Ohanaeze faction backs Ikpeazu for Abia Senate seat

A faction of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has expressed support for the ambition of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to represent Abia South in the National Assembly, noting that Ndigbo deserve fresh voices in the Senate come 2023.

In a statement obtained by The Guardian in Abakaliki, yesterday, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that they were backing Ikpeazu because “he has not only demonstrated courage and strength to fight for Ndigbo, he has also shown interest in fighting for the end of the marginalisation of the South East and unification of Igbo-speaking people of Niger Delta.”

The statement reads: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, after an assessment expedition in Abia South Senatorial Zone, called on Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe to quietly quit the stage because of his failure to meet the expectations of people of the zone.

“With the least bills sponsored and least projects attracted on Abaribe’s name, among the other 15 senators from the South East, there is evidence of failure in his representation and Ndigbo needs a younger but experienced personality with persuasive and diplomatic aura to win more friendly and helpful projects.”

According to the group, Ndigbo deserves fresh voices on the Senate floor in 2023, as the era of playing to the gallery is over.

“Ndigbo recommend that Abaribe should quit the Senate in 2023 for Federal Government appointment in future and relinquish the Senate seat for Abia South to Ikpeazu, who has demonstrated courage and strength to fight for Ndigbo, shown interest in ending marginalisation of the South East and unification of Igbo-speaking people of Niger Delta with their kith and kin in the region.

“Abaribe has done his best in the last 16 years (by 2023) in the Senate. It is not his birthright or his ancestral right, but he’s expected to serve in another capacity, not in the Senate, in 2023. His people complain about the absence of constituency projects and lack of accessibility for the last 16 years.”