…say enough of Ndoki domination
By NewsCritic Reporters
The People of Asa in Ukwa West Local Council of Abia State have vowed to massively vote against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate for the Ukwa West/East federal constituency seat, Chief Chris Abonta, noting that his candidacy is against the grains of equity, fairness and justice.
The people also expressed their readiness to throw over board this time around, the slavish status which the PDP and successive administrations in Abia State have conferred on them over the years.
They made their position known through their umbrella body, ASA Liberation Movement ALM. The ALM which spoke through its President General Emeka Adiele, said the people of ASA ethnic nationality have irrespective of party affiliations resolved to queue behind only candidates from the area during the elections, the position having been held by their kin from the Ndoki axis for the past 16-years unbroken.
Their resolution is coming on the heels of the decision by the PDP to field Chief Chris Abonta as its candidate for the Ukwa West/East federal constituency to replace his elder brother, Chief Uzoma Abonta after 16-years in the saddle. The Abontas are from the Ndoki axis of Ukwa East. Adiele further stated that in view of the deliberate attempt by the PDP to continue to subjugate and oppress the Asa people, they have resolved to back only the candidates from Asa end of Ukwa West during the elections. “The fact is that before the primaries, we called on all the political parties to choose their candidates from Asa area to address this issue of marginalisation. All the other parties listened to us except PDP which nominated Chris Abonta to replace his elder brother after 16-years.
“We the Asa people consider this totally unacceptable, and will therefore do everything legally possible to assert ourselves. To this end, we have decided that irrespective of party affiliations we will only vote for the parties that in the first instance have respected our feelings”, the ALM leader said.
He, therefore, called on the people not to be hoodwinked by the recent appointment of Asa son as the Chairman of the Abia State Oil Producing and Development Commission, ASOPADEC, noting that it is nothing but a rehearsal of the same old but outdated method which the PDP has been using to blindfold the people.
” How can we have two local councils that make up a federal constituency and just one is favoured politically by the government of the day, not minding that Ukwa West (Asa land) is the centre that gives Abia state its 13 percent oil derivation revenue? We are therefore urging our people to resist all temptations to sell their voters. Our position should not be seen as anti-party. We are presently engaged in an existential battle”, the ALM stated.
