Senate minority leader Enyinnaya Abaribe has declared interest to contest for the Abia governorship seat in 2023.
Abaribe, who had been rumoured to be interested in the position, publicly declared his intention on Monday at a civic reception organised in his honour by Nzuko Ahiaba La Abayi, a socio-cultural organisation in Ahiaba, Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
“As an Igbo man I respect constituted authority. I believe the number one citizen of the state should know and I have paid him that respect,” he said.
“I have let him know and by extension the people of Abia and I am telling the people of Abia to look forward to seeing me in charge in Abia state come 2023.”
Abaribe said that it was time for people of Abia to make choices that would facilitate enhanced socio-economic development in the state.
The federal lawmaker thanked the group for the reception, boasting that he has been in politics since 1998 and was once locked up in the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS) “because of Nigeria.”
Former Senate President Adolphus Nwagbara, who was the chairman of the reception, described Abaribe as one that has the interest of his constituents at heart.
Abaribe was decorated with the title of ‘Maduforo Ndi Ngwa’ which means man of Ngwa people.
Present at the reception were former Senate President, Anyim Pius; former defence minister, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi; national secretary of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Okey Emuche among others.
