The indigenous people of Aba further stated that "naming a non-indigene as the said 'Mayor of Aba' continues to be an assault on the sensitivities of the peaceful and diligent indigenous people of Aba.
The Indigenous People of Aba Ngwa vowed to thwart any attempts to incite violence in Aba city in a statement released following their meeting on Thursday.
In a statement released to the media on Friday in Abuja on behalf of the Indigenous People of Aba Ngwa, Mr. Ogechukwu Ogbonna (Obama), Mr. Chintua Nwagba, and Engr. Obinna Greg expressed concern that Aba had been purposefully left out of the Governor's appointments to the State Executive Council and the leadership of the markets.
In part, the statement reads: "On Thursday, October 19, 2023, at Osusu Aba Town Hall, the Indigenous People of Aba Ngwa, the umbrella organization of the 24 indigenous villages of Aba North and Aba South, gathered. The Forum released the following resolutions following the well-attended meeting:
"That we recognize Dr. Alex Otti, whose responsibilities, powers, and acts are established and governed by the Nigerian Constitution and several other existing legislation.
"The indigenous people from the 24 settlements of Aba-la-Ohazu possess that Aba.
That we publicly voice our extreme dissatisfaction with the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, for having said that Aba is a wasteland.
"That we are extremely concerned that the Governor's nominations to the State Executive Council and the leadership of the markets have excluded Aba on purpose.
"That the intended appointment of a 'Mayor of Aba' is not only irregular, but also against the law.
"That it is against the Abia State Local Government Transition Edict of 2002, which requires that the person appointed as a chairman be a native of the local government area, to appoint a non-indigene as the head of the Transition Committee of Aba.
"That the peaceful and hard-working indigenous people of Aba are offended by the appointment of a non-indigene as the stated "Mayor of Aba," which has been alleged to be unconstitutional.
That forcing the indigenous people of Aba into extinction is the equivalent of the governor of Abia State's acts regarding appointments, which is completely unacceptable to us.
"That we will thwart any attempt that could incite violence in Aba, as the Governor's actions and statements seem to be suggesting."
"Should the Governor intend to unconstitutionally impose a non-indigene on Aba as the chairman of the Transition Committee, he should do so in Umuahia, Bende, Arochukwu, and other local government areas, in keeping with the proverb that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
"It is disrespectful of a governor chosen by the people to encourage those who are uncomfortable with the anticipated nomination of a non-indigenous mayor of Aba to go bang their heads against the wall.
"That we hereby urge the governor to balance his appointments among the ethnic groups that make up Abia State in the interests of equity and fairness."