Abia guber: Ihejirika joins the fray

Political activi­ties ahead of next year’s governor­ship race in Abia State are becoming pul­sating with indications that former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) has joined the fray.

We gathered that the ambition of the retired army boss was made known in faraway Maryland, USA on June 1 at the residence of Dr. Okey Nwadiuko, a native of Isikwuato.

A source said that at the meeting in Maryland, Ihe­jirika told the gathering of Isikwuato people and their in-laws that he would contest the 2015 governorship elec­tion in Abia State.

At the meeting, it was gathered, an Ngwa man mar­ried to an Isikwuato woman asked about the Abia Charter of Equity, which reportedly zoned the governorship in the state outside Isikwuato, but the former army boss just waved it aside.

Ihejirika, Daily Sun learnt authoritatively, had the sup­port of Abia State governor, T. A. Orji’s son, Chinedu and the state’s First lady, Mrs Mercy Orji.
A source said the duo had agreed to bankroll the project to ensure that Ihejirika’s am­bition sailed through.

The former army chief is already making efforts to build bridges of friendship among stakeholders in the state.

Governor Orji is from Abia Central, while his pre­decessor, Dr. Orji Kalu, is from Abia North Senatorial zone.

Ihejirika is the immediate-past Chief of Army Staff. He was recently hosted to a civic reception in Isikwuato, after his retirement, during which some people openly urged him to join the contest for the state’s number one position.