Abia 2023: National Assembly not Abaribe’s birthright – Ohanaeze

By Christiana Ekpa

The Secretary General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has admonished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, to abandon his ambition to return to the senate for fifth term or risk outright rejection by the electorates in the 2023 general elections

He was speaking against the backdrop of exchange of political brickbats by political leaders, critical stakeholders and socio-political groups over Abaribe’s decision to seek reelection in 2023 to represent Abia south senatorial district for fifth term in the red chamber of the National Assembly.

Senator Abaribe, who was an Abia governorship hopeful, had in May withdrew from the conducted Peoples Democratic Party governorship primaries.

He also resigned as the Minority Leader in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, citing illegality, impunity, and hesitations in decision-making as reasons for dumping the PDP.

“This development is consequent upon the shameful display of illegality, impunity and undemocratic decision of the party and after due consultations with my constituents,” he added

On 27 May 2022, Senator Abaribe confirmed that he had joined the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to pursue his fifth term ambition to the senate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

However, Isiguzoro, who hailed from Obingwa Local Government Area which formed Abia south senatorial zone, while speaking with journalists in Umuahia on Thursday, ruled out Abaribe’s decision to return to the senate for a fifth term, and regretted that the federal lawmaker has failed to justify the mandate entrusted to him by the people, especially towards enhancing their social welfare, and complementing the positive efforts of well- meaning Abians to raise the bar in Infrastructure in Abia south senatorial zone.

He said, “The National Assembly, particularly the Senate, is not the birthright of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. He has remained in the senate for the past sixteen years, and has equally done his best. At this point in time, there is an important and urgent need for Abaribe to leave the political stage for other people with the needed and requisite capacity and expertises, to speak and attract necessary federal presence or Infrastructures in Abia south. He has played his role in nation- building, and advancing the course of igbo nation for better developmental welfare packages, and inclusion in governance which are highly celebrated and appreciated by Ndigbo at home and in diaspora.

“I’ll advise him to jettison his ambition to seek fifth term in office, and relinquish the Abia south senatorial seat to someone track records of performance in public or private sector, because we, the people from Abia south cannot afford to reelect or allow Senator Abaribe for 5th term, it will not help in our collective and positive efforts, and desire to deepen democratic process in the country.”