By Onwukwe Ezeru, Abia
Abia State indigenes have continued to pour econium on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over his victory at the Supreme Court Abuja.
Ikpeazu’s governorship election was challenged by Dr. Uche Ogah, who dragged him to Court over an alleged falsification of tax receipt.
On the court verdict last week, the Methodist Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Rev Raphael Opoko, while interacting with our correspondent, condemned the practice in the South East where losers don’t accept defeat but to drag the winner to court.
The cleric said that in the northern part, the story is different. He thanked God for giving Ikpeazu victory, adding that bishops and pastors in Abia prayed for his success.
He advised South East politicians to learn how to resolve election matters out of court.
“I want to caution politicians to develop a pure mechanism in resolving election matters instead of court actions that will adversely affect governance. “Now that the court action is over I will want Dr. Uche Ogah and Alex Otti to join hands with Ikpeazu to develop the state,” he said.
In the same manner the former and immediate past chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Abia State, Chief Dan Egbeogu, has congratulated Governor Ikpeazu for winning Uche Ogah at the Supreme Court, describing the victory as well deserved.
He regretted series of distraction at the various stages of court action, noting that fund lavished for the past two years in court would have enabled the governor to do more work in the state.
Lending his voice a Peoples Democratic Party stalwart in Abia and former rector, College of Health Technology, Aba, Sir Frank Ibe, described Ikpeazu’s victory as victory for democracy and commended the judiciary for being fair and transparent in their judgment. “With this victory, Governor Ikpeazu has a relaxed mind now and will focus more on what will benefit the state instead of thinking about court cases” he said.
In his reaction, the immediate past deputy Chairman of PDP in Abia State, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, noted that some sectors of Abia public believed that Ikpeazu would not win. “Today the reverse is the case. My thanks goes to the judiciary for its fair judgment”. Nwachukwu described Ikpeazu as Abia governor and not Ngwa governor and lauded him for his achievement within two years in office. “Ikpeazu has surpassed other governors in Abia. Look at what he has done in Aba which other governors did not do”.
He enjoined Abia people to give him support.
Meanwhile, a traditional ruler and Eze of Ezeleke Autonomous Community Umuokpara in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, Eze Godfrey Ibeakanma, has commended the judiciary for exhibiting transparency in Abia governor legal tussle and the bail granted to the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Ibeakanma who was reacting to the two court cases ruled in favour of Abia sons said that the public would begin to have confidence in the judiciary.
He congratulated Ikpeazu on his victory at the Supreme Court, urging his opponents to join hands with him to work for the progress of the state.
“I am happy and Abians are happy that there is democracy in Nigeria that can give hope to the citizenry”.
On the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu in the prison, Ibeakama condemned it, adding that the agitation for Biafra was legitimate. “Agitation for Biafra freedom was in order. The founding fathers of democracy, Britain, colonized Nigeria. It granted Ireland freedom. Recently Southern Sudan separated from Sudan. What is wrong if Biafra wants freedom?” He called on the Federal Government to look into the struggle by Biafran agitators with a view to addressing it for unity, equity and fair play.
“The agitators feel marginalized because of the way the Ndigbo are being treated in Nigeria. Nnamdi Kanu and his group were agitating for being cheated and the federal government should listen to them”.