Abia State 2023 Governorship Position Top contenders As Uche Ogah Joins The Race

Steve Unegbu, Umuahia

As the race to replace Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the next Governor of   Abia state has gathered momentum, the main parties, the ruling party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ,the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the All Grand Progressive Alliance ( APGA) are lining up for a contest .

Many aspirants have already declared interests to run  for different parties primaries.

 Some of the  aspirants under the ruling party in the state, PDP include,the present Deputy Governor of the state,Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, the Senate minority leader ,Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,Engr.Chima  Enyinnaya Nwafor, Professor Eleazer Ikonne, chief Ncheta  Omerekpe ,Dr Chima Anyaso among others, while  under All Progressive Congress (APC),we have the Minister of state for Mines and Steel development,Dr Uche Ogah, Chief Obinna Oriaku,Dr Alex Otti, Chief Dan Eke among others and in All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA),we have Prof. Gregory Ibe, chief Barrister Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Rtd Major Ijiomah, among others

The preparation for the primaries of these main parties are on their highest level.

Feelers are beginning to come in as to who the top contenders for the parties’ tickets are.

 For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , the issue of zoning by the party makes it difficult to predict who will emerge as the ticket bearer . The party recently announced that the Governorship position has been zoned to Abia central and Abia North ,however many party stakeholders are not  comfortable with the party’s position on zoning  hence the argument as in where the right candidate the represent the  party in general election will   come from.

The  issue in  contention is that the incumbent Governor is from Abia South and will his successor also comes from Abia South? The zoning issue is a major challenge to the PDP which if it is not properly handled may affect the party’s chances  in the general election come 2023.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) also has its own challenges such as the issue of factions .In Abia state,there are two factions,one faction chaired by Dr Ononogbu while the other faction chaired by Hon Acho Obioma.

The faction issue in APC is a major challenge that if it is not handled properly may affect the party chances too.

 The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), somehow may has its own challenges,but none for now is conspicuous to those who are not party members.

As various political parties in Nigeria are working so hard to organize free and transparent primaries, Abians are witnessing different declaration of interests by aspirants to run for the position of the Governorship every here and then .

Abians will not forget in a hurry 29th of April 2023 as the Minister of state for Mines and Steel development,Dr Uche Ogah made his intentions to run for the position of the Abia state Governor come 2023 under his party the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The event which held at the Abia APC Secretariat Azikiwe Road  Umuahia had mammoth crowd of people in attendance.

Addressing the gathering of party faithfuls,Dr Uche Ogah disclosed that he is confidence that by the grace of God and the will of the people of Abia state,he would be given the opportunity to serve as the Governor come May  2023.

According to him,” This sense of duty inform my decision to offer myself once again to contest to serve as your Governor is born out of my love for Abia state and commitment to exhibition of rapid transformation of Abia to offer our state visionary purposefully and competent leadership to be a servant leader to take Abia state from   as it is to as it ought to be .

” This job of transforming Communities and people is at the root of my calling in life .

He revealed that he has been able to create many job opportunities to the teeming youths of Abia, added that he is the highest employer of labour in the state  after Abia state government.

His words,”While building a large business empire,I have created a large number of human resources.

” Teams and consultants that have been instrumental to my transformative investments culture and wealth creation, having employed and patronized experts from around the world”

He further said his experiences both in private and public sectors have prepared him for the position of the Governor of the state.

” I have gathered wide ranging experiences in team -building and people -oriented development.

” I left banking sector to join the Master energy group and within 10 years,I built Master energy group,a major oil company competing with a multinational company.

” This group has provided employment in thousands and I am the largest employment of labour in Abia state after State government.

” I created industries  to provide employment to people and teeming youths .

” As a Minister ,I represented the State very at the cabinet and I have been able to attract so many projects to the state and all these projects are there and are known to you.

” As a Minister ,we have done many things that has not been done in Mines and Steel development.

” I was the leader of revenue generation,I grew the revenue from 2.5 billion to 10 billion Naira because that is what I know how to do”

He pointed out that he has received many awards of recognition and leadership  which include, Mining champion award, the Michael Okpara leadership award , Business Day newspaper award , National Merit award and also a recipient of 2021 Minister of the year award by the Daily champion newspaper.

He said if elected will be coming with two cardinal capital and that his social transformation pillar as a Governor shall see Abians see for the first time visible changes and that Abia under his watch shall be rooted in accountability with God , added  that he has lived a life of fear of God.

” Our Government shall provide High five anchored on economic and infrastructural development, agricultural and rural development, qualitative health care delivery, education transformation , security reform and crime control.

” Our policies and programmes shall be people oriented, welfare of people shall be accorded priority , paying of workers salaries , gratuities, Pensions shall be a right and not a privilege ,workers shall be constantly motivated for optimal delivery and every Abians shall be gladly Contributing in building our state”