Ebere Uzoukwa
\nDr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, undoubtedly, occupies a prominent space in the
\npolitical history of Ukwa Ngwa nation. Providence, sheer luck and a
\ncombination of inherent factors made it so. Other prominent Ukwa Ngwa sons
\nand daughters who earlier sought the political emancipation of their
\npeople by either committing to the Movement for the creation of Aba State
\nor contesting the old Imo and subsequently Abia governorship, were not as
\nsuccessful as Dr. Ikpeazu.<\/p>\n
The foray of Dr. Ikpeazu, the erstwhile Deputy General General(DGM), Abia
\nState Environmental Protection Agency(ASEPA), largely perceived as
\n‘underdog’ changed\u00a0 the 2015 gubernatorial permutations in Abia. Dr.
\nIkpeazu’s candidacy was reportedly a fall-out of Chinedu Orji’s conspiracy
\nand rebellion against ‘Ochendo’ his father. The immediate past governor,
\nChief Theodore Orji, reportedly on a gunpoint, adopted and endorsed Dr.
\nIkpeazu’s candidacy. Ochendo Global, as popularly called by his admirers,
\nhad reportedly settled for Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma, a former deputy
\ngovernor, who incidentally is Dr. Ikpeazu’s in-law and friend, for the
\ngovernorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).<\/p>\n
While the contest for the governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic
\nParty(PDP) raged, Dr. Alex Otti recalculated his moves and decamped to the
\nAll Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA). He swiftly resuscitated the ailing
\nAbia chapter and subsequently emerged its gubernatorial candidate. But,
\nOtti’s two-sided origin manifestly became his greatest albatross and
\nenigma. A section of Ukwa Ngwa people perceived Dr. Otti as a usurper that
\nintentionally hided his true identity for a purpose. To them, Dr. Otti is
\nbiologically an Arochukwu man, residing in Isiala-Ngwa South that was
\nhiding under the shadows of his Ngwa residency to hijack the governorship
\nzoned to his landlords. It was increasingly difficult for Dr. Otti to
\nconvince the larger population of Ukwa Ngwa people against their ‘formed’
\nbelief and perception.<\/p>\n
The 2015 Abia governorship was contested by four political parties-PDP,
\nAPGA, APC and PPA. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP and Dr. Nyerere Chinenye
\nAnyim hail from Obingwa in Abia South. Dr. Otti rode on dual origin
\nArochukwu and Isiala-Ngwa South while Chief Chikwendu Udensi maintained
\nhis Arochukwu’s origin.<\/p>\n
Recall that the Abia Charter of Equity understandably guarantees rotation
\nof the governorship. Unarguably, Abia South nay Ukwa Ngwa was fairly
\nfavoured to produce the governor in 2015. The Abia North had occupied the
\ngovernorship for eight years (1999-2007) under Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who
\nhails from Igbere in Bende LGA. The Abia Central Central of Umuahia
\nextraction under Chief Theodore Orji also had her eight years
\nuninterrupted (2007-2015). This instinctively fired up the agitation and
\nclaim for the governorship by the people of Ukwa-Ngwa.<\/p>\n
Despite opposition, many political forecasters tipped PDP for victory in
\n2015. The overriding advantage was that PDP was in power in Abia and also
\ncontrolled the federal government. Apparently to build on that advantage,
\na political jingoism christened ‘Ngwa Cause’ was propounded to drive Dr.
\nIkpeazu\/Ukwa Ngwa governorship project to fruition.<\/p>\n
This, entirely changed the narratives in Ukwa-Ngwa nation. The earlier
\nconsensus to vote out PDP as a result of its poor performance and inherent
\ncorruption was altered and revisited on mere sentiment. The larger Ukwa
\nNgwa population reconsidered their stand and supported Dr. Ikpeazu and the
\nPDP. This consensus adversely affected Dr. Anyim’s candidacy who also
\nhails from the same area with Dr. Ikpeazu. Dr. Anyim and APC became
\norphans hence the entire Ukwa-Ngwa nation collapsed for PDP and Dr.
\nIkpeazu. The Ngwa Cause was extended to other political parties-APGA, APC,
\nand PPA as Ukwa Ngwa sons and daughters in those political parties openly
\nresorted to anti-party activities. They freely gave Dr. Ikpeazu and PDP
\nunhindered chances to manipulate the results in their various localities
\nat the detriment of their parties.<\/p>\n
Suffice to also say that ‘Ngwa Cause’ was propounded to surreptitiously
\nwhittle down Dr. Otti’s popularity and influence on Abia electorate. While
\nDr. Ikpeazu and PDP were stronger in Abia South and Isiala-Ngwa\/Osisioma
\nsection of Abia Central, Dr. Otti and APGA entirely dominated Abia North,
\nUmuahia axis of Abia Central as well as Aba North and Aba South. The
\nstranger elements that always decide elections in Aba, largely favoured
\nDr. Otti who had promised a new dawn in Abia State. Dr. Otti’s acceptance
\nby Aba residents as a matter of fact influenced Hon. Ossy Prestige’s
\nvictory as the only elected APGA House of Representatives in Abia
\nrepresenting Aba North\/Aba South Federal Constituency.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, Dr. Otti and APGA’s victory in Nine (9) LGAs including the
\nfive (5) LGAs in Abia North, Ikwuano Umuahia, Umuahia South, Aba North and
\nAba South was not enough to fetch him the government house. Though Dr.
\nIkpeazu won only eight (8) LGAs of the seventeen (17) in Abia State, the
\nhigher figures ‘wonderfully’ garnered strategically knocked Dr. Otti out
\nof the governorship ring. The ‘wonderful’ Ngwa Cause results of Obingwa,
\nOsisioma, Ugwunabo, Isialangwa North and South conclusively decided the
\n2015 Abia governorship election in favour of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu and
\nthe PDP.<\/p>\n
What, therefore, does Ngwa Cause stood for before and during the 2015 Abia
\ngovernorship election? What does ‘Ngwa Cause’ stands for today? Is there
\nany relationship or agreement between ‘Ngwa Cause’ of 2015 and ‘Ngwa
\nCause’ of today?<\/p>\n
The Ngwa Cause jingoism was largely hinged on ‘unity’ and ‘mobilization’
\nto ensure the realization of Dr. Ikpeazu’s governorship project. The 2015
\ngeneral election provided the opportunity to break the jinx and enthrone
\nan Ngwa man for the governorship of Abia state. Virtually everyone in Ukwa
\nNgwa nation-the politicians, businessmen, contractors, technocrats,
\nyouths, students, farmers, community leaders, civil and public servants as
\nwell as Ukwa Ngwas’ in diaspora were roundly mobilized into contributing
\nto the project to ensure its realization. For the people of Ukwa Ngwa, it
\nwas either the governorship or nothing.<\/p>\n
The Ngwa Cause was also an interventionist to fill the financial gap
\ncreated by Dr. Ikpeazu’s empty pocket. Needless to say that the former
\nASEPA DGM hadn’t the financial resources needed to prosecute the
\ngovernorship project. Virtually all logistics and campaign tools including
\nvehicles were donated to prosecute the gubernatorial project. Dr.
\nIkpeazu’s governorship form was purchased by some young businessmen from
\nObingwa. Political leaders sponsored meetings at the local levels without
\ndemanding for money. The Prado jeep Dr. Ikpeazu used during the campaigns
\nwas voluntarily donated by an Ngwa son now a serving member of the Federal
\nHouse of Representatives. Needless to say that Ngwa Cause was the ‘key’
\nused to unlock the pockets of many great Ngwa sons and daughters locally
\nand abroad. Dr. Ikpeazu seemingly became richer after winning the 2015
\ngovernorship election owing to the generosity of his people.<\/p>\n
There was also the combative side of Ngwa Cause. The youths of Ukwa Ngwa
\nstaged a 24-hour vigilance to ensure Dr. Ikpeazu’s governorship project
\nwas not traucated. You remember the ‘coffin parade’ in Aba before and
\nduring the re-run elections? What about frightening libations and
\nincantations invoking Ngwa ancestors that were intended to artificially
\ncreate fears and intimidate the stranger elements in Aba? What about those
\norchestrated violent actions at the Umuahia INEC office that forced the
\nState Returning Officer to swiftly reverse his decision and accepted the
\ncontroversial Obingwa, Osisioma and Ugwunabo results earlier rejected?<\/p>\n
What about ‘contractural covenant’ of the Ngwa Cause? Recall that Dr.
\nIkpeazu pledged fairness, openness, equal treatment, respect and dividends
\nof democracy to Ukwa Ngwa people and Abians at large. He strongly promised
\nagainst segregation as he also pledged to reciprocate the kind gesture,
\nmagnanimity and massive support by his kinsmen from Ukwa Ngwa and Abians.
\nDr. Ikpeazu was largely adjudged to possess rare qualities and character
\nthat would drive unity, progress and development in Ukwa Ngwa and Abia.
\nHis display of humility, knowledge and brilliance were disarming. The
\npeople of Ukwa-Ngwa believed and hoped he would stick to taking right
\ndecisions to restore confidence in governance. To many, that solemn
\nbelief, aspiration and expectation morally placed Ngwa Cause as a
\n‘Covenant’ between Dr. Ikpeazu and Abians.<\/p>\n
Two and some months after, is Ngwa Cause still alive? Is Dr. Ikpeazu
\nplaying his own part of the bargain under the Ngwa Cause? Did the spirit
\nof Ngwa Cause died after Dr. Ikpeazu’s victory in 2015? Has Dr. Ikpeazu
\nshown fairness to all that contributed and assisted to the actualization
\nof his 2015 governorship project? The Part 2 of this episode will
\nentertain the above posers.<\/p>\n
Ebere Uzoukwa, a journalist and PR expert writes from Obingwa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ebere Uzoukwa Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, undoubtedly, occupies a prominent space in the political history of Ukwa Ngwa nation. Providence, sheer luck and a combination of inherent factors made it…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n