2007: Group Makes Case for Power Shift in Abia
By Ndubuisi Ugah
With agitations for power shift in some zone gathering momentum, a group, the Ukwa Ngwa Democratic Coalition (UNDC) has said the emergence of the Abia State governor of Ukwa Ngwa extraction, come 2007 remains sacrosanct and therefore, not negotiable irrespective of party.
In a communique issued at the end of its meeting and made available to THISDAY, the coalition said it was important that Abians realise the need for supporting a candidate of the Ukwa Ngwa extraction since Governor Orji Uzor kalu had hinted that power must shift to the Ukwa Ngwa zone in 2007.
"We thank Gov. Orji Uzor Kalu for publicly acknowledging the fact during his recent press briefing at Umuahia that power 'must this time go' to Ukwa Ngwa zone come 2007", the group said adding that Kalu should "not play politics with the issue of who becomes his successor as we know our sons and daughters more than him".
While noting that it has resolved to mobilize and sensitize its people at home, and in diaspora by "seizing all available opportunities to educate and seek their unfliching support towards implementing the provision of the Abia Chapter of Equity through the media, the group explained that it had "formed a contact group that would reach out to all political stakeholders from all the 17 local government areas of Abia State for wider consultation and acceptability".
The group warned that it would not tolerate a situation where the race for the governorship position would be reduced to mere 'child's play' from any individual or group of persons, stating that "how many chieftaincy titles, contacts, millions (ndi bara Oganranya na nwa) and how many years you have lived in or outside Nigeria cannot get any unqualified aspirant to government House in 2007".
It said instead, the yardstick would be based on "sound educational background, good track record, honesty, interpersonal relationship, position in this struggle, management skill and programmes such that would eradicate the sufferings of Abians".
"We are therefore putting in place a local security measure to protect all votes cast. The era of running away with ballot boxes is over as we shall resist any attempt to impose candidates we can not trust.
"That we advice gubernatorail aspirants from old Bende across party line, though qualified, to drop their ambition and wait for their turn in line with the principles of equity, justice and fair play because it would be an impossibility for them to penetrate any of the nine local governments of Ukwa Ngwa", the UNDC added.
On the role expected of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly, the group canvassed for the review of the Electoral Act to enable the political and electoral processes gain acceptability by the electorate.
"Our word for INEC and National Assembly is that we ask for the review of the Electoral Act and suggest that election results must be announced at the ward level and finally at the local government headquarters and state capitals.
"It would be unaccepatable in 2007 to announce results at the state capitals, miles away from venues of elections as this is the only viable way of stemming the tide of rigging", the group said.
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