<\/p>\n
Former Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Dr. Bernard<\/p>\n
Orji, has said that any attempt to shortchange the people of Abia South<\/p>\n
zone in the governance of the state, would destabilize Abia and urged Dr.<\/p>\n
Uche Ogah to allow the zone complete her turn.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Orji, who stated this in an interview with newsmen while reacting to the<\/p>\n
ongoing tussle over the state governorship position, said it will be in<\/p>\n
the interest of the state for Ogah to allow the people of Abia South to<\/p>\n
complete their tenure.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 1981 when the Abia Charter of Equity was instituted by the founding<\/p>\n
fathers of the state, Michael Okpara, Ezeogo Akanu Ibiam and others, only<\/p>\n
people from Abia North and Abia Central zones have ruled Abia. The people<\/p>\n
of Abia South zone have never had a chance until 2015. Anybody who wants<\/p>\n
to distort this arrangement does not mean well for Abia state. The<\/p>\n
Nigerian Constitution also recognizes the issue of geographical spread in<\/p>\n
the holding of political offices.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“There is need to carry every zone along; governance should not be to the<\/p>\n
exclusion of a particular zone. The people of Abia South should be<\/p>\n
supported to conclude their turn. If there should be any contest, let it<\/p>\n
be between the aspirants from Abia South. So that, tomorrow, the people of<\/p>\n
Abia South won\u2019t say Abia North did not allow them to conclude their<\/p>\n
tenure. The situation we have at hand can set the state on fire. If Abia<\/p>\n
South is stopped, I foresee disharmony in Abia. The idea of something<\/p>\n
belonging to everybody, but being held by one section will breed<\/p>\n
disharmony.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea of zoning political offices among Abia North, Abia Central and<\/p>\n
Abia South, is to ensure that every zone is carried along in sharing of<\/p>\n
political power in the state. Zoning promotes peaceful co-existence and<\/p>\n
harmony; reduces friction and disunity. Infighting is too much, people now<\/p>\n
see politics as a do or die affair. Anything that can reduce this<\/p>\n
bickering is a welcome. The issue of zoning is good; If is not your turn,<\/p>\n
you should wait. There should be no desperation. Since the era of<\/p>\n
Ogbonnaya Onu to Orji Kalu and Theodore Orji, power has been concentrated<\/p>\n
in Abia North and Abia Central; it should go to Abia South.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The former Majority Leader, who represented Ohafia South state<\/p>\n
constituency, advocated for a situation where people of a particular zone<\/p>\n
would be free from external influences to choose their candidate and<\/p>\n
present him to other sections of the state and described this as the cause<\/p>\n
of the present stalemate in Abia.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that can surpass zoning is good governance. In this<\/p>\n
country, we are suffering economic diabetes. So if it is the turn of any<\/p>\n
zone to bring a leader, they should stick out their necks to bring who is<\/p>\n
capable. In all the zones in Abia state, we have experienced people. If it<\/p>\n
is your turn, the people should sit down and choose a good leader. They<\/p>\n
should not succumb to external influence. In Abia South, we have very<\/p>\n
experienced politicians. The likes of Emeka Wogu, Friday Nwosu , Acho<\/p>\n
Nwakanma and many others. My thinking is that the people of Abia south<\/p>\n
should have been allowed to make an acceptable choice and present him to<\/p>\n
other zones of the state.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Majority Leader of the Abia State House of Assembly, Dr. Bernard Orji, has said that any attempt to shortchange the people of Abia South zone in the governance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":50911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n