Chief Charles Ugboajah 


By Tony Icheku


The Transition Committee Deputy chairman or Deputy Mayor of Ikwuano LG, Abia State, Chief Charles Ugboajah on Saturday declared that he will run for the Chairman of the Local Government Council once Governor Alex Otti blows the whistle for LG election to be conducted in the State.


"I am declaring my aspirations now to lay to rest mischievous stories that I, Chief Charles Ugboajah is begging to be Deputy Chairman to somebody in the forthcoming  LG elections. There is nothing like that! I am not begging to be anyone's deputy. No!, there is nothing like that", he told dailyledger.com.ng in an exclusive interview in his palatial residence, at Ariam Elu-Elu, Ariam-Usaka.


Gov Alex Otti, left and Chief Charles Ugboajah 

The Deputy Mayor, responding to a question on his relationship with the Ikwuano Mayor, Comrade Osinachi Nwaka affirmed that he still enjoys  the best of relationship with him, but added that destiny beckons on him to throw his hat into the ring and run for the chairmanship position 


"I have the best of relationship with the Ikwuano Mayor, Comrade Osinachi Nwaka, but everyone has the right to determine his/her destiny. I am coming out for the chairmanship. I have been in politics for the past 28 years, and a lot of people are also looking up to me to show direction in the search for Ikwuano's political destiny. I need to work hard to serve our people", he says


Chief Ugboajah, while acknowledging that Gov Otti may ultimately decide who flies the flag eventually added that such decisions would be arrived at with certain variables in place. "I know our governor, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti will have the last say on who becomes the Chairman or Mayor of any of the 17 LGAs of the State, but such decisions are often arrived at on the recommendations of each LG Council's stakeholders. The stakeholders often recommend to the governor a person they can trust to uphold the integrity of the office. Even in making appointments, the stakeholders do make recommendations, assuring the governor that the person being nominated has the requisite integrity and capacity to deliver on the job"


The Deputy Mayor who served as elected councillor and Leader of the Legislative Council in 2008 however hit the bull's eye when he declared that it is Ariam-Usaka's turn to produce the chairman. He argued that rotation of elective political positions among the four clans in the LG has been responsible for the  peace and harmony the people enjoys.


According to him: "If we should abandon rotation, a gentleman's agreement binding the four clans, it will be a big blow to Ikwuano. Abandoning rotation will create room for one clan to or two clans to dominate the others. Going by the INEC wards classification, Oboro with its four wards can occupy the position for as long as it wants. But for sake of equity, our people embraced rotation and it has ensured peace. Every clan has what it takes to produce a capable chairman for the LG and anyone arguing that we abandon it for whatever reason is trying to destroy the peace and harmony Ikwuano now enjoys.


"I stand for equity and my position is that it is now the turn of Ariam-Usaka to produce the chairman, our people are not just playing politics, that is their stand and am completely in support of this position", he said 


Speaking on the kind of leadership Ikwuano needs to move to the next level, Ugboajah said the person must be ready to serve the people, to manage the resources of the LG judiciously and to empower the people. "I campaigned vigorously for the Labour Party LP in  Ikwuano and I know the sacrifices they made to dethrone the old order, the people deserve to be happy they need to smile, and they need a Chairman that understands their needs and pains", he said.


Chief Ugboajah  who once served as the President-General of his community also told dailyledger.com.ng some of the reasons why he abandoned his comfort zone in the United States of America,  USA for politics. "...after burying my brother, late KC Ugboajah in 2022, I had the burden to hold aloft his legacies..


"Those who are asking why I decided to abandon the USA for home are asking the wrong question. They forgot I returned in  2010 to become an elected councillor. From 2014, when I returned again to the US, I visited Nigeria every year 


"But it was an incident in the 2019 General Election that compelled me to give my all to the 2023 General Election. In  that election, Ariam-Usaka stood solidly for Governor Alex Otti who was then in APGA and I remember late Engineer Daniel Gbufor, the Igwe I of Osigwe lost his crown because he supported Otti and received him in Ariam-Usaka. When the government of the day dethroned him, he fell sick and never recovered. That was when I swore to support Otti till be becomes governor. And in the 2023 election I campaigned vigorously for all  LP candidates and Dr Otti - I gave my all to ensure victory for LP. I was the Chairman of the one million man Walk in Ikwuano. In the US, I was part of the Obedient Movement in Michigan and I hosted Mr Peter Obi when he visited Michigan.


"Today, am glad we did not labour in vain. Labour Party did not labour in vain. His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti is doing wonder in his transformation of Abia, we achieved our aims" he submitted