From Steve Oko, Umuahia
A political pressure group at the vanguard of power shift to Abia North come 2023, known as Abia North Integrity Group, has alleged that the masterminds of the fraud allegations against ex-Gov. Theodore Orji, and his son Rt. Hon . Chinedum Orji, are “some Ukwa /Ngwa reactionary elements bent on holding power beyond 2023″.
According to the group, the intention of the masterminds is to distract the former governor who is unwavering in his support for power rotation according to Abia Charter of Equity, and ultimately truncate power shift to Abia North in 2023.
ANIG, in a statement by its Spokesman, Chief Idika Idika Kalu-Agwu, warned that Abia North would not tolerate any ploy that would disrupt the zoning arrangement in the state based on Charter of Equity.
The group noted that while it was not holding brief for the former governor and his son, Orji’s accusers and their sponsors should refrain from media trial of the accused and allow the anti -graft agency to conduct thorough investigations and do the needful.
The statement read in part : ” The fresh allegations are targeted at scuttling the turn of Abia North Senatorial Zone to produce the governor in 2023. Our findings revealed that some reactionary elements from Ukwa Ngwa are sponsoring the media attacks to weaken the resolve of Senator Orji in his principled stand on equity.
ANIG further alleged that “some politicians in Ukwa/ Ngwa have perfected plans to hold on to power beyond 2023, and have accordingly started to attack the pillars that would oppose their inordinate ambition.”
It frowned at “an attempt to resurrect the old allegations against Senator T.A Orji all in a bid to blackmail him to withdraw his support for equity.
“Charter of Equity started from Abia North in 1999, went to Abia Central in 2007 and through the singular resolve of T.A Orji berthed in Abia South in 2015.
“Now that it is going to be the turn of Abia North again in 2023 and T.A Orji is again supporting the arrangement, the enemies of democracy want to sabotage it.”
The group which insisted on power shift to Abia North come 2023 ,therefore warned those responsible for “those spurious allegations” not to disrupt the prevailing peace in Abia polity.
“They should stop resorting to self-help, media trial and blackmail against elders and leaders of our State. No amount of subterfuge will assist them in their ungodly quest to hold power for 16years.
“It is the turn of Abia North and on that we stand”, ANIG declared in the statement.
The group urged Senator Orji and his son Chinedum, who is the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly “not to be distracted by the antics of enemies of our state”.
While assuring the Senator and the Speaker of their goodwill and support in their quest to ensure that Abia Charter of Equity is not scuttled, the group made it clear that no intimidation or under-hand tactics would stop Abia North from producing the next governor of the State in 2023.
“We are also aware that the reactionary group from Ukwa Ngwa which is well known to us is a minority and an insignificant percentage when compared with the multitude of support that is solidly behind Senator TA Orji and the Speaker.”
