By Jude Opara, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming 2027 governorship election in Abia state, a group under the aegis of Old Bende Young Professionals from Old Bende of Abia State has refuted claims that stakeholders from the area have endorsed Governor Alex Otti for a second term.
The group in a statement jointly signed by its President and Secretary, Barr Chima Charles Ogbonnaya and Hon. Chief Dike Chidozie Okwara respectfully said at no time did the people of the area convene a meeting to even discuss the politics of 2027, talk less of endorsing anyone for the governorship position.
The OLD BENDE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS, said the purported endorsement of Otti by the member representing Aba North/Aba South Federal Constituency, Hon. Mascot Ikwechegh, is “null and void” because it failed all democratic rating.
The statement described those who participated in the said endorsement as impostors since they didn’t have the mandate of Old Bende people to take such a weighty decision.
According to the group, in 2027, the governorship position should rightly be occupied by the people of Abia North in Old Bende, while a meeting is yet to be convened to deliberate on who the zone should support
“What happened in Hon. Ikwechegh’s sitting room is a parody of the absurd. It was premature and presumptuous. If it were in the military, all those who attended that circus show should have been court-martialed,” the group stated.
The group fumed that, apart from the fact that Ikwechegh cannot speak for Old Bende, it would be preposterous for Old Bende people to endorse anyone outside their own sons and daughters.
“Old Bende has so many sons and daughters who are qualified to run for Governor in 2027. We have Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu, the current number six man in the country; we have Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah, a former Minister; we have Dr. Philips Nto, a former Commissioner and one-time Provost of Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu. We also have Elder Etigwe Uwa (SAN), a prominent lawyer from the zone. Chief Chikwe Udensi, Chief Chris, Bar. Ete Igwe, Nnenna Ukeje, Nkeiru Onyejiocha, etc., among other prominent and eminent sons and daughters who can run and win the governorship in 2027,” the group declared.
The Old Bende Young Professionals deplored the use of traditional rulers as pawns in the political chessboard and warned them to desist from being used by politicians with selfish interests.
“While we acknowledge that there is hunger in the land, our traditional rulers should preserve their integrity and dignity by confining themselves to their cultural roles in society.”
The group advised Ikwechegh to also refrain from usurping the roles of Old Bende elders and concentrate on representing the people of Aba in the House of Representatives.
They described the action of Ikwechegh as undemocratic and self-centred which is unacceptable and a blatant disregard for democratic principles and the autonomy of the Old Bende.
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