Chief Charles Ogbonnaya


The optimists in Abia PDP are holding their breath now.  Soon, very soon the simmering feud in their party will begin to froth, bubbling  over eventually and  snuffing  out the flames to draw a melodramatic curtains for PDP's 24 reign in Abia.

Like an elder who will not sit at home and watch a tethered goat deliver, a PDP stalwart, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya has again warned of the consequences of positioning a non-performer in the person of Professor Uchenna Ikonne  as the party's 'anointed' candidate for the 2023 governorship election.

Chief Ogbonnaya,   picking  bones with   the administrative ability of Prof.  Ikonne, the 'anointed'  guber aspirant exclaimed during a live radio programme  ”Go and look at Abia Poly and see what Ikonne has done”.

The  former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs during a live political affairs programme  Wednesday on Flo-FM 94.9, Umuahia, unequivocally pointed fingers at   Governor Okezie Ikpeazu as the root of the impending implosion in Abia PDP

“The governor is the problem Abia PDP has today. How can he come out to say the governor will come from Isiala-Ngwa North LGA? And he mentioned that Professor Ikonne, former Vice Chancellor of Abia State University should be the next governor without consultation, without telling anybody. That is the root of the problem”, he exclaimed.

He criticised the manner Gov Ikpeazu sidelined the stakeholders of Abia PDP and unilaterally arrived at his decision who to anoint as the next governor. He noted  that his predecessor, Senator Theodore Orji made consultations during his time.

Ogbonnaya popularly known as Evulogu Ibeku expressed bitterness over the strange zoning formula of the party which zoned the governorship to two zones, namely Abia Central and Abia North, which he described as strange

The PDP chieftain also regretted the recent defection of  Professor Greg Ibe from the PDP to APGA.

According him, Prof Ibe was a PDP loyalist  who recently bought Nomination and Expression of Interest forms to run for 2023  guber race under the PDP and also donated a brand new official bus to the party as well as chairs for the party’s secretariat during his declaration, but was forced  to defect from the the party in annoyance due to the believe that he has been shortchanged in their previous agreement. He affirmed  that the latest zoning arrangement of the party will destroy Abia PDP.

“The elders of Ukwa-Ngwa pleaded with Greg Ibe to allow Gov Ikpeazu run for a second tenure and we all supported him. Now Greg Ibe has left the party in annoyance. I may also leave the party. The issue is not me or the party but Abia state.

“If the party continue the way they are going, I will leave the party and join APGA. Nobody will hold me. I will use microphone and go around and campaign against the party. I have asked them to do what is right. People keep threatening me but it is none of my business but one more threat, I will open my mouth and say what will shake the root of Abia State. This is the time for people to see reason to do what is right” Chief Ogbonnaya fumed

He further argued  that the new 'zoning' arrangement is for people who want to remain in position and keep sleeping in hotels , likewise people who wants to collect government money for doing nothing.

“If you say you want another Ngwa man to govern Abia, what has Okezie done for Abia?”, he queried

Chief Ogbonnaya also waved aside insinuations that  he does not like ndi  Ngwa

“It is unfortunate for anyone to say I don’t like the Ngwa people. I have friends all over the State and including Ngwa land. One is visiting my house today, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe is visiting my house today”, he announced and further asserted he was instrumental to Ikpeazu becoming governor