THE people of Onicha Igboeze, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi state has threatened to withdraw their support from the state ruling party PDP to another party that will factor their interest very well ahead of 2019.
The group who spoke under the aegis of Onicha Igboeze Town Union in a press statement, signed by the President of the union, Chief James Nwankwo; Deputy President of Onicha Town Union, Mr. Akuma Nwani Okorie; Chairman Onicha Development Union, Elder Sunday Anoke; Chairman Igboeze Development Union Chief Okikie Onu; Prime Minister Igboeze Autonomous community, Chief Ogbonnaya Nwankwo and Chief Felix Akpa Ogo who is a Prime Minister of Igboeze autonomous community, warned the ruling PDP in the state against unnecessary politics and manipulation with Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo (OHAONIVO) federal constituency ticket of the party as they alleged that the party had plotted to pull Hon. Linus Abba Okorie out during the National Assembly primaries slated to hold on 4th October.
According to the group, the party is seriously using internal forces, to bend Okorie return ticket, despite the alleged position of the National Working Committee of the party who prescribed that current serving National Assembly members be returned to boost the party’s cohesive trust towards clinching the presidency in 2019.
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They urged Governor Umahi, in the very least to play neutral as a father in Ohaonivo federal constituency primary election of the party as anything short of it would not be acceptable for them as a people. They noted with dismay that whenever it comes to a dispensation of democracy dividends, Onicha local government always take the least slots despite their unparalleled loyalty and support to the party since 1999.
They further added that Onicha people have been grossly shortchanged in a plethora of ways as even promises made to them by Governor Umahi including street lights and cultural centre were yet to be fulfilled.
They reminded governor David Umahi of his endorsement to Hon. Okorie when they organised civic reception for him.
“Ebonyi state chapter of the PDP is religiously implementing this strategic policy directive in virtually all other federal constituencies in the state except in Ohaonivo, a seat occupied by our own son, Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie Abaa and indication that certain internal forces are afoot to thwart his return ticket. Our position is why? We say that no reason is tenable whatsoever. What is good for the goose is certainly good for the gander”.
“Now, not only do we have no street light whose deadline for installation the governor put at June 2018; we are not a little alarmed that there are ongoing intrigues to scuttle the just mandate of Rt. Hon. Linus Okorie Abaa, a mandate which may only equal the distribution of offices in the constituency”.
“Let no one mistake our body language. We shall give to only who is willing to give us. We are unequivocally ready to work with those who do not take our collective sense of solidarity for granted; for everyone knows that robbing Peter to pay Paul is asinine politics.
“A denigrating action targeted at a sincere and loyal bloc must, not out of will, but out of self-defence be rebuffed. Let no one make any mistake about this: Onicha-Igboeze, grandchildren of Ezza Ezekunna with the spirit of resoluteness and uncanny resistance to operation latent and effusive, even though quite often, we, like the wheel of God grind slowly, but certainly, we do grind, they concluded.
and then