Otti shuns Ngwa opposition, appoints Udeagbala as Mayor of Aba

… Names other billionaires, pholanthropists, technocrats as LG administrators

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has appointed billionaire industrialist, Ide John Udeagbala, as the Mayor of Aba North Local Government Area.

The appointment comes amidst rising opposition by some Ngwa elements kicking against appointment of non-indigenes to administer any of the two metropolitan councils of Ngwaland, namely, Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Areas.

The stiff opposition started mounting when Governor Otti hinted, at a stakeholders event, of his desire to appoint men of proven integritty as Transition Committee Chairmen/Mayors and their Deputies to run the affairs of 17 local government areas in the state, pending when elections would hold.

To give example of the calibre of people he had in mind to be made the local government administrators, Otii named Ide John Udeagbala, an established industrialist in Aba, Chief Bourdex Ogba Onuoha, an international businessman who made waves in the telecommunication industry when modile telephony wa introduced in Nigeria and a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika.

Upon the Governor’s disclosure, a section of Ngwa people threatened fire and brimstone, insisting that they would resist any move to impose on Ngwa people, a non-indigene to rule them.

Even without envisaging such opposition, Otti had said that he would not buy the narrative that anyone born in Abia and has lived in the state all his life, doing business or any other work was a non-indigene.
Matching his words with action, Governor Otti, on November 6, 2023, named Udeagbala as the Transition Committee Chairman/Mayor of Aba North local government area. Udeagbala, a leading industrialist in the Enyimba commercial city where he was born, has lived all his life in Aba. He would be deputized by Prince Nnaemeka Ogbonna.

The list conveying the names of those appointed as the new local government administrators of the 17 local government areas, shows truly that Otti went for quality people who would help him execute his rural development plans, not just part loyalists.

Among those also appointed include Air Vice Marshal Chinwendu Onyike (Rtd) who is to oversee the affairs of Isuikwuato LGA, together with his Deputy, Hon. Harrison Onuke; Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele, a top class scientist and technocrat who works in the United States Navy as an Engineering Mathematician. He will be assisted by Mr Eberechukwu Ahuruonye as his Deputy; MR. C. Y. Nwankwo is for Isiala Ngwa North, with Mr. Uchenna Nwabuko, as Deputy; Mr. Newman Azu Chairman), with Mr. Anele Michael as Deputy, will run for Ukwa West, and for Umuahia South, Mr. Obike Ejike Nnochiri (Chairman) and Mr. Olendingwa Nwabueze (Deputy would be in charge.

In Arochukwu LGA an international business mogul and philanthropist, Chief Joe Ezearu, was appointed as Chairman, to apply the magic wand he deploys in growing his businesses to turn around the fortunes of the Council, to be assisted Mr. Okezie Azuma (Deputy); Umunneochi LGA has MR. Ndubuisi Ike as Chairman, with Mr. Njoku Augustine C. as Deputy; Mr. Osinachi Hyacinth Nwaka, a shining star in Ikwuano, will take charge in Ikwuano, with his Deputy, Chief Charles Ugbuajah, in tow; while Bende has Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo and Mr. Onyedikachi Iroegbu, as Chairman and Deputy, respectively; with Obingwa LGA having Dr. Eric Egwuibe, as Chairman and Mr. Chiemela Ekpemu, as Deputy.

For Ohafia LGA, Chief David Ogba (popularly known a Bourdex) was appointed Chairman, and Hon. Mkpa Oju Uka, as Deputy; Ugwunagbo LGA will be headed by Comrade Nosike Ihesiaba, with Mr. Nnamdi Kelvin Chijioke as Deputy; while in neighbouring Ukwa East LGA, Otti appointed Mrs. Ngozi Nwagbara as Chairman to be deputized by Chief Onyebuchi Nnah.

Umuahia North LGA which host the seat of government in the state capital, an illustrious Ohuhu son, Chief Victor Ikeji, was appointed as Chairman, with Mr. Okechukwu Anthony Amah, as Deputy; Aba South is to be run by Mr. Uchechukwu A. C. Wogu and Mrs. Nkiru Ugwu, Chairman and Deputy, respectively, while Osisioma Ngwa LGA will have as Chairman, Engr. Israel Nweke, and Barr. Young Ngwaziem, as Deputy.
The statement containing the names of the appointees, endorsed by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Nwachukwu Uzor, disclosed that “the List of the above mentioned persons has been transmitted to the State House of Assembly by His Excellency, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, Executive Governor, Abia State, for Screening and Confirmation as required by Law.”

It further stated that “the concerned persons are therefore requested to approach the State House of Assembly for their screening.”