- …reject Nkwonta’s candidature for Ukwa-East/Ukwa West Federal Constituency
The people of Asa, the indigenous owners of Ukwa West Local Government Areas of Abia State have vowed that come 2023, they must vote against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for supporting their marginalization in Ukwa Federal Constituency.
Making their points known through the Asa Liberation Movement (ALM), the people said they vehemently reject the election that produced Chris Nkwonta who hails from Akwete, Ndoki in Ukwa East Local Government Area as the candidate of the PDP for the Ukwa Federal Constituency election in 2023.
ALM warned that it stands firm in the communique it issued on the 21st of March 2022 after its general meeting and extensive deliberation on Sunday the 20th of March, 2022, where they unanimously issued this communique.
In the communique signed by Hon. Emeka Adiele, President, Uju Ihunanyachukwu, Secretary, and the Media and Publicity Officer, Comrade Charles Samankwe, Asa people vowed to vote out any party who fails to give its ticket for Ukwa East/West Federal House of Representatives to an Asa man.
ALM in their communique entreated all political leaders in the Federal Constituency whose interests may clash with theirs to bear with them and retrace their steps without minding whose ox is gored.
They also warned in the communique that any deviation from their communique may cause untold misfortune for any party as they will not mind moving mountains to make sure they regret any unwanted reactions.
Reiterating their stands in the communique, Hon. Emeka Adiele, President of the Asa Liberation Movement said that the Asa people will never tolerate any further ill-treatment and political marginalization from anybody or any party henceforth.
Adiele explained that there was a gentleman agreement between the people of Ndoki and Asa that make up the Ukwa West/Ukwa East Federal Constituency on power rotation, stressing that such agreement has long been neglected to the detriment of the Asa people.
He questioned why most political leaders in the PDP have been campaigning for equity for the Old Aba Zone against the Old Bende Zone while the same set of individuals has refused to speak out against the lack of equity in the Ukwa Federal Constituency.
“We don’t see reasons why a Governor that emerged through equity will not stand and support equity in his own state. So the people and youths of Ukwa West (Asa-Land) have decided that come the 2023 general election, nothing will stop an Asa man from going to the House of Representatives.
“It’s our turn. Ndoki man has been there for 16 years. Now, they’ve endorsed another Ndoki man from the same community to go and replace his own brother who had been there for 16 years.”
Adiele said that it is a humiliation of the highest order for the PDP to give their ticket to Chris Nkwonta to replace his brother, Uzoma Abonta who has been in the National Assembly for sixteen years at the detriment of Ukwa West which he described as the goose that lays the golden eggs in Abia.
“Does it mean there’s nobody in Asa land? Asa land is the pride of Abia State. We are the only Oil Producing Local Government in Abia State. Why must we be treated in that form? Can’t Governor watch and check as we’re been marginalized and humiliated? All our people are saying no to such again. The candidature of Chris Nkwonta will not stand.
“After Uzoma Abonta who is from Akwete in Ukwa East, another Akwete man, Chris Nkwonta will replace him. Is that fair? So, they want Ndoki to hold the power for over 20 years when we have capable people,” he said.
Adiele while speaking further said, “When our own brother Chinonyerem Macebu was there, he did eight years and relinquish the Federal Constituency seat to Ndoki people without struggle.
“Even our Governor who emerged through equity is allowing for such injustice against Asa people. We will never accept it, we’re up to challenge it. And we’ll show this by voting against PDP come 2023 for the Federal House of Representatives.
“It’s not negotiable and it’s final. We can’t take this anymore. If we allow this to go on, it means there’s nobody in Asa. This is a gentleman’s agreement so we must maintain it.
“How can they be preaching equity at the state level but when it comes to Ukwa, they’ll twist it? They’re talking about Old Bende and Old Aba for Ngwa people to retain power and complete 16 years but to them, Asa doesn’t deserve equity?
“Why can’t they extend the equity to the constituency level? So the youths of Asa under the auspices of the Asa Liberation Movement are saying no to that injustice and to defend it to any level.
“From the information reaching us, if the Governor wants to pacify Chris Nkwonta to get the Senatorial seat of Abia South District, since they’ve shifted governorship to Abia Central, why can’t the governor make space for Nkwonta to emerge as the Deputy Governor? So that Asa people an take their turn in the National Assembly.”
Adiele further said that the marginalization of Ukwa West (Asa people) goes beyond just the seat of the House of Representatives, adding that the marginalization is replicated in different sectors within the state.
“Take a look at this, our Federal Constituency is made up of two local government areas; Ukwa East and Ukwa West. When this Government appointed former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara as Pro-Chancellor Abia State University, we rejoiced with them.
“They appointed Professor Ogbulu as Vice-Chancellor we celebrated with them, again another Ndoki man, Asiforo Okere was made the state Chairman of the PDP and they went ahead to appointment another Ndoki man, Emeka Stanley as the chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC).
Adiele said that all Asa indigenous people are ready, fully prepared and highly motivated to push for their rights through another platform since the PDP has decided that their people do not matter in anything going on in the state.
