From Steve Oko, Umuahia
As intrigues over the 2023 elections gradually kick off, a pressure group known as Abia North Integrity Group, ANIG, has insisted on power shift to the zone.
The group comprising eminent scholars, clerics, royal fathers and political strategists from Abia North premised the argument on the principles of “equity and Justice”.
According to the group, power should return to Abia North in 2023 since it has gone round the three senatorial zones in the state.
The group after a closed door meeting at Okun Ohafia appealed to governorship aspirants from outside Abia North to shelve their ambition in 2023 in the spirit of equity.
According to a press statement signed by its Spokesman, Chief Idika Idika Kalu Agwu, “since the seat of power started its journey from Abia North in 1999, it’s only wise and fair that it returns to the zone in 2023, having now gone round the zones”.
The group which noted that the principle of power rotatation was enshrined in Abia Charter of Equity by the founding fathers of the state to promote unity among the component clans, cautioned against any attempt to disrupt the zoning arrangement.
It, therefore, urged all political parties in the state especially the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP to cede their governorship slot to Abia North.
The group commended all PDP stakeholders from Abia North who supported power shift to Abia South in 2015 “and also firmly stood behind the second term ambition of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu” to enable the zone complete its turn.
It urged political stakeholders from other zones to emulate the exemplary role of their Abia North counterparts and prevail on their people to support power shift to Abia North come 2023.
ANIG, however, did not indicate which division in Abia North should produce the next governor, but Isuikwuato, Ohafia clan and Arochukwu have variously made case for the exalted position.
The group which also hailed Gov. Ikpeazu on his recent victory at the Supreme Court commended him for creating the Ministry of Homeland Security which it said would help tackle the challenge of insecurity especially herdsmen invasion in the state.
Describing the action as timely and proactive, the group said “it puts Abia ahead In the management of internal security”.
