His Imperial Majesty, Eze Dr. Isaac Ikonne, has called on Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti to allow free and fair election in the Local Government election, especially in Aba North, giving room for proper indigenes of the Local Government to emerge victorious in the polls.
The first-class monarch said this while speaking to journalists in his home, on Thursday. He spoke ahead of the Local Government elections which will be held on Saturday November 2, 2024.
The monarch recalled how he played a big role in the creation of Aba North and Aba South LGA councils and said it is time to allow Aba North people to take charge of the LGA. This is against the backdrop of the Governor appointing Mayors for the Local Government Councils before the Supreme Court judgment which granted autonomy to Local Governments. He decried that non indigenes of the Local Government are appointed as Mayors or Interim Council Chairmen.
“What the Governments have done to Aba North is unfair. I am calling the attention of the government. They should allow Aba indigenes to govern Aba.”
He extolled Dr Alex Otti for his kindness towards him and recounted how the Governor honoured him on the occasion of his 95th birthday. He further urged the Governor not to toe the path of his predecessors and allow indigenes to be in charge of the LGA.
“I am telling Dr Alex Otti not to follow his predecessors who disregarded Aba North indigenes. Aba North has eminent people. He should change his mind. I love him, he does good things for me.”
As the buildup to the elections gets intense, there are rumours that the Governor is not in support of the Labour Party candidates in the state, including that of Aba North, a rumour which made the party’s stakeholders in the local government to stage a protest against what they termed imposition of candidates prior the primaries.