SAM OBINNA IBE, who went to feel the pulse of residents of Abia state, following last Friday’s Supreme Court judgement which upholds the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu
Contrary to anticipated jubilation by Abians and residents of Abia state, last Friday,12th May,2017, Supreme court judgement did not elicit spontaneous jubilation as witnessed when Alex Otti, won at the Appeal Court and when Uche Ogah, won at Okon Abang’s Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. The state was calm as if nothing historical happened on that fateful day. The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja returned Governor Ikpeazu as the winner of the election that became a protracted legal battle at the expense of Dr Uche Ogah, both members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the governorship slot of the state.
Blueprint Correspondent who monitored the feelings of Abians after the S/Court verdict observed that majority of the youths and adults who rather than join in the celebration mood of government appointees, Ukwa ngwa nation were seen in groups discussing what they said is prolong sufferings from what they have seen so far from the incumbent governor whose administration has not fared them better.
One of the respondent,Ugochukwu Obidike, who expressed disappointment over the development in an interview, said “how do expect me to be happy in a government that is insensitive to the plights of citizenry in the state”. He added that “a government that has refused to pay workers’ salaries as at when due, pensioners dying as a result of not receiving their accumulated pensions winning again at the apex court, you want me to be happy, it is not possible”.
Keke riders were seen at major newspapers stands lamenting over the judgement which they said would have favoured Uche Ogah stressing that they have to endure till 2019 .
Meanwhile, still nursing the pains of dashed expectations scores of respondents prayed for progress of the state for them to feel the dividends of democracy.
But alas, a twist of fate played a fast one as the “Master Strategist” Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of the state dashed in unexpectedly on Saturday,May13, a day after the court verdict. He entered Umuahia, the state capital en route to his Igbere country home with his long convoy of buses adorned in APC colours with his pictures .
This attracted the attention of keke riders, buses drivers and other masses who on sighting his convoy at the popular Isi Gate Umuahia started hailing him, OUK our man we love you; they followed the convoy with more crowd joining till Uwalaka street by Capital Supermarket when he was forced to alight from his car and addressed the crowd.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, Dr Orji said I wasn’t surprised by what Abians did this evening in Umuahia. He added that it is not the first time.
“I heard many of the comments from the massive crowd who besieged us on sighting us at the capital and I want to state that I feel everyone’s pain. I also thank you all for the love shown to me ;I heard many of your requests too you are all in my heart” Orji assured them.
Equally, government officials, Ukwa ngwa nation; members of the party loyal to Governor Ikpeazu erupted in wide jubilation shortly after the apex court affirmed the election of the Obingwa born governor, reverse was the case as the masses, keke riders and bus drivers in the state especially in Umuahia the capital wore mourning faces lamenting why their most preferred choice should lose when it mattered most while taken the decision of the Supreme court in good faith.
Our Correspondent who monitored the town reports what while majority of the masses were said to have been disappointed over the judgement but this is certainly not so for Government House Umuahia were agog with celebration as governor Ikpeazu’s aides were excited over the judgement on the premise that their jobs at least would be secured for some time pending the dissolution of the cabinet.
Speaking to our Correspondent on how he feels over Ikpeazu’s victory,Chief Dan Egbeogu, the immediate past chairman Local Government and Service Commission and Pension board commended the supreme court for doing the needful by affirming his hitherto boss election stating that the victory is long expected.
He added the victory was long expected because a man who won election for two years running they are still dragging from one court to another, huge resources to pay lawyers and filing of cases, transportation of lawyers and government officials etc.
Egbeogu however commended Ikpeazu over what he described as a deserved victory while lamenting that the course cases has affected the growth of the state.
On his part, the traditional ruler of Emede Ibeku Autonomous community in Umuahia North ,HRH Eze Henry Chinyereuba Ezekwem also lauded Governor Ikpeazu for his supreme court victory while calling on his defeated opponent,Uche Ogah to be gallant in defeat and join his brother governor to move the state forward.
The traditional ruler while pledging the continued support of Ibeku people in his administration also called on Ogah to use his wealth to assist the governor to carry development to the next level.
The chairman of Ibeku traditional rulers council also called on Ogah to shun hungry politicians that would want to cause disaffection between him and governor.
On his part, Chief Allen Nwachukwu, the immediate past deputy state chairman of PDP. hailed the Supreme Court noting that Daniel has finally come to judgement.
Speaking in an interview with Blueprint in his Umuokiri Osisioma Ngwa country home last Saturday, the front line politician in the state added that the victory of his kinsman governor at the Supreme court was not man made but a divine one given circumstances that surrounded his emergence and chain of victories since the protracted legal tussles.
He maintained that Ikpeazu is God’s own chosen governor and insisted that there was no time he entertained any fears that his brother governor will not make it.
Meanwhile, Governor Ikpeazu has said that despite the distractions, he will carry everybody along in his quest to take Abia to greater heights while describing his victory as victory for all.
I heard many of the comments from the massive crowd who besieged us on sighting us at the capital and I want to state that I feel everyone’s pain
