Ukwa political bloc, (Abia South), deserves ministerial slot – APC Leader

Prince Abana Chigozie Abana is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader in Abia South Senatorial district of Abia State and a member of the State Exco.

In this interview with selected newsmen in Abuja, Prince Abana bared his mind on the intrigues that characterised the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state and why the youth of Abia South wants President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a minister from Ukwa Federal Constituency in Abia South Senatorial district.

Prince Abana

 

What is the strength of your party in Abia South Senatorial District?

I want to start by thanking you for this opportunity. Abia South has the highest voting strength among the three senatorial districts in the state, namely Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South. We have six Local Government areas that make up the zone, but what we require is quality/committed leadership to turn the massive population of Abia South into high electoral value for our party. Unfortunately, many of the leaders we have do not have the trust of our people, resulting in unenviable outcome during the last election. However, we are not without hope as there are some highly credible leaders like, Sir Marc Wabara, who has contributed positively to the party. If more leaders were equally committed, we would have won Abia State with a clear margin. He is a leader with the milk of human kindness and his philanthropy speaks volumes and that is why he has succeeded in getting the people close to him.

Upon this, your party did not put up a good outing during the 2019 elections?

My party did well in Abia North by producing a Senator in the person of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu. We also won two House of Representatives positions. We lost the gubernatorial election because of the below average level of commitment of some stakeholders/leaders. Most things were left on the shoulders of very few committed leaders. I must state here that Sir Marc Wabara is one of the few committed leaders in Abia South who discharged their obligations and responsibilities effectively and efficiently towards ensuring the victory of APC particularly in Abia South, where he contested as the party’s senatorial candidate and Abia State/Nigeria in general. As a minister he will be valuable to the Mr. President, APC and Nigeria in general.

Are you indirectly making case for him to be considered for appointment?

Yes, in view of the fact that that he contributed positively to the fortune of the party and He is eminently qualified for the position and I believe he will make a difference in any Ministry he is appointed to oversee.

Let what I am going to say now not shock you. APC cannot proudly say they felt the presence of the Minister representing APC in the outgoing cabinet. We in APC hardly had any interaction with him. As a member of the state exco nothing was even recorded in our minutes as contributions/support from the minister. He did nothing during the elections and did not campaigned for the party. Recall that during the last elections, many Ministers went to their home to deliver their states. But in Abia, we didn’t see our own. He was conspicuously missing during the campaigns. In the next dispensation, We need someone that is a rallying point, a great mobiliser to carry us along for rapid development of our state and the wellbeing of our people.

Abia political foundation established by our founding fathers is built on equity and the desire to win the last governorship election motivated our party to produce our candidates in the last general elections namely Dr. Uche Ogah, Dr. Orji Kalu, Sir Marc Wabara, Sen. Nkechi Worgu but due to selfish interest on the part of some of our leaders who compromised, we did not achieve the expected results. I am not going to mention names but that was the fact of the matter. Still talking about equity, which I consider very important. If you take a look at the pattern of federal political appointments as it relates to Abia, the only political bloc that has not been favoured in the last 36 years is the Ukwa bloc. I am not from there, but I believe that whoever comes to equity must come with clean hands. How can we have a governor and minister from Ngwa? Ukwa people have suffered greatly despite the fact that they are the goose that lays the golden egg, being the only oil producing area in Abia State. They don’t feel the presence of federal appointment/projects. That is why we are appealing to Mr. President to do the needful by appointing a minister from Ukwa in person of Sir Marc Wabara a humble and impactful professional; all of us are feeling his impact both as leader of APC in Abia South and Ukwa Ngwa. We stand a better chance of winning in 2023, because with him as Minister and cooperation with other leaders in the state, he will coordinate Abia South that is the most populated in Abia State and even beyond Abia South. I want to, on behalf of the youths in Abia South APC, appeal to Mr. President to look into the issue of equity in Abia State as it relates to Ukwa people.

What is your party doing to brighten its chances in Abia State come 2023?

We are doing a lot in terms of winning membership and mobilizing good people of Abia to embrace APC and support President Muhammdu Buhari’s progressive leadership that returned Nigeria to the path of progress. The time is now for all and sundry to embrace the ruling party as we have a lot to gain in terms of development and political opportunities that will turn the fortune of our people around for better. We are better off now than in the past.

Coming to Abia South, as a stakeholder, we have made people to understand that Buhari means well for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation.  

More importantly, we the youth of Abia South have already made our position clear that we really want equity to thrive in our domain. We have harmonized our positions having written to State and National Secretariat of our party informing them on our equity stance. I believe that Mr. President will get to know about our request through this medium.

What is your position on the contest for National Assembly leadership which has dominated the political scene?

This is expected as it will be inaugurated after the 29^th May ceremony. Moreover, an Abia indigene, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha is running for Speakership and we are solidly behind her. She has all it takes to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people of Nigeria. She is an experienced lawmaker who has been in the house for a long time. And above all, it is her constitutional right to run for any position in the House. It also shows that APC is grounded in Abia having this caliber of person running for Speakership.

For the position of Deputy Senate President, we have two Igbo APC Senators, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia North and Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu representing Imo North. Either of them can take it, as these are credible people with great potentials and the ability to lead well. So, my party is well entrenched in Abia State and South East zone.

You sound so confident about APC making political gains in Abia State, what gives you this assurance?

We are making more progress now. Please permit me to take you back memory lane. In 2015 election we didn't get anything. All the positions were taken by PDP. But in 2019 elections, we got a senator, two seats in the House of Representatives and two seats in the State House of Assembly. You can see we are advancing well and will surely take over Abia in 2023, everything being normal. Had it been that we received the expected support from our outgoing minister, we would have performed better. The candidates in general election to them actualize the party's dream and this was very unfortunate. That is why we are calling for a change of baton, so that a good party man like will occupy the position and improve the fortunes of the party in Abia.

Finally, I want to use this opportunity to wish Mr. President well as he begins his second tenure on 29th May. I believe he will improve greatly in his good work of striving to develop our nation and I want to urge all Nigerians to come together, sink whatever differences they may have and support President Muhammdu Buhari’s administration which. I believe will make a huge impact in our nation.