ABIA 2023: IS UDE OKO CHUKWU”s LOYALTY TO A BOSS OR BOSSES?
Few days ago, we had attempted to chronicle events in Abia State, as more and more politicians aspired to fly the Governorship flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). One of those whose aspiration raised so much dust was (and still is) that of the incumbent Deputy Governor of Abia State, Rt. Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu. Whereas the Accountant’s eligibility is not in doubt, we doubted if his aspiration had the blessing of his ‘boss’ Gov. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D, as it is traditional with men like the Deputy Governor believed to live and sleep loyalty.
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Already, events of the last few days have given unassailable credence to our suspicion that the Nkporo born Speaker of the 5th Abia House may have obliged his loyalty to anybody but his constitutionally acclaimed boss, the Governor. On Radio, different media of communication, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor had informed the world that the Deputy Governor did not inform the Governor of his interest in succeeding him (the Governor). When the Office of the Deputy Governor responded, they came short of calling the CPS and by extension, the Governor, a liar. There story was that the Deputy Governor intimated the Governor of his intention to run for Governorship.
BENUDECHUKWU.COM stumbled on a strange event that happened the day His Excellency, Dr. Ude Oko Chukwu declared his intention at the party office. Retinue of PDP stakeholders and his supporters mostly from Abia North had gathered at the Govenment House official residence of the Deputy Governor to celebrate with him. The large crowd unsettled the Deputy Governor who requested that they move to his Nkporo residence as “his boss” may not be happy at the sight of the surging crowd. We think and rightly too that the Deputy Governor’s reaction was indeed an adverse acceptance that the Governor may not be in the know or in support of his deputy’s aspiration.
While the battle for the soul of Abia raged, the PDP in Abia through its Chairman, Rt. Hon. Dr. Allwell Asiforo had in a release disclosed that the party zoned its Governorship to Abia Central and Abia North Districts of the State. This statement as expected, elicited mixed feelings across the State. Party members from Abia North, through Dr. Eme Okoro, former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), claiming to represent the larger Stakeholders of the party in the area, fired the first salvo by questioning the sincerity of the Party and insisting that Abia North is the rightful zone to produce the next Governor, given that Abia Central and Abia South had taken their turns through Chief T.A. Orji (Ochendo) (2007 – 2015) and incumbent Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu (2015 – date) respectively. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu had taken the turn of Abia North long before now (1999 – 2007). Dr. Okoro argued and relying on the controversial Abia Charter of Equity, that it is the turn of Abia North.
If the former SSG’s position did not embolden the embattled Deputy Governor, the same cannot be said of the terse statement credited to OCHENDO, the immediate past Governor of the State who insisted that the Governorship “must” return to the Deputy Governor’s Abia North district. Only those who are oblivious of the long standing relationship between the Ochendo family and the Deputy Governor would look any further to appreciate why Ochendo threw his hat into the ring.
Perhaps, in a move to stamp his authority and take appropriate charge, it was alleged that Dr. Ikpeazu had made up his mind to support an aspirant from Abia Central (that produced his successor) from Umunneato (Ngwa bloc) succeed him. While pundits were trying to wrap their heads around this choice, the grapevine was rife with the news that the Governor may have settled for Prof. Eleazer Uche Ikonne, the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, from Umunneato.
The twist however is, the Deputy Governor simply pretended he could not read the body language of his ‘boss’ because he probably had his allegiance firmly rooted with the Ochendos. Pundits believe that Ude Oko owes his speedy and steady rise to political stardom, to the Ochendo family’s magnanimity. If he casts his mind back, he is likely to be convinced that his loyalty should ordinarily lie with the family that made possible his election as Speaker and Deputy Governor.
The dilemma faced by the Deputy Governor according to the Governor’s CPS is the expectation that the Deputy Governor may have disappointed the Governor for allowing his aspiration distract him from “helping the Governor finish strong”.
BENUDECHUKWU.COM can also authoritatively reveal that despite reservations expressed by the Governor through his CPS, the Deputy Governor is still very much in the Governorship race. His supporters insist that his aspiration is in order and could produce another Elechi – Umahi situation that saw Dave Umahi, the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State at the time contested and won PDP Governorship primaries despite opposition from his boss, Gov. Martin Elechi.
We still ask, is Ude Oko Chukwu, the Deputy Governor of Abia State loyal to a boss or bosses?
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