn”, they say,”deserves another”. It will be recalled that in 2003, the first Ukwa- Ngwa Declaration was convened by the same convener of the second declaration, Chief Reagan Ufomba at the Aba Township to make the second term bid of Chief Orji Kalu as the governor of the state then a smooth sail. The Ukwa- Ngwa people at that declaration did not only adopt Chief Orji Kalu as their consensus candidate, but gave him their overwhelming support.
The people of Ukwa- Ngwa, as expressed in the communique drawn after the declaration, felt disapointed that at the end of Chief Orji Kalu’s second term, power was not ceded to the Ukwa-Ngwa rather went the other way.But the people would remain grateful to the former governor of the state, Sen Theodore Orji, who out of his magnanimity was instrumental to ceding power to Ukwa- Ngwa in 2015.
For the people of Ukwa-Ngwa, how Gov. Ikpeazu was able to raise the multiple projects littering the lenght and breadth of the state, despite lean resources and distractions occasioned by protracted litigations, would remain second to the seven wonders of the world.
It is on that strength that the entire people of Ukwa-Ngwa applaud Gov. Ikpeazu for his sterling performances.The people are proud of Gov. Ikpeazu for his mature disposition, especially during his time of persecution. Of a worthy note are the appeals that emanated from the declaration to the effect that no Ukwa- Ngwa indigene should present himself or herself either as a governorship candidate or running mate in the 2019 governorship election in the State.
On a final note, just like the Ukwa- Ngwa people have been supportive of the second term bids of people from other ethnic extractions in the state, now is the time for them to reciprocate by supporting the second term bid of Gov. Ikpeazu.