Dr. Max Nduaguibe and Ukwa Ngwa Leadership struggle (Concluding part)
Posted by Onyebuchi Ememanka | 8 years ago | 3,377 times
Dee Max,
While thinking through this second part of my write up, something struck me.
I realized that through our political struggles as Ukwa Ngwa people, our finest sons and politicians always joined unpopular parties.
The only exception was probably, Dr. Jaja Wachuku who was both in the NCNC and later NPP. Both parties were dominant in our part of the country at their times.
I will give you a few examples.
Dr. George Wigwe. He was from Umule. He was my uncle. He was and still remains foremost promoter of the cause of the UkwaNgwa people. He was firebrand. He was, like you, profusely brilliant. He stirred in our people a unique brand of fire. He mobilized and galvanized. He was almost deified by our people.
In the 1979 elections, he joined the then GNPP. He left the NPP which was the dominant party in Imo State then. He was picked as running mate to Dr. Nnanna Ukaegbu, the great educationist from Imerienwe Owerri who founded TEDEM COLLEGE. They ran against the effervescent and diminutive Chief Sam Mbakwe from Obowo who picked as running mate, the equally diminutive Prince from Osusu Aba, Isaac Uzoigwe. NPP was our party then. It was Zik's party. Dr Wigwe and his GNPP lost. Mbakwe won.
In 1983, Dr. Wigwe joined the NPN and became their senatorial candidate for the then Aba Senatorial Zone. He was up against Dr. Jaja Wachuku, a serving senator and clearly our most successful politician. Jaja was first Speaker of the House of Reps. First Foreign Affairs Minister. First Permanent Representative at the United Nations. First Ngwa lawyer trained and called to the Bar in Dublin in the 1940s. Jaja was like a god in Ukwa Ngwa land and indeed Eastern Nigeria. He was a personal friend and close associate of Zik.
Of course, he defeated Dee George easily.
That was how we lost the chance of having Dee George occupy any notable public office. It was a big blow to our people. He joined two wrong parties.
When you ran for Governor in 1999, you joined the AD, a non existent party in our area. When Abaribe ran for governor, he joined the ANPP, another dead party here. Chris Akomas ran under the PPA when it was comatose. Paul Ikonne ran under the ACN. Both himself and his party were mere passengers in the 2007 elections.
Our people kept making that mistake until the last elections.
ENTER DR. OKEZIE IKPEAZU
For the very first time in our political history, we found a golden opportunity to run for office under the platform of the most dominant party in our area, the PDP.
By a divine plan and an insistence on the Abia Charter of Equity, everyone knew it was our turn. Even our distant cousin, Dr. Alex Otti told the world that he was an Ngwa man. It was interesting seeing people claim to be Ngwa for the first time. People believed him, maybe because of his height.
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu won the battle. He came out tops in an open primary election.
At that time, I expected that all our people should sheathe their swords and unite under this common cause.
Elders like Elder Dr. Adaelu, your friend Dr. Gershon Amuta, Dee Chukwu Wachuku, Adolphus , Senator Abaribe, Chief Theo Nkire and the others all came together for this battle. I sincerely looked out for you. I was disappointed you didn't show up.
Now Ikpeazu is Governor. It is not his making. It is a divine arrangement. He has become the symbol of our collective
aspiration but he is Governor for the entire state and has a duty to accommodate every part of the state.
Please note Sir for purposes of emphasis that Governor is not just in office but in power. Not only is he qualified for the position, he is eminently qualified.
Look at the scale of road work going on in Aba right now. Since Mbakwe, no other governor has given Aba this kind of attention.
I was worried when one of your complaints was that the party chairman is not Ngwa. Chief of Staff not Ngwa, Commissioner for Local Govt not Ngwa!
Dee Max! This is Abia State o, not Aba State. Will all positions go to our people?
Besides, there has never been a time both under Orji Kalu or TA Orji that the State Party Chairman, SSG, Chief of Staff , etc all came from the same zone. The other parts of the state are entitled too to theirs.
Besides too, this has been our best time ever in our political struggles. The Governor is an Ngwa man, the Speaker is Ngwa. We have a fair share of Commissioners. For the very first time, an Ngwa man is Vice Chancellor of the Abia State University.
I think we are good. Under Ikpeazu, things have improved tremendously for us politically. But he also has a duty to all parts of the state. He has even openly asked our people to be reasonable in their demands of him because he was elected to rule Abia not UkwaNgwa.
Ikpeazu's slogan is OKEZUOABIA. Let every part get their due. It is commonsensical, it is equitable and just.
Ikpeazu has started well. Inspite of the challenges of finance, he is on course.
What I expect from elders like you is to rally round your younger brother and give him periodic pep talks. Ikpeazu is one of the humblest leaders I have ever seen.
Ikpeazu will not hear that Dee Max wants to see him and he won't answer. No. Not the Ikpeazu that I know.
So, Dee Max, Nna Anyi Ukwu, Okomadu, let the past remain there. Let's make a new beginning.
The accusations on tax against our Governor are provocatively misleading. They make no sense at all. I am surprised that the lame argument of a Saturday date on the tax papers appealed to you. That argument is very pedestrian and childish.
Dee Max, you owe this to our people. To the many decades of our struggle . Make time and talk with the Governor.
Like you, he has a Phd.
So talk with him...
Phd to Phd.
God bless and keep you in good health, Dee Max.
-Onyebuchi Ememanka wrote from Lagos
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