2023: Ikpeazu Must Rise Against Vendetta and Witch-hunt (Opinion)

By Fabian Uchenna, Abuja

The battle for the soul of Abia has indeed intensified as political parties in the the State continue their alignment and realignments ahead the 2023 general election for the purpose of controlling government in 2023.

For some who are ardent supporters of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, it is still a source of worry that the PDP in Abia State has been thrown into political imbroglio since the debate over who succeeds Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and where power should be zoned to.

It is no longer news that all is not well with the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the State. Discussions between party faithful present and past, point to the fact that there is division and disunity in the party which is bound to affect the chances of the party in 2023.

The saying that a house divided against itself cannot stand, becomes so true in view of the various accusations, counter accusation and wranglings the party has experienced in the past few months. On social media, those aggrieved have spit fire concerning the leadership. Others who joined various political parties have openly accused Governor Ikpeazu and the Chairman of the party in the State Rt. Hon. Alwell Asiforo, of impunity.

This accusation stemmed from the 3 man-delegate election conducted by the party which the likes of PDP aspirants: The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Ncheta Omerepke, Engr Enyinnaya Nwafor, Dr. Chima Anyaso among others in that cadre opposed.

What about the likes of the member representing Isiala Ngwa North/South Federal Constituency Rep. Darlington Nwokocha, Hon Solomon Adaelu, member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency Ginger Onwusibe among others who are at the peak of their political careers but were asked to give up on their quest for others to contest whereas these individuals have performed creditably.

Of a truth, PDP lost the shakers of Abia politics in the above mentioned creme de la cremes who contributed in the Okezie project in 2015. What about the embittered Chairman Obingwa LGA, Hon. Micheal Ibe Nwoke and the former chairman Local Government Civil Service Commission, Chief Okezie Ugboaja who sacrificed everything to ensure that Ikpeazu emerged Governor.

Today, the story of Ibe Nwoke, has triggered reactions around the globe with many asking and wondering why the incumbent Governor chose to be this ungrateful and pursue vendetta against Ibe Nwoke. While that of Ibe Nwoke is raging, what about Ikpeazu’s right hand man, Okezie Ugboaja, who sacrificed the little he had to ensure that Ikpeazu emerged Governor in 2015. His case has indeed turned out to be a case of witch-hunt.

It was in the media last week, that he is being summoned before the panel on review of issues of irregular employment in the Local Government Service Commission from August 2019 to February 2021 despite an instruction by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu a year ago for dissolution of the panel.

A further investigation into the rationale behind the resurrection of this case even when Ikpeazu disbanded the Panel, revealed that it is not unconnected with Chief Ugboaja’s dumping of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP for the Young Progressives Party, YPP.

In all these, one will be quick to ask, why would Ikpeazu suddenly be this ungrateful even to his kinsmen that carried ballot boxes for him in 2015 including financial support? Well this shows how ungrateful human beings can be.

It is also pertinent to say that while those who have left the party still spit fire against Ikpeazu, the likes of Chief Charles Ogbonna, Evulogu Ibeku, Eme, Emma Nwaka, High Chief Uche Akwukwaegbu (Bawas) among others, have continued to speak out about the injustice, lack of direction in the party.

Indeed, Governor Ikpeazu and the PDP have a herculean task ahead the 2023 election. The task ahead of them include finding a way to appease those who left the party for other political parties. This is imperative as these individuals know exactly the magic PDP performed in time past to win elections.

Ikpeazu and the PDP cannot claim to be ignorant of the capacity at the disposal of the decampees who are also gunning for positions on the platform of other political parties.

Again, those currently in the party should also be appeased, because one can read from their lips that they are still card carrying members who have sworn to work against the party in 2023. If the PDP is serious about retaining power in 2023, the leader of the party has to rise against vendetta, witch-hunt and galvanize those who are still card carrying members of the party while also extending hands of fellowship to those who left due to impunity and lack of direction.