The World Igbo Youth Congress (WIYC), has said that Abia people should not make the mistake of re-electing Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for a second tenure, stating that he has not done anything for Abians to guarantee him a second tenure in office as the Governor the state.

They noted that rather than make concrete efforts towards the development of the State, paying salaries of workers and providing dividends of democracy to Abians he claim to be governing, he has been busy aiding and abetting Biafra agitators.

According to them, even “civil servants in Abia State have never had it so bad since the return to democracy in 1999, and the man at the saddle at this point in history, appears unready to bring to table any attempt to strategise and make their lives better”.

This is contained in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of WIYC, Mazi Alex Okemiri .

Okemiri said that Ikpeazu has done nothing to guarantee him a second term in office.

“Apart from civil servants, pensioners are also groaning with several months of pension arrears. All these are happening despite the several bailout funds and Paris Club refund, as well as the monthly statutory allocation and internally generated revenue that comes into the state.

“It only shows that the Governor is either insensitive to the plight of workers or lacks the wherewithal to govern Abia State.”

“May we also point out that the state of infrastructure in Abia State has remained everything but pitiable. We get embarrassed each time picture of terrible state of roads in different parts of the state surface on the social media.

Most of the Governor’s aides are even richer than the Governor and Abia, we know that Ikpeazu as a person is a good man with intention to promote made in Aba products, but his aides countermands his policies and procedures for governance, one of his aides on special duties and personal aide from his wife’s village have bought almost all the landed properties in Umuahia and Aba, it appears Ikpeazu lacks the capacity to discipline these aides Who are richer than him, we have no option to drag Ikpeazu’s aides to EFCC with all the evidence against them , for them to refund all the looted funds from Abia treasury”, WIYC alleged.

“We have observed the pains and sadness in the faces of Abia people, we have asked what have the government has done with the borrowed funds which the Abia house of assembly approved for him which runs into billions of Naira, Obingwa people are regretting having their son as Governor, there’s no single road done in Ikpeazu LGA, he has no road to his village, there’s no Youth Empowerment, there’s high rate of crime in Aba, kidnapping has returned to Aba, there’s multiple taxation on traders ,it has taken Ikpeazu 28months to build drainage from  Osisioma junction to Aba main park, a 2kilometres road, yet there’s no hope to complete it, the Igbo Youths decried.

“This has continued because the current administration is not prepared for governance. As such, it will be a disservice to the people to think of re-electing the governor in 2019.

“We believe and indeed urge the people of Abia State to begin the process of searching for a competent hand that would pull the state out of the doldrums of poverty and bag governance. Time has come for the good people of Abia state to do away with god-fatherism. We have seen the adverse effects and cannot continue in such a manner”, we hereby declare Abia Government house vacant, and warn PDP to replace Ikpeazu or be ready to lose Abia State Government house for the first time since 1999 to APC or APGA ,APC /APGA should field candidates from Abia South, to beat PDP if they field Ikpeazu at last the group concluded.

It could be re-called that same group had few days ago accused Ikpeazu and Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of plotting the escape of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and called for the immediate arrest of Abaribe.

Source: The Sun

A traditional ruler in Anambra state, Ogirisi Igbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, has threatened to unleash a traditional deity, Ogirisi, against the All Progressives Congress, APC, if they attempt to rig the November 18 Anambra governorship election.

Ezeonwuka issued the threat while reacting to APC’s boast that the party will unseat the APGA government.

In a statement, Ezeonwuka said election riggers would have the electorate who are vested with Ogirisi powers to contend with, stressing that the wrath of the gods of the land are stronger and the enemies of the state.

He maintained that Governor Willie Obiano of APGA will win at the poll because his good works will speak for him.

Victor Osita Ezenwa has always played major roles in the political arena of Anambra State. He served at different times as Chairman, Njikoka Local Government Council; State Chairman, Social Democratic Party {SDP}; and the Secretary to the Government in the administration of Gov. Chinwoke Mbadinuju {1999-2003}. He is presently the Director-General of Nwoye Campaign Organisation.

In this interview, Ezenwa describes the APC flag-bearer as a mobiliser of grassroots support, champion of the youths and a giant-killer who other candidates should be wary of.

With only days to the election in Anambra, what do you think the atmosphere will be like, especially as Indigenous People of Biafra {IPOB} continues say it won’t hold?

The atmosphere so far has been conducive for electioneering. And, I believe that the atmosphere will also be conducive for voting on election day – Saturday, November18, 2017, irrespective of the threat by IPOB. This is because the citizens of Anambra State realise the importance of that election. They are determined to perform their civic responsibility. Besides, IPOB has slowed down its activities with the sudden disappearance of Nnamdi Kanu.

The emergence of Nwoye as the candidate of APC was seen by some analysts as an upset, considering that he ran against heavyweights, like Andy Ubah and George Moghalu. What were the secrets of his victory at the primaries?

Some people may have seen Tony Nwoye’s emergence as an upset, but some of us who have been with him know that he is a grassroots person, a mobiliser, humble, down to earth and indeed ordinary. He is usually not moved by the media hype his opponents enjoy. Let me put it this way: He is not very visible in terms of the media attention he enjoys. However, paradoxically, he does well in elections. I hope you will pardon me if I refer to him as a giant-killer.

What do you make of the document that circulated in the social media which was purported to be a pact between a generous billionaire in Anambra and your flag-bearer? How true is it that Dr. Nwoye is backed by a political god-father?

That document which is circulating in the social media falls squarely on its face. The billionaire that is being referred to is known by everybody. It is factually correct that he does not have strings attached to the favour, contributions, donations etc he offers to people. These include religious groups, politicians, cultural groups, and the down-trodden. It is difficult to come across such a personality.

What really are Nwoye’s selling points? Does he have what it takes to govern a state like Anambra?

He is eminently qualified to serve as the governor of Anambra State, having been elected President of NANS, State Chairman of the PDP, and a serving member of the House of Representatives. As you very well know, he is a medical doctor by training and what is more important, he is happily married. And talking about his selling points, for me, the campaign issues from the perspective of my candidate, Dr. Tony Nwoye, are mainly the quality of education and empowerment of the young school leavers. He believes that whatever anybody becomes in the future depends on the opportunity structure available to the person. Being a former President of the National Association of Nigerian Students {NANS}, his soul is with the younger generation.

Against candidates like Gov. Obiano for APGA, Oseloka Obaze for PDP and Osita Chidoka for UPP, what are Dr. Tony Nwoye’s chances of winning the election?

Our chances of winning are very bright. Anybody, who neglects him, does so at his own peril. As stated above, he is a giant-killer in the true sense of the word.

Do you see church denomination {Catholic/Anglican} being a strong factor in the election as has been the case in the past?

Religious politics was very prevalent before, but it has diminished considerably; because nothing really lasts forever. The people are wiser now.

Do you agree that apart from the incumbency factor, it will be an uphill task beating APGA in the only state it holds sway, where the memory of Odumegwu-Ojukwu is still revered?

Nobody is dismissive of APGA or the incumbency factor. But keep in mind that even the revered Ikemba Odumegwu-Ojukwu, did lose some elections during his life-time. His memory should be left to continue to rest in peace, so that he would not start to spin in his grave. As a matter of fact, some of those who were great apostles of APGA, are now chieftains of PDP and other political parties. So, you can see that people are not very concerned on which side of the ideological spectrum that anybody belongs.

Source: The Sun