SAN FRANCISCO, May 04, (THEWILL) – Senate Spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described as baseless, rumours that the emergence of Abia State Governor of Ukwa-Ngwa extraction would lead to the seizure of properties of non-indigenes in Aba.
Abaribe, a governorship aspirant made the declaration in Umuahia in continuation of his consultation with the people of Abia Central Senatorial Zone at the weekend.
He also said the incumbent governor of the state, Governor Theodore A. Orji, has effectively laid a solid foundation to set the state on the path of economic growth, which a focused successor would consolidate on.
Speaking to the mammoth crowd that comprised ‘who is who’ in the Abia political circles including former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, former Senator and a commissioner in the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, Senator Chris Adighije, former state Chairman of PDP, Chief Tony Ukasoanya, wife of former Head of State Mrs Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi, members of the State House of Assembly representing the Abia Central zone and commissioners in the state cabinet, Abaribe declared that it is morally, spiritually and legally reprehensible to talk of seizing property of any Nigerian wherever the person resides.
He said the rumour is as naïve and foolish as its authors, adding that Abia people are one, moreso when the people have tirelessly worked and toiled all through their lives to develop the town of Aba and have been intensely attached to its steady development.
“It is therefore a case of a barefaced wicked propaganda, to insinuate that in Abia, a section will suddenly wake up and declare fellow citizens persona non grata on account of having assumed the office of a governor of the state. It is the height of illiteracy by the authors of such hate propaganda. It will never happen in Abia”, he said.
Abaribe further told the cheering crowd that though Abia gets much lower amount from the Federation Account to carry out development projects, it could still tap from the neighbouring or contiguous states that get far more because of its location at the top of a pyramid in the eastern business hub.
“Abia is low in income, because it produces about only three percent of the national oil output, but we must tap from those who have. What we have to do is to create the enabling environment for business to thrive.
“We have the human capacity, which must be deployed to our advantage. We must look forward and be able to do and promote those innovative ideas we are known for, if we must turn adversity to advantage,” he said.
Abaribe who was a deputy governor in the state, told the people that he was in the zone in continuation of his consultative tour of the state and to intimate the people of his aspiration to provide further service to the people in the capacity of a Governor.
“I am here to present myself as a qualified Abia son who is experienced, prepared and ready to provide purposeful service as governor of the state come 2015”, he stated.
The people responded enthusiastically, with Senator Adighije assuring that the zone would support Abaribe’s aspiration, adding that God shall see him through if he has the genuiness of heart to come and work for the state.
Chairman, of the PDP in Umuahia North Chief Amaechi told Senator Abaribe, that he needs no introduction and as such the people would not hesitate to crown him.
Similarly, the Abia Central Chairman of the PDP, Chief Onuigbo (Akimbod), assured that a level playing field shall be provided in the state for all aspirants.
Engr Solomon Adaelu who spoke on behalf of Commissioners commended Abaribe for setting the pace in consulting with different zones in the state and declared that it will make other aspirants not take the electorate for granted.
Hon Chidi Nwosu who spoke on behalf of the members of the House of Assembly equally extolled the sterling qualities of Abaribe and assured that Abia Central would make their voice known when the time comes in the primaries.
A delighted Abaribe at the end of the event declared that he was humbled by the spontaneous enthusiasm, show of love, solidarity and support by the Abia people towards his aspiration.
Prior to the start of the meeting, a minute silence was observed in honour and memory of the wife of member representing IsialaNgwa Federal Constituency, Mrs Ugo Chinenye Ike, who died last week.
EMMA UCHE, ABUJA
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