Ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Abia State, a leading aspirant on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA Sir Chikwe Udensi has faulted the alleged endorsement of former Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, ABSU Prof. Eleazar Uche Ikonne by Ukwa-la-Ngwa political bloc, saying the former VC did not leave any legacy in ABSU to qualify him for endorsement.
Speaking on a radio programme, Open Parliament on Love FM Umuahia on Wednesday streamed live by ABN TV and Radio, Sir Udensi said information available to him indicated that the alleged endorsement of Prof. Ikonne to take over Abia governance in 2023 was at the instance of the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
There has been agitations from stakeholders in Abia PDP, cautioning against imposition of an Ngwa man like Ikonne as the candidate of the party ahead of the 2023 election. Their reason is that Ikpeazu, an Ngwa man cannot be succeeded by a fellow Ngwa.
Sir Udensi said it would have been a different thing if PDP stakeholders had met to unanimously endorse Prof. Ikonne as its candidate, insisting that it is the choice of the governor which he described as undemocratic.
The Interpol Systems Consultant wondered why Prof. Ikonne was endorsed, stating that he does not have capacity, adding that the professor has not contributed much even to his profession.
“There is nothing much to talk about in ABSU that he managed for years. It does not show enormous outfit to guarantee him unanimous endorsement.
“ABSU is entirely a PDP thing. A young man I spoke to who was in ABSU was not comfortable with the arrangement. Nothing shows that ABSU is among the top universities in Nigeria.
“Ukwa-la-Ngwa people, I have many friends from Ukwa and Ngwa. In fact the one from Ukwa told me that Ukwa-la-Ngwa is a fraud, it’s entirely orchestrated by political leaders. When it is time for election, you hear Ukwa-la-Ngwa but after election, it dies.
“When it’s time for appointment of Commissioners, award of contracts, promotion of civil servants, even when it comes to nomination at federal level, you don’t hear Ukwa-la-Ngwa.
“Why is it that it’s only time for election that you hear Ukwa-la-Ngwa? So he was telling me it’s a fraud created by political leaders to achieve political aims,” he said.
