As Normalcy begin to return to the state pending the resolution of the political logjam by the law courts, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has banned solidarity visits to him by his supporters.
The Governor while thanking those who mobilized citizens for the various solidarity visits which had even impeded governance, urged “all Abians to please return to their usual daily activities and end further solidarity visits associated with the last attempted coup.”
Since the political crisis broke out over one month ago, supporters of the government and political jobbers had almost on daily basis, mobilized groups on solidarity visit to Government House, Umuahia, where the Governor quickly relocated to in the heat of the crisis. Before then, he had operated from Aba since his swearing-in.
Ikpeazu in a statement ,said that he has taken “note of the cost and risk of Abians who mobilized to Umuahia to pay solidarity visits to him, almost on daily basis,” saying that their sacrifices were well appreciated and promised to do more in return to develop the Abia
According to a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, Ikpeazu however assured Abia people that “he remains confident that the judiciary will deliver fair and equitable justice that will reaffirm the mandate given to him by the majority of Abians in the April 11th and 25th, 2015”.
Governor Ikpeazu also said he was “grateful and appreciative of the seriousness of President Buhari in fighting corruption, affirming the rule of law and also stop corrupt individuals from using illegally acquired wealth to buy immunity from prosecution through the backdoor”.
He pledged that his “administration will continue to support the war against corruption as he is convinced that corruption, wherever found, is antithetical to peace and development of our people”. The Governor also urged his “political opponents and those genuinely interested in moving our dear state forward to join hands with” in developing the State, saying that his “doors are always open to welcome all Abians, regardless of political disposition, to listen to suggestions on how things can be done better for the greater good of our people”.
Ikpeazu also assured Abia people who are “without skeletons in their cupboard have nothing to fear, regardless of whether they supported him or his rivals”, and urged for their support.