By Olayinka Ajayi
The entry of the immediate past Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) in charge of Aba and environs, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, into the governorship race in Abia State has altered the permutations on who succeeds Governor Theodore Orji next year.
Before now, many names, including those of Senator Enyeinnaya Abaribe, Senator Nkechi Nwaorgu, Barrister Friday Nwosu, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Chief Emeka Wogu, Chief Marc Wabara, Dr. Uche Ogah, Chief Alex Oti, Elder Acho Nwakamma, have featured prominently in the race.
The decision of the state Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Orji, the elders, among other stakeholders, to zone the governorship to Abia South next year has, to a large extent, helped to narrow the race.
Despite negligible agitations, majority of Abians support the decision of the PDP to zone the governorship slot to Abia South which has not occupied the position for the past 22 years when the state was created. It is almost the consensus in the state that any other political party expecting to make any impact in the governorship race to toe the line of the PDP.
With the adoption of the zoning formula by the PDP, some of the gubernatorial aspirants have been put at a disadvantage in the contest.
They include Ogah and Otti, both from Abia North and Nwaogu currently representing Abia Central in the Senate.
Whether viewed as a party position or from any other angle, the zoning arrangement of the PDP is a welcomed development that would assuage the marginalization of the Ukwa Ngwa people of the Abia South as well as enthrone equity, fairness and justice in the polity of the God’s Own State.
For the people of the Ukwa Ngwa, the opportunity beckons on them to fine-tune their political arts, put their house in order to accept a candidate amongst themselves as this contest is meant to produce only one governor for the state.
This brings to the fore the personality, capacity, and credibility of these aspirants jostling to govern the State from Abia South senatorial zone.
At press time, Nwosu, Ikpeazu, Wogu, Abaribe, are said to have collected their nomination forms on the platform of the PDP.
The PDP holds sway in Abia and it is doubtful if any other political party has the ability to make impact in the 2015 elections in the state.
In the case of Ikpeazu, there is an overwhelming support and acceptability of this renowned biochemist, teacher and highly accomplished public servant from Umuobiakwa village, Isialaukwu, Mbato Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
To analysts, he represents a paradigm shift in two dimensions. He is young, vibrant; enthusiastic and has the energy to pursue the dream of the founding fathers and aspiration of the people of the state.
He also has the experience in governance and track record of bridge-building and cementing relationships; this he has exhibited in all the positions he held in Abia.
He is loved by many Abians because he is not controversial, a devout Christian with sound moral integrity. Ikpeazu served as the transition committee (TC) chairman of Obingwa local government area of Abia State in 2002 and later became the special adviser to the governor on the environment.
He was subsequently appointed the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009. Within the period, he turned around the fortunes of ASPIMSS and made it a revenue yielding agency of government. It’s also on record that over 1,000 Abians were employed in ASPIMSS.
In 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During his tenure, he facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the NBTE.
In 2011, he was reappointed General Manager of ASPIMSS, a position he held till 2013.
In June, 2013, he was appointed the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Aba and environs.
While holding that office, his competence, managerial efficiency and vision played out in such a way that the testimonies of his performance changed the commercial nerve city of Aba from the dirtiest to one of the cleanest cities in the country.
He set up the ASEPA structure from the scratch in Aba to what his Successor is consolidating today.
Everybody in Aba, including those in opposition to the present government, attest to the fact that he discharged his duties to the admiration of not only the Aba people but also the entire Abia State and beyond interpreting the vision of the state government on the environment and waste management till October this year when he resigned to join the gubernatorial race.
In his service philosophy, Ikpeazu, during a recent ceremony in Aba, said, “My commitment is to serve God and humanity. Therefore I am driven by a strong determination to achieve results. In this regard, I am propelled by the fundamental needs of our people. I believe that to successfully achieve this, there is need to consult and involve a wide spectrum of our society.
“I think through issues and consult appropriately before arriving at decision. I appreciate intellectual discussions and contributions. I encourage people to express themselves, share their opinions and ideas on issues of interest to our society. Most importantly I take responsibility for every action and inaction under my watch”.
Without mincing word, he is seen by many Abians as the best candidate capable of consolidating on the legacy projects of the Orji government.
He has been on ground and has exhibited expertise and competence in all the positions he held.
It is the firm belief of Aba residents and Abians that if given the mandate, he will turn around the infrastructure in Aba and consolidate on the performance of the present government.
Other aspirants jostling for the Abia governorship slot from Abia South can also be assessed based on their performance especially those who have held positions both in the state and the federal level.
For Abaribe, this is his second attempt in the governorship race. He contested against Governor Orji Uzor Kalu on the platform of the defunct ANPP in 2003 and lost before returning to the PDP from where he was voted into the Senate where he will be competing his second term next year.
He has been tested and would be judged by his people based on his performance as a former deputy governor and senator who represented them for two terms.
Like Abaribe, Wogu, the immediate past Minister of Labour and Productivity, is regarded as a “big boy” who grew up at home but has lost the touch with the grassroots.
For Emuchay and Wabara both from Ukwa East local government area of the state, it is widely believed that the Ugwa man would take the governorship slot of Abia while their Ukwa brother goes to the Senate.
Another aspirant that is said to have possessed strong political will to assume the plum job of the state is Nwosu but unfortunately he has not been tested with any political position in the state.
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