Abia State Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu PhD on Sunday, September 12, 2021 submitted a list of 27 Commissioner-nominees to the Abia State Assembly, with the former Speaker of the State Assembly, Mr Christopher Enweremadu as well as former Commissioner for Information, Mr Eze Chikamnayo and others who had served in various other capacities in the state and federal levels being re-nominated.
However, the list is attracting wide condemnation from indigenes of Abia State including members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as they argued that those that made the list have enjoyed state government’s appointment and patronage many times in the past.
According to them, virtually all the appointees have been Commissioners, Chairmen of blue-chip boards, Advisers, Secretaries to the Government, Chiefs of Staff to the Governor, Local Government Chairmen etc from 1999 till date and therefore asked the governor to jettison the controversial list without delay.
Some of the card-carrying members of PDP who complained bitterly in Umuahia said the governor should have injected new blood with fresh ideas in the system ie state executive council now that elections are fast approaching.
“The only new face there is an ex international footballer, Karibe Ojigwe”, one of the PDP members grieved, adding “others are persons who have held public office more three times and today, they have been reappointed. Could you believe that there are some of us who have not held any office since the advent of the present democratic dispensation still left in the lurch? Nobody remembers us because we don’t have anybody to speak for us”.
“Some of us have worked hard since the beginning of PDP administration in the state and today where are we? Nothing to show for our hard work; we don’t have anybody to speak for us and that’s all the appointments are alluding us”, another aggrieved member of the party lamented.
Nonetheless, the government in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Chris Ezem on Sunday, named the nominees as follows: (1) Mazi Donatus Okorie (2) Ndom Godwin (3) Chief Okezie Erondu (4) Professor Ikechi Mgbeoji (5) Karibe Ojigwe (6) Chief Mrs Uwaoma Olewengwa (7) Prince C.O.Enweremadu (8) and Barr Charles Esonu.
Others are: (9) Chief Chinagorom Nwankpa (10) Hon Monday Ajaegbu (11) Mr Sopuruchi Bekee (12) Deaconess Rose Urenta (13) Chief Kingsley Imaga (14) Chidiebere Uwagwu Kalu (15) Barr I.C. Mark (16) Chief Chisom Nwachukwu (17) Chief Eze Nwanganga (18) Barr Tony Nwanmuo (19) Barr Sam Nwogu and (20) Dr Chidi Onwuchuruba .
Also nominated include: (21) Ugochukwu Emezue (22) Mrs Adaku Oseiza (23) Barr Eze Chikamnayo (24) Chief Godswill Nwanoruo (25) Prince Obinna Okey (26) Chief Ukwu Rocks Emma (27) Barr C.C. Emelogu.
The statement said Ikpeazu has since forwarded the list to the assembly for confirmation.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
