Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the President-General of Oha Ukwa-Ngwa Congress worldwide, Barr. Chinenye Emelogu, has appealed to the people of Ukwa Ngwa land to come together and build that same cohesion and unity of purpose that led to the emergence of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu in 2015.
He also called on all persons, especially those that contested the gubernatorial ticket with Prof Uche Eliazar Ikonne to sheath their swords and support the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Abia gubernatorial flagbearer in the overall interest of Ngwa people and Abians in general.
Emelogu who made the appeal in an exclusive interview with Newscritic online said Ukwa-Ngwa people cannot afford to go into the forthcoming general elections fragmented.
His appeal is coming against the backdrop of the rancour and subsequent cracks among the Ukwa-Ngwa people, resulting from the just concluded primaries of the parties.
According to Barr. Emelogu, continued rift and division among the people of Ngwa land would be detrimental to the general interest of not only Ngwa people, but entire Abians who are desirous of having Prof. Ikonne as their next governor so that he will continue with the good works of the present administration in the state.
“The truth and fact of the matter is that only one person can fly the PDP gubernatorial flag in the state in the general elections. Although, so many contested the Primaries but at a point l happened to be among those that pleaded with some of the aspirants to step down. The intention was for us to present a candidate. And now that Prof. Ikonne has emerged from the exercise, I am using this opportunity to passionately appeal to all those who contested with him to rally round him to ensure his victory at the main polls. It will be in the overall interest of the people if they the former aspirants will place the interest of Abians above their personal interests at this critical moment,” Emelogu stated.
He expressed happiness that already some of the former aspirants such as Ncheta Omerekpe and others have declared their support for Ikonne, and have gone ahead to collapse their structures into those of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Abia State University Uturu. The Oha Ukwa-Ngwa Congress leader, therefore, called on others to follow the footsteps of Omerekpe and others who have decided to place the interest of the people above theirs.
He specifically appealed to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to forget whatever misgivings he may have with the present process and rally round Ikonne in the overall interest of the people. “I am not unmindful that he, Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe is now with the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. But he can still support this course, because it is in the interest of the people. And I know him as someone who is always fighting for the common good”.
