Orji is running gerontocracyi in Abia, UPP alleges

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The United Progressives Party (UPP) at the weekend raised the alarm that Abia state Governor, Theodore Orji, was running gerontocracy, government of the old, by the old and for the old people, in Abia state.

In a statement issued yesterday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ogbuehi Dike, UPP condemned the list of Abia state delegates to the National Conference (Confab) released by the governor saying only old people that made the list.

The party therefore called for an urgent review of the state’s delegates to the Confab to include dynamic young men and women with fresh blood and ideas, saying such will address the challenges of the country at 100 years and beyond.

“The future belongs to these young leaders; the Confab is yet another opportunity for them to make input on critical national issues confronting their generation. UPP is amazed that Governor Theodore Orji has been running a gerontocracy (government of old people) since he assumed office in 2007”, the statement said.

While recognising the wealth of experience of Abia state’s elder statesmen and their services to the state in various capacities, UPP however expressed firm view that the State’s vibrant, purposeful and visionary leaders should participate in the national conference as issues affecting future generation will be canvassed, negotiated and resolved at the conference.

It therefore commended Ben Nwabueze, whom President Goodluck Jonathan appointed to serve in the Conference’s Planning Committee but declined on age ground, including Alex Ekwueme, former Vice President of Nigeria, who also declined to lead the South East delegates to the conference, saying the Abia State Government should borrow a leaf by reviewing its list of gerontocrats and include young people to represent the State in the national conference.

Meanwhile, the party has condemned the weekend bombings in Maiduguri and its suburb that killed several people and wounded many others, saying that government at all levels should be more serious in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

Describing the explosions at a Shopping Mall at Gomari Area of Maiduguri and another bomb blast at Dugolong Village in Ashikira Uba Local Government Area, Borno State, as man’s inhumanity to man, UPP said the killings in the North East had become terrorism taken too far.