24 Years Of Zoning Under PDP Has Not Transformed Abia, It’s Time To Look For Quality Leadership — Rep Onuigbo

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency of Abia State, Rep Sam Onuigbo has called on the people of the state to use the opportunity of the 2023 general elections to look beyond zoning and focus on quality leadership that will transform the state irrespective of region.

He said under the ruling PDP in Abia in the past 24 years, zoning has been strictly adhered to across the three Senatorial Districts but it has not transformed the state, urging for a search for quality leadership in 2023.

The House of Representatives member who recently declared to run for Abia Central Senate gave this advise in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper recently says he is not bothered about zoning in PDP.

He insisted that the achievements of PDP in Abia in the past 24 years is grossly inadequate when juxtaposed with zoning and non-zoning.

He said, “Where the pendulum swings to, I will answer your question. You said the ruling party which is the PDP, I am of the APC and they have zoned and you are talking about zoning and all that, it is okay, you want to do zoning, fine.

“I don’t want to bother myself about zoning or no zoning when I am not in PDP. But I will only ask the proponents of we have zoned to A, B, C. I said this on Channels and I want to repeat it now, you’ve used a process for nearly a quarter of a century and the process has not given you an encouraging results, after 24 years by next year of PDP controlled government in Abia, where the governorship has resided both in the north, in the central and in the south, can you put together the accomplishments of these 24 years and juxtapose it against your zoning or not zoning?

“Just put it together and say okay, after 24 years show me the achievements or are you just talking about zoning and not about governance, that is the question I have asked.”

When asked if the people who have occupied the position as governors did not do enough to provide governance within their periods, he added,” Well, what I am saying is that show me their accomplishments and if after nearly quarter of a century you are finding it difficult to say between now and then, that is what we have done, in nearly a quarter of a century, a quarter of 100 years and you are still consumed by zoning.”

He insisted that there are states that have achieved a lot within the past 24 years, noting that Abia State is not in such category which therefore makes it necessary for the people to search for a leadership that will be fruitful to them.

“What I am saying is that I would like people to spend their valuable time looking for quality leadership, leadership that bears fruit for the common people, that is what people should bother themselves about because if you check it and you know exactly what I am saying, do I need to name states where you can see that the leadership has translated, converted, transformed the state?

“It is a simple thing, I have told you something, put 24 years one side, this is a product of, okay, religious adherence to zoning. Then you now brace that 24 years and then check what has been accomplished. So, if you do the analysis and comparison, then you will now be in a position, perhaps, with the constituents who have been voting all the way,” he stated.