Ikpeazu pledges neutrality in choice of next Abi gov

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said that his posture towards the emergence of his successor in 2023 would be neutrality.

He recalled that in 2015 when he was struggling to become governor, people did not give him easy chance of emerging.

Ikpeazu, who stated this in Aba, at the weekend, during a chat with journalists, described quest for power as a serious venture that God should not leave entirely in the hands of men.

“I will prefer a successor who possesses passion, humility and selflessness that would enable him create a platform that will engender participation of all kinds of people, including the youths, women, disabled and downtrodden, and even having a capacity to build on my performances.”

He said while he sustained prayers for God to create His divine conducive scenario for the emergence of his successor that Abia deserves, the choice resides entirely within the purview of God.

“And for it to happen, I am trusting and believing in what God can do. At all times as governor, I try to emphasise some virtues and traits that I think we need to grow to move forward. I will not want to be in a place where I will literally determine who will be governor. I won’t do that because I know I cannot because mine is a divine mandate.

“Nobody gave me a chance, but God made it to happen. So, God can also raise somebody. Power is such a serious matter that God will not leave entirely in the hands of men,” he said.

The Abia governor, while reacting to the speculations and insinuations in many quarters that he might seek election into the Senate as has seemingly become the norm for former governors, including his two predecessors, Orji Uzor Kalu and Theodore Orji, listed the three options he will choose from after his second tenure in 2023 as returning to the classroom as a lecturer, learning how to make shoes as a student of Aba Footwear Academy and listening to his people’s decision on his political future.