Ukpai Iro of NNPP makes strong case for Justice for Abians at NBA event, Aba.

by Amos Kalu
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On Monday, January 23, 2023, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai, the Abia State Governorship Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP was guest at the interactive meeting organized by the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Aba Branch.

The topic of Dr Ukpai’s address was:

THE 2023 ELECTION: YOUR VOTE AS JUSTICE TO THE PEOPLE OF ABIA STATE

Dr. Ukpai refreshed the minds of the Aba bar with the remarks of NBA President Yakubu Mikyau SAN as below.

  1. …… And how did Gani fight the military decrees to get the Armed Forces back to the barracks? The answer can be found in the statement by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, who described lawyers in the following words: “We lawyers are a dangerous breed; we challenge, we refuse to let anarchy and unfairness and inequity reign. We stand in the gap. We refuse to be silent. We fight. Not with arms, but with words. We use the law as our weapon, and we wield it with skill and determination. We must teach the next generation to do the same… you play a central role in setting the parameters for the next generation of lawyers who will have the formidable task of safeguarding the rule of law in the new and challenging context in which we now live.”
  2. …. And always remember that the weapons of our warfare as lawyers are not “carnal”; not the guns – AK47, AK49 or the scud missiles, they are mighty – allowing the gift of legal practice we are privileged to have (and now our VOTES, if I might add), to find expression towards the attainment of justice to the people.

    Being REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MR. YAKUBU C. MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, AT THE 19TH GANI FAWEHINMI ANNUAL LECTURE WITH
    THEME: FREE, FAIR AND CREDIBLE ELECTION AS INDISPENSABLE TOOL FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT on 15 January 2023.

A smooth story teller, Dr Ukpai told his audience two stories about two dogs named Captain and Freedom and two stories about the officials of two nations. With those he set the background for a deep discussion about the wickedness served Ndi Abia by successive governments and challenged his distinguished audience to, like Gani would do and Patricia Scotland admonished and Mikyau remarked, seek for justice for Abians through their advocacy and their votes now that God has given them another opportunity to administrate justice to Abians.

Dr Ukpai then took a few minutes to x-ray his manifesto which he said emerged from research carried out from Q3 2019 to Q1 2022 by some professionals he commissioned. He insisted that after a SWOT analysis of Abia State, his team identified Abia’s complex problems and the solutions. According to him, Abia State must sort itself out spiritually if she is to enjoy whatever good ideas a manifesto carries. The solution is therefore two sides of a coin. Dr Ukpai stressed that Technologies must take over from 2023 if he becomes Abia’s next Governor after Dr O. Ikpeazu. He pointed out that one of the technologies, ICT, is the driver of the digital Economy and digital society which he explained needed to be and is the hub of his manifesto. Digital Economy being just an aspect of an Economy is the single most important driver for innovation, competitiveness, and growth in any economy, suits Abia State well given her strengths and opportunities already identified. With Digital Economy and digital society, Abia State will grow her GDP in double digits, take advantage of a $300B Africa digital Economy, create jobs and wealth for her teeming unemployed population, transform her micro, small, medium scale enterprises into Innovation driven enterprises that compete with the world and are outward and forward looking. With Digital Economy, Abia State will generate revenue to build infrastructure, reduce debt, and create wealth for our people. Research shows that digital Economy is already adding over 17% to Nigeria’s economy and can potentially take care of 45% of Nigeria’s economy. Dr Ukpai reminded his audience that Nigeria through her Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy is already benefiting from this idea and so it’s not utopia he’s building.
Dr Ukpai highlighted other technologies that inform the other aspects of his economics for Abia State, namely Agric tech and biotech for Wholesome Security in Food and Agric; Education Tech for Security in Education; Health Sciences and Tech for Security in Health, and Surveillance Tech for Security of lives and properties.

Dr Ukpai assured his audience that Aba will become a Construction site from May this year if he becomes Abia State Governor and that roads will be constructed, Ease of doing business will be enhanced and everything will be done to attract businesses and heavy Industries to Enyimba City and Abia State. He alerted Abians to be ready as he will transform Ariaria market into a production/manufacturing city that never sleeps. Aba shall produce for the world to meet his government’s target to produce 15% of what we need in Abia State within Abia by 2027. Dr Ukpai explained how he will use two development models to develop Abia State. One is the Texas – Michigan model for one half of Abia State and the other is the California – Colorado model for the other half of Abia State.

Dr Ukpai was insistent that Abians must be careful not to make the mistake of voting to replace Dr Ikpeazu any person who has no transformational leadership qualities as Abia’s case is critical now. He challenged his audience to check if any of the other governorship candidates understands where Abia should be by 2027 and has what it takes and cautioned them about being carried away by what he called “the razzmatazz and the razzle dazzle of politicians and political campaigns”. According to Dr Ukpai, Abia State is in the intensive unit, next to the mortuary. Something needs to be done urgently fast to start our less than 24 years of rebuilding work after the years of the locust, he moaned.

In closing, the NNPP Governorship Candidate reminded the learned gentlemen that what they do with their professional calling henceforth as practitioners in Abia State and their votes by March 11, 2023 will determine the fate of many, especially the youths, their children. With this he called them to do something, to serve Abians with Justice, reciting a verse in the hymn Only Remembered.

Members of the bar, Aba branch later asked some questions which Dr Ukpai answered. He urged his audience to vote on March 11 for him by thumb printing near the logo where is drawn a basket full of fresh fruits .

Dr Ukpai had in his entourage members of Dr Ukpai Campaign Organization DUCO, some Candidates, members, and Chieftains of NNPP Abia State, and officers and members of Abia Christian Community (ACC).

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