Coalition of Indigenous People of Aba Ngwa has warned Governor Alex Otti of Abia State over his proposed appointment of a ‘Mayor of Aba’, describing the move as “not only unconstitutional, but also an aberration.”
The coalition, which comprises the 24 indigenous communities of Aba North and Aba South, maintained that appointing a non-indigene as the said ‘Mayor of Aba’, was an insult on the sensibilities of the peaceful and hard-working indigenous people of Aba.
In a communique issued after its meeting on Thursday, the coalition vowed to resist any attempt capable of inciting violence in Aba city.
In the communique jointly signed by Mr. Ogechukwu Ogbonna (Obama), Mr. Chintua Nwagba and Engr Obinna Greg, it expressed worry that Aba had been deliberately excluded by the Governor in his appointments into the State Executive Council and in the leadership of the markets.
The communique reads: “The Indigenous People of Aba Ngwa, the umbrella body of the 24 indigenous communities of Aba North and Aba South met on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Osusu Aba Town Hall. Arising from the well-attended meeting, the Forum issued the following resolutions:
“That we acknowledge that Dr Alex Otti whose duties, functions and actions are defined and guided by the Constitution of Nigeria and some other extant laws.
“That Aba is owned by the indigenous people drawn from the 24 communities of Aba-la-Ohazu.
“That we express our utmost disappointment at the comment credited to Dr Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, wherein he described Aba as a no-man’s land.
“That we are greatly worried that Aba has been deliberately excluded by the Governor in his appointments into the State Executive Council and in the leadership of the markets.
“That the proposed appointment of a ‘Mayor of Aba’ is not only unconstitutional, but also an aberration.
“That appointing a non-indigene as the Transition Committee Chairman of Aba is against the Abia State Local Government Transition Edict of 2002 which stipulates that the person appointed as a chairman shall be a native of the local government area.
“That appointing a non-indigene as the said ‘Mayor of Aba’, which has been said to be unconstitutional, is an insult on the sensibilities of the peaceful and hard-working indigenous people of Aba.
“That the actions of the Governor of Abia State in relation to appointments are tantamount to pushing the indigenous people of Aba into extinction, which is totally unacceptable to us.
“That we shall resist any attempt capable of inciting violence in Aba which the actions and utterances of the Governor are pointing towards.”