Ikechi Emenike, the All Progressives Congress's (APC) nominee for governor of Abia State in 2023, gained a significant boost over the weekend when 67 traditional chiefs from the Ikwuano/Umuahia political group endorsed him.
The royal fathers gathered at the palace of King Larry Ogbonnaya Agwu, the traditional head of the Ajata na Igu autonomous community, to show their support for Emenike. They welcomed him cordially and prayed for his success.
"Our collective desire and prayer is for God to lead you to the government house in Umuahia in 2023," the royal fathers told Emenike. We are confident in your ability to work for the government and cheer up the populace.
They exhorted him to "go for us," promising the gubernatorial aspirant that they would mobilise their supporters in the three local government areas they control—Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South—to back him in the election.
The royal fathers, whose domains make up the Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, explained their support for Emenike by stating that they were horrified by the stagnation of Abia State and wanted Emenike to remedy the issue.
All of the traditional leaders who spoke at the gathering agreed that it was time for them to speak up and protest the way Abia State was being treated unfairly. They said that by deciding to work together to prevent the state's continued decline, they have nothing to be afraid of.
The Minister of State for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Hon. Henry Ikoh, praised the royal fathers for their wise selection of Emenike as their preferred candidate and said that he is the most qualified to improve Abia State in his remarks.
He called the development economist "a powerful guy" who has the concepts, drive, passion, and expertise needed to make the state right and restore it to the glory envisioned by the state's founders.
Ikoh reaffirmed his unwavering support for Emenike, noting that his Ikwuano constituents already knew of his position and were working with him to elect Emenike and other APC candidates in the next elections.
Emenike informed the royal fathers that he ran for governor solely to save and improve Abia State. He was joined by his wife and Dr. Uzoma Emenike, Nigeria's ambassador to the United States of America.
He said he was not pursuing power only for its own sake, as some tend to do, but rather to use it to restore God's own state's faltering fortunes and put it up for comprehensive growth.
Abia State "is in critical trouble due to the poor management of its resources," the state's APC standard bearer claimed, adding that the royal fathers should work with him to save and develop the state.