Bearly one year and four months into the second term of Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, in office, fight for who will succeed him come 2023 is already ripe among several power brokers in the state.
The bone of contention to decide who will assume the number one seat in the State in 2023 borders on zoning.
The three senatorial zones in the State had produced a governor for two terms of eight years each with Ikpeazu, who hails from Abia South senatorial zone doing his second term in office.
The senate chief whip Orji Uzor Kalu,(Abia North) was Governor from 1999-2007, Senator Theodore Orji, (Abia Central) was Governor from 2007-2015.
Whereas some politicians in the state are of the opinion that any senatorial zone could produce the next governor, others had insisted that power should return to Abia North following the zoning arrangements in the state since the return of Democracy in 1999.
However others are saying Ikpeazu's successor must come from the old Aba political bloc.Their argument is based on the fact that the two former governors of the state hailed from the old Bende political bloc in the state.
Abia State was carved out from the old Imo State on August 29, 1991after many years of agitation for its creation by the people of old Aba, old Bende and Isuikwuato district.
Those arguing in the favour of the old Aba zone are saying they must hold the governorship seat for sixteen years like the old Bende zone, their argument favours three Local Governments in Abia Central senatorial zone, namely Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South and Osisioma LGA.
The Abia Central senatorial zone cuts across the old Aba and old Bende political blocs.
But in the mist of the raging political war, a group known as Equity Legacy Initiative has supported the return of power to Abia North Senatorial zone.In a statement by the group signed by the coordinator Dr.Emeka Wachuku, Chisom Nwanmuo, Chief Titus Okoronkwo and Mrs Chidinma Nwabeke, the group stated that zoning promotes peace, equity, fairness and gives a sense of belonging to the different political blocs in the state.
The group believes that zoning can produce competent leaders and it brings trust among the people of the state.
The statement read in part, "We have three Senatorial districts in Abia State, hence we should be guided by that.Equity will continue to prevail in Abia.
We must continue to stand by the truth, not being swayed by any form of inducement. "Honesty, uprightness, sincerity without fear, but trust in God, should always guide our reasoning.
"Abia North has served for eight years in government seat, at the inception of 1999 Democracy, Abia Central has done eight years, Abia South is serving out its eight years, the sincere thing to do in good conscience is simply to have Abia North produce the next governor come 2023".".
We have a lot of sound leaders in Umunneato and we make this humble appeal to your good and amiable conscience, believing that you will concede to good reasoning.
The group therefore wants the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to zone its governorship ticket to the Abia North Senatorial district for 2023 Governorship election.
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