Dr Max Nduaguibe, an elder from Ukwalangwa, Old Aba Zone of Abia state has insisted that the Abia “Charter of Equity”should be maintained for justice and fairness in Abia State.
Dr Max, the leader of Ukwalangwa Elders Council re-echoed his position and that of the elders of the council on the issue of power zoning in the state on Wednesday in a live political radio program on flo-fm 94.9 Umuahia.
While responding to questions during the live interview, Dr Max x-rayed the political horizon and temperature of Abia state and also maintained the position that he belongs to the socio cultural organization which is a pressure group that is not “directly involved” party politics.
In his words: “We are trying to explain to the people of Abia State on why we are clamoring on why the next governor should come from the Old Aba zone. We base our agreement on the premise of the Charter of Equity which was bequeathed to us by our elders before the creation of Abia State .
Dr Max also explained that some holds the position that the Charter of Equity is obsolete and no longer be applicable, adding that the document was never signed into law till date. But also holds the view that the Charter of Equity has been maintained till date as a form of customary law which has made it impossible for the governor and deputy of Abia State to come from from the same zone. “It is the respect for the charter of Equity”. Dr Max said.
Dr Max still maintained that it is natural that there should be proper power sharing formula in Abia state, while tasking party delegates to do the needful.
“Every Abia Central person knows where they belong. Every person in Bende knows where they belong and not claiming to be Ngwa, so I would expect that the delegates will reason with us and do justice to the course of our aspiration” Dr Max said.
As an elders in the state which is said to be only interested in advising government and others in the state, Dr Max said they “want people to understand that Abia State is not a clan winner takes it all.”
Dr Max also narrated the rudiment of the crisis of power sharing formula in the state.
“When Orji Uzor Kalu was on the saddle, there are things he did not do which he left for his successor to do, the same thing was done when Chief Theodore Orji was governor, he even said it openly that he will not do anything about Aba, (the bad infrastructural situation in Aba). He said when he transfers power to the Ukwalangwa people, let them do it(Aba). So eight years is not enough to clean up Aba. It is about equity and fair play.
“If Orji Uzor Kalu in 2007 had handed power over as he agreed to do to Ukwalangwa people, by now, in 2023 the Ukwalangwa people will be handing power to Abia north again.
“Orji Uzor Kalu at Ukwalangwa during his second tenure campaign made it clear and openly during his campaign at Okpualangwa that he was going to hand over to Ukwalangwa people, but when the time came, he didn’t do that, he handed over to another Bende person complicating the issue we are dealing with today.”Dr Max revealed.
Dr Max however said he is not faulting the constitutional rights of Abians in other regions of the state rather fulfilling the demands of Abia central people, stating that Abia central people is made up of two clans and “they are to share their things according to the division of clans”.
“Ikwuano, Umuahia North and Umuahia South local government area have governed this state for eight years, on the other side you also have three local government; Isialangwa north, Isialangwa south and Osisioma and you say they are not entitled to govern this state? By what calculation? By what merit? By what justice are you arguing?” Dr Max asked.
Dr Max also argued that rotation formula is important in governance because it is the embodiment of clans and tribes put together.
Power rotation in the camp of the peoples Democratic party in Abia state has raised a lot of argument and disagreement as the quest for who will replace governor Okezie Ikpeazu hits up. Some aggrieved members of the party alleged that the incubent governor has projected Professor Uchenna Eleazer Ikonne,former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University as the annoited candidate to run for the party come 2023.
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