Abia State Governor Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu has assured Abia stakeholders that he will reveal his preference of a successor and political direction soon.
Ikpeazu spoke in response to requests from Bende PDP stakeholders who paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Umuahia.
Abia State has increasing anxiety concerning the geo-political direction, also referred to as zoning, of the gubernatorial succession in the State. The Governor has remained above the fray. Instead, he committed to abiding by the choice of the Peoples Democratic Party.
One group contends that the gubernatorial seat should return to Abia North Senatorial Zone as the three senatorial zones have had their turn. The other group says it should revert to the Ngwa side of the Abia Central Senatorial Zone. Most of the arguments cite the Abia Charter of Equity 1981 between the Aba Division comprising parts of Abia South and Abia Central and Umuahia Division (old Bende), including parts of Abia Central and Abia North.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian Governor of the State, hailed from Abia North, though he now belongs to Ebonyi State and served two years. Orji Uzor Kalu also followed from Abia North and served eight years. He handed over to Chief Theodore Orji whose side of Abia Central is in old Bende, also had an eight-year tenure.
Incumbent governor Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is from Abia South and will conclude eight years in May 2023.
Those from Abia North or the former Umuahia Division have done 18 years. The equity advocates argue that it should remain in Ngwa part of Abia Central for another eight years.
Against this backdrop, Ikpeazu responded to the Bende PDP stakeholders.
“I have witnessed the two transitions in this State. I was here when Governor Orji Uzor Kalu managed his transition. He showed the way, and we all followed. My immediate predecessor also played his part during his time and showed the way we all followed. The lot is on me now, and I will live up to that obligation. I will show the way, and I know that we will follow,” Ikpeazu said.
Ikpeazu assured, “Ndi Bende, unu sim gbaa torch. Azutalam battery and agam agba torch ahu in a matter of days.” It means, Bende people, you have asked me to put on the torch. I have bought batteries, and I will deploy the torch in a matter of days.
The PDP processes for these matters across the country are due to be commerce in full swing in a few days.