Abia PDP: Late Ikonne’s running mate kicks against replacement

State will surpass limits under me, says Emenike
There is looming crisis in Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following yesterday’s announcement by the party’s state Chairman, Dr. Asiforo Okere, that Dr. Jasper Uche has been selected as the running mate to the new governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ahaiwe.

Ahaiwe emerged the party’s state governorship candidate, following the primary held about two weeks ago to replace the late Ikonne, who died on January 25.

The party has, rather than retain Philip Igwe as running mate to Ahaiwe, chosen Dr. Uche, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and a native of Isuochi in Umunneochi Council with Igwe, who is a serving member of the state House of Assembly for Umunneochi Constituency.

Expectations were rife in the state that Igwe would remain the deputy governorship candidate to Ahaiwe if he was not endorsed as the substantive governorship candidate to replace his late principal.

Recall that Igwe, on behalf of Ikonne, carried on with statewide campaigns when he was indisposed till his death.

Reacting to the development, the aggrieved Igwe, in a statement, yesterday, urged his supporters to remain calm in the face of his substitution.

MEANWHILE, Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Ikechi Emenike, has stated that the state would, under his leadership, surpass its current limits.

He said that obstacles to progress and development of the state are mere temporary challenges, as he has articulated modalities to surmount and position it on the path of sustainable transformation and growth to attain great height if elected governor.

A cursory look at his election manifesto indicates that the state would, after four years of his government, have in place appropriate modern infrastructure, institutionalised salary and pension payment system, more universities, one industrial cluster in each of the three zones of the state, as well as one business park in each of the 17 councils.

Others are a full-fledged commercial bank, merchant bank, a mortgage bank, an insurance company, a pension fund company, each with its headquarter in the state, an international airport, which will provide at least 300,000 direct and indirect jobs.

According to the APC governorship candidate, who is a development and economic journalist, the state will, in addition, have at least three drug/alcohol/mental health rehabilitation centres with a youth and leisure centre in each council.