By Sir Don Ubani;KSC, JP,
Okwubunka of Asa,
Many political pundits have repeatedly posited that 2019 general election may not necessarily be driven by Political Party sentiments.
To such persons, consideration would focus more on the quality of the individual contestant. This means personality, which encompasses character, capacity, transparency, vision, altruism, intrepidity, pedigree and antecedents would determine the acceptability of any person running for an elective position.
I personally do not agree less with this postulation. In as much as political parties are very essential vehicles in any liberal democracy, Nigerians have, indeed, attained a stage where emphasis has considerably tilted to individual capacity.
In next year's governorship election, the electorate in Abia State would be on the same page with majority of Nigerians.
Incumbent Governor Ikpeazu will be judged based on his performances in his first tenure.
By critical analysis, Governor Ikpeazu will have many indisputable factors that would stand for him.
The first will be his strong faith in God Almighty. God has never forsaken whoever that places his or her trust in Him. So, many may gather against him but God's grace would surely prevail and like Goliath, all of them will kiss the ground.
The next factor that will see Governor Ikpeazu through in next year's election is performance. The indisputable fact is that Governor Ikpeazu has done very well within the short period he has held sway in the State.
On assumption of office in 2015, the Governor was subjected to lots of judicial attacks from individuals who felt power should be their exclusive preserve.
Except it would otherwise be stated, no other Governor in Nigeria has been so subjected to the type of psychological trauma and embarrassment as Governor Ikpeazu was unduly exposed to. For three consecutive times and all through his first three years, the Governor was dragged to the Supreme Court. Only God saved him.
In spite of those obnoxious encounters, Governor Ikpeazu's score card remains highly commendable.
Humility is not a common possession amongst the ruling class in Nigeria. Many individuals who come into power feel that one very important step to be taken and quickly too is to wear the garment of arrogance. To them, pomposity becomes a distinguishing element between them and those outside the realm of power.
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D, even as Governor, has remained a very down to earth man. So far, no one can point out any occasion he had, even unknowingly, displaced arrogance.
Naturally, Abia people will feel favourably disposed towards him on account of this disposition.
Any current political calculation that does not take the issue of equity in the State into deep consideration, is surely bound to hit the rock.
The founding fathers of the State took their time to state, in very categorical manner and without any ambiguity, that power in the State must rotate amongst the two major geographical blocs in the State. This means, power should be shared between the people of Old Aba and Old Bende divisions.
The peace of the State should not be sacrificed on the alter of vaulting ambition. At the end of it all, equity and fairness will prevail.
Sub-ethnic consciousness will definitely play a role in 2019 election. The Ngwa sub-ethnic group is one of the largest cultural entities in Igbo land.
No matter there could be discordant tunes amongst some of them now, at the nick of time that sub-ethnic consciousness, not necessarily pride, will weigh heavily in their consideration.
The worst humiliation and shame that the Ngwa man will allow himself to suffer is to be so dormant or non-challant and watch the first governor of their extraction fail to be re-elected even when it is obvious that he has performed very well.
Suspicion and fear could pervade in the mind of some citizens but the hand of God will make 2019 election a very seamless exercise. Governor Ikpeazu will win his election.
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