A former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Chidi Ajaegbu, has accused governors of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who have administered the state from 1999 till date of operating illegitimate mandate and inflicting hardship on the people.

The accountant-turned politician who earlier this year unsuccessfully contested for Aba Central Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said Abians would flush PDP out of power when “they get sufficiently angry.”

According to him, under PDP, living standard has declined considerably, with the people wallowing in penury.

Ajaegbu also announced that he has resigned from APGA, saying that the party has been hijacked.

He dropped a bombshell over the weekend when he said that the three past civilian governors of Abia since the dawn of the current democracy operated illegitimate mandates, arguing that it was illogical to punish the people and claim that the same people voted for you in an election.

His words: “We must admit frankly and unequivocally that with the PDP in Abia State since 1999, the standard of living has become unacceptably low and declining fast, with penury visibly written on the faces of the masses. The insecurity of lives and property has made Abia State very unconducive for business and unlivable for people.

“As Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commences his illegitimately attained second term, just like his predecessors T.A Orji and Orji Uzor Kalu’s illegitimate mandates; Yes, illegitimate; because you can’t be oppressing a people on one hand and claim that they are voting for you on the other. It is illogical and unconscionable, and clearly shows total lack of cognitive human empathy.

“Abians are not sufficiently angry. Until we are angry enough, this comedy called the PDP administration in Abia State will continue to take Abians for a ride; exploiting our resources and devaluing our businesses and lives.”

Ajaegbu expressed support for groups and individuals agitating for good governance in Abia, stressing that attempts by government officials to gag the people would be futile.

“Let it be known that I unequivocally align myself with the legitimate agitations of the individuals and groups clamouring for the payment of salaries when they are due, the payment of pensions when due, fixing Aba with quality road networks and more, as demanded by the Aba women in their recent demonstrations in Aba and also by the young activist, Ogochukwu Ogbonna,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, to attend to the needs of the people and fix dilapidated infrastructure in the state.

“I urge him to confront these untoward developments, because we need and deserve better living in Abia State. The declining standard of living and misery index in Abia State in my view is reversible and I am certain that we CAN achieve this as a State.

“If the pretence of service displayed by those in leadership positions in the state will give way to purposefulness at all levels of governance, we can work out progress. The claim of exogenous influences for non-performance is redundant at this juncture, because Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is the Executive governor of Abia State, pure and simple.

“If you owe salaries and pensions for years, and you are superintending over a collapsed infrastructure, how can you claim that this same people gave you their votes, for you to continue to starve them? It is an illegitimate mandate,” he insisted.

On why he resigned from APGA, he said internal wrangling has polarised members of the party and no effort was being made to reposition the party for 2023 as factions were growing and members sabotaging each other.

Ajaegbu accused the National Chairman of APGA, Ozomkpu Victor Oye, of poor leadership which, he said, was responsible for the party’s poor showing in the 2019 general elections, disclosing that he has decided not to embark “on another fruitless journey with this APGA.”

“I am constrained to resign my membership of APGA with immediate effect. I no longer belong to any party, and I am quitting partisan politics in Abia State and Nigeria for now, but we will continue the pursuit of our age-long people agenda through our Foundation and Widows cooperative Initiatives,” he said.

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