Ukwa-Ngwa Political Bloc Reminisces Hon. Luke Ukara

The people of the Ukwa-Ngwa political bloc have continued to express gratitude and solidarity for a former lawmaker who represented Arochuchukwu State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani for his resilience and display of bravery and integrity when it mattered most.

In a document sighted by Dreamnews, the bloc extolled Hon. Ukara for his unwavering support for the Former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike during the tumultuous times in the 6th Assembly.

It recalled how members of the Assembly, plotted the impeachment of the then Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, but Hon. Luke Ukara stood in the gap for the Speaker.

“The House of Assembly members met quietly and secretly at Hotel Damngrete, Umuahia to plan the execution and share their proceeds, but only one man looked straight in the eyes of leadership of the presiding officers of the Assembly and their message bearers and openly disassociated himself and rejected their monetary offers to remove, who he described as “An innocent man” and quintessential law maker, Martin’s Azubuike. That his stance, encouraged another law maker, Hon. Ikedi Ezekwesiri to join Onyeani. Before then, all the Ukwa-Ngwa law makers have all signed the impeachment of their own ‘brother’ after money exchanged hands.”

“When they presented the “Ghana Must Go bag” filled with money to Hon. Onyeani as his own part of the impeachment booty, he bluntly refused and vowed he cannot be part of plot against an innocent soul, to the extent that calls began to come from major power brokers in Abia State, but he stood his ground, that they now had to confess, he should maintain his stand that they admire someone with such courage and strong character. They also made a promise, the first of its kind in any political circle that since he has stood firm and exhibited an impeccable character, that the House leadership will ensure he was not going to be victimized for taking such a position that revealed his real identity as a man of integrity.”

“One remarkable thing then was that, despite the fact money had already exchanged hands amongst the House of Assembly members, the resistance of Hon. Onyeani almost scuttled the impeachment as some members who had collected money started backing out and this delayed the process, and the executioners deployed more persuasive force and threat for them to pull through. The impeachment of the then Speaker was a PDP affair, as they were in the clear majority, while Hon. Onyeani was of the APGA – this point is most significant.”

“Till moment, Hon. Onyeani remains respected and loved amongst the teeming Ukwa Ngwa population because of the way he stood by Rt. Hon. Azubuike. Such a display of bravery and integrity is rare in the politics of our clime. No wonder he is currently an Aide to Gov Otti on Legislative Matters, a very sensitive position in any government, that ensures a smooth Executive-Legislature relationship.”

It further X-rayed the steadfastness of Hon. Ukara in party politics. According to the document, Hon. Ukara while in the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA in the state Assembly refused to dump the party for the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, even as other members chose to do so.

“In 2015, as political intrigues unfolded, the APGA opposition members including Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu; Hon. Abraham Oba; Hon. Theophilus Ugboaja; Hon. Emmanuel Clinton Ebere; and Hon. Kelechi Onuzurike all dumped the APGA, the party that brought them to power, but one man vowed never to show ingratitude or betray the party that brought him to office – that man is Hon. Lukeman Onyeani. He weathered the opposition storm and remained even more stronger and committed like the rock of Gibraltar behind Dr. Alex Otti, refused to be lured by messy porridge offers from the ruling PDP, vowing to stand with Otti to the end.”