A group known as Abia North Restoration Movement has expressed displeasure over what it called the “near-silence of Abia North Voice” at the ninth senate.
The group accused the incumbent senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing the zone of not being vocal enough on issues that affect the people of the zone.
It also accused Senator Kalu of getting distracted with his rumoured 2023 presidential ambition instead of concentrating on his law-making mandate.
The group in a press statement jointly signed by Chief Dan Ikwuagwu; and Comrade Maduka Okorie, its President and Secretary respectively, noted with disappointment that despite the rising insecurity in the zone occasioned by the activities of Fulani bandits particularly around Isuikwuato axis, “the Senator has not courageously moved a motion on the floor of the Senate for intervention”.
According to the group, “the recent abduction of lecturers and students of Abia State University Uturu as well as other commutters on Okigwe-Uturu, and Uturu/Isuikwuato roads; the killing of a final year student of Marist Comprehensive Academy enroute Uturu Road by Fulani bandits; plus other menacing activities of Fulani herdsmen in the zone without any motion on the floor of the Senate confirm our fear that Abia North has lost its voice.”
The statement said that instead of drawing the attention of the federal government to address insecurity, erosion menace and various other challenges bedevilling the zone, “our senator was busy proving how electronic transmission of election results was not possible in Abia North, yet money can be transferred and received electronically in every community in Abia North.”
The group noted that but for the appreciable efforts of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha representing Isuikwuato/ Umunneochi federal constituency, and her Bende federal constituency, Hon. Ben Kalu, Abia North senatorial district would have been completely forgotten at the current National Assembly.
According to the group, Abia North has before now, produced vocal senators “whose voices reverberated at the Senate”, hence, “our puzzle on why the zone will suddenly take the back seat”.
” How can the zone that produced the likes of Senator Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; the late Senator Uche Chukwumerije; and Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, suddenly go on silent mode?”
The group vowed to collaborate with other stakeholders to rescue the zone from political merchants and restore the zone’s prestige come 2023.
” In 2023 we want the return of people like Senator Mao Ohuabunwa at the Senate who was the first to move a motion for the state of emergency on erosion in Abia North. Even if he doesn’t want to run again because of how he was betrayed in 2019, we will force him to reconsider in the interest of Abia North.
“Things can’t continue this way. Abia North is currently on mute at the Senate. Our voices must be heard again.”
The group said that although it did not expect the Senate Chief Whip to become an opposition senator against his ruling All Progressive Congress party, ” our take is that the interest of Abia North should not be sacrificed on the altar of party politics.”
” Without bias Abia North and by extension the South East geopolitical zone need somebody like Mao Ohuabunwa at the Senate to restore the voice of the zone which has now gone mute. We ‘ve never had it this bad!