A forum of eminent political personalities in Abia State known as The Ukwa Ngwa Group (TUNG) has condemned a recent statement credited to the Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinedum Orji declaring Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as the authentic leader of the state.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday and jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Hon. Chinwe Nwangaga and Hon. Chizuru Manu respectively, TUNG which consists of people from the nine local councils that make up Ukwa Ngwa of the Old Aba Division said the Speaker’s statement was in bad taste.
According to them, “TUNG is essentially a political movement which is geared towards restoring the dignity of the people and safeguarding their political rights and privileges.”
“In this light, TUNG has therefore followed the recent developments in the political theater of the state and particularly the reconciliatory mission to the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) by the family of the former Governor and now Senator representing Abia Central, Senator TA Orji.”
“Much as TUNG believes in the personal freedom of association and therefore has no issues with the mission to OUK, the group is rather irked by the utterances and declaration made by the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Engr Chinedum Orji, to OUK.”
The Speaker had, while addressing OUK in his Abuja residence, declared him “the authentic leader of the State” and summoned him to come back to the state and fill a leadership vacuum.
The Speaker was quoted as saying “we are not in competition with you for leadership. You are the leader. In the heat of everything, you are the leader. That leader means a lot. You are leading us. Forget about political platform”
TUNG has therefore condemned in strong terms the statement by the Speaker and considered it a deliberate ridicule and insult to the person and office of the Executive Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, “who is the bonifade and incontrovertible political leader of the ruling PDP and the state.”
The statement added that “TUNG further considers the action of the Speaker as outright treachery and betrayal against the ruling PDP and the Governor of the state, considering that these visits and declaration were made when Governor Ikpeazu was critically sick.”
“TUNG suspects a well calculated plan by the Speaker and his cohorts to frustrate the government and administration of Governor Ikpeazu, ‘ the statement further said.
“TUNG has also considered the action of the Speaker as an anti-party offence and joins all well-meaning Nigerians to call for the resignation of the Speaker since his loyalty is to the APC leadership.”
The Group expressed regret that “for the eight years of Senator T A Orji’s rule as Governor of Abia state, neither the Speaker nor his father allowed OUK to participate in the leadership of the state. We therefore smell a rat of betrayal in this reconciliation move and call to take over.”
“While TUNG is thanking the almighty God for answering our prayers over the life of our Governor, we call on those who orchestrated the rumour of his death and the jubilation that followed to repent and ask for forgiveness before the wrath of God will descend on them.”
TUNG has also advised those it called “fifth columnists and internal saboteurs bent on destroying the government of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to desist from their wicked ways, declaring that
Ikpeazu is the sole authentic leader of Abia State.”
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/group-condemns-abia-speaker-over-careless-statement/
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