Ihe Abia, a nascent political pressure group in Abia State and Southeast has called out the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu on his recently announced zoning formula to be adopted by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming 2023 governorship election in the State.
According to the group the formula was against the directive of the PDP in Southeast which urged leaders of the party in the geopolitical zone to maintain the zoning arrangements already in place in the States. Not only that, the unporpular zoning arrangement which pitched Abia North with Abia Central, would truncate the harmonious political environment the State enjoys.
In a statement signed by the Convener of the group, Ichie Emeka Okpara(Onwa), the group rejected in it’s entirety all that the zoning arrangement stood for as it was against the grain of ‘Abia Charter of Equity’ and could not ‘serve the cause of peace, unity and love for which Abia State was known’.
The statement further declared: “We express our disappointment with the new zoning formula introduced by the Abia State PDP, which zoned the 2023 governorship to the two zones of Abia Central and Abia North senatorial zones. This is unheard of in the history of our great party and in the zoning of political offices in our dear State, Abia.
“It is unimaginably unfortunate that the leadership of the State and the Party cannot offer a harmonious position on this very simple matter that is the foundation of our unity. The zoning arrangement was introduced by the founding fathers of Abia State to allay fears of domination and marginalisation of one zone by another. This present arrangement will do nothing but to spike the fear of domination and destroy the Charter of Equity that has kept us together as one people.
“It is regrettable that the present leadership through this unholy formula is trying to raise tension that is capable of bringing our loving State to ruins. We condemn this self-serving arrangement and call on the governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and the leadership of the Party to immediately reverse itself in good time and ensure that a zoning formula that stands on equity and fairness is restored.
“In line with the Abia Charter of Equity and our productive zoning tradition, we call on the governor and the leadership of the Party to zone the governorship to Abia North whose turn it is to produce the next governor of Abia State for peace to reign”
Ihe Abia commended the leadership of the PDP South East zone and pledged to align itself unreservedly with its position which clearly states that all existing zoning arrangement should be maintained pointing out that the position was the only position that would guarantee lasting peace in the South East, Abia State and the party.
We call on all stakeholders, statesmen, elders of the Party and all well meaning Ndi Abia to insist that the Party does the right thing and zone the governorship to Abia North, the statement concluded.
Source: Drumnewsonline
