Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu 


As  the ruling Labour Party, LP in Abia State loses one of its chieftains, Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu to the rival All Progressives Congress, APC which holds sway at the Centre, tongues are again wagging why Abia LP remains unattractive to Abia politicians.


Ugwumba Ishionwu, facilitator of the good governance and mass mobilisation movement, For Us By Us, FUBU took many by surprise when he suddenly resigned from the LP.


Reception by Ward EXCO 

Positioning the relevance of Ishionwu in Abia LP, former Africa Democratic Congress, ADC candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency, Hon Obinna Nwosu described  Ishionwu as "...another astute grassroot politician and mobilizer. Brace yourself guys,  2027 is going to be interesting"


On Saturday, June 29, 2024, Ishionwu emerged as a card carrying member of the APC after registering at his Oboro Ward 2 in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State 


Gov Alex Otti with Ugwumba Chika Ishionwu 

"Why did you leave a house you helped to build to another where you will have to be accepted and accommodated",     dailyledger.com.ng  asked the FUBU leader.


"It's simple, our expectations were dashed like an egg flung to the ground. For me personally, politics is about making lives better for the man on the street. I do not see myself as a politician in the Nigerian view of a politician being a person whose only occupation is playing politics. No, that is not me. I am an entrepreneur, but I play politics because I recognise politics as a means of  acquiring leverage to empower or improve the socio-economic  lives of the largest number of persons.


Abia Deputy Gov and Ugwumba Ishionwu  

"So why did I resign from LP and am now in APC? LP does not share our vision of  politics as a means of acquiring leverage to empower or improve the socio-economic lives of the largest number of persons. The emergence of LP as the party in power in Abia is as a result of the revolt by these largest number of persons against a political party that held the people in bondage for 24 years. 


"After its victory in Abia in 2023, LP, unfortunately failed to re appraise it's  vision and mission with particular reference to Abia State, in order to understand what they represent to Abians. For me,  specifically in my LG, Ikwuano, certain persons in the driving seat of LP   failed to properly contextualize the burdens of their office and the expectations of the people. For me as a visioner and evangelist for good governance, it was a painful reality.


"Ours is an LG densely populated by vibrant and progressive youths, and by defecting to the APC which  has potentials and prospects of buying into our vision and mission, am only being pragmatic. I have identified a vehicle which can take us to the Promisedland. My defection to APC was deeply interrogated by FUBU, and alas, it was the inevitable option"


Q: Is the APC doing excellent work as the ruling National Party?"


A:  This question reminds me of the riddle of a glass half-filled with water. Is it half empty or half filled? anyone can do the arithmetic to arrive at an answer


Rep Sam Onuigbo and Ugwumba Ishionwu 

"For me, my people are unhappy and as a leader, my task is to ensure their interests are protected, we do have a guarantee that such was possible in APC


dailyledger.com.ng sought Ugwumba Ishionwu's reactions to insinuations that over a short period of time, he has consistently hopped from party to party.


"Hopping from party to party as you described it seems to be  characteristic of persons with a burden to change the status quo...have you forgotten former President Buhari? He went from defunct ANPP, to CPC and finally landed in APC.


Our Governor went from PDP to APGA and finally hit gold in LP. Have you forgotten Senator Abaribe? From PDP, ANPP, PDP and now in APGA


"Change is the only constant in our rapidly evolving polity. I daresay it is better to have a safe delivery rather than a still birth because of the fear of experimenting with new ideas,"


Ishionwu maintained that for Abia, APC remains a viable platform that could take it to the Promisedland.