Business Post Contributor
By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Less than two months to May 29, when incoming administrations are expected to take over from the outgoing ones, there is a raging battle between the incoming administration of Dr Alex Otti and the outgoing administration of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
This situation is posing serious concerns to followers, analysts and watchers of Abia politics, who are worried that this may affect a seamless and harmonious transition.
An analyst is of the opinion that the fight is too early and uncalled for and may affect the capacity of the incoming government to deliver on its mandate.
At the centre of the fight, which has generated an exchange of intense media blows from both camps, is the purported court’s exparte order freezing the state accounts with various financial institutions.
Since then, the media spaces have known no peace as both parties have engaged in sucker and counter-sucker punches.
The Abia State Government was the first to throw the punch through its Commissioner for Information, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo.
In a release, the state government described the court order as “mischievous, contrived and careless,” noting that the “thoughtless move by misfits ostensibly acting a mendacious script written by a cowardly cacophony of overzealous political turncoats is aimed at grounding the government and in so doing, instigate civil unrest in Abia State.”
“As always, close allies and lackeys of the Governor-elect, Chief Alex Otti, and their media acolytes have been openly celebrating this mutinous, devilish and deliberate act of subterfuge, thereby lending credence to the belief in some quarters that this is a judicial coup d’etat targeted at subverting the government and or its institutions in a manner not provided for in the Constitution. As we all know, no arm of government has a lawful right to ground the other for any reason whatsoever.
“More so, a newly elected Governor should know that he was elected for four years and cannot interfere in the administration of an incumbent. Respect for the rule of law and constituted authority is a prerequisite for being a democrat. Talking from both sides of the mouth, sending conflicting signals, saying one thing publicly to appear sanctimonious while copiously being fingered as the one actively instigating the opposite behind the scenes, and all such acts of duplicity are not the temperament required for such an exalted office,” the statement added.
The Commissioner noted that, “Ironically, as people who are primarily out to settle personal scores, elements within the Labour Party are now spurning this statesmanship of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu while making statements that buttress the notion that they have been merely seeking office to selectively cheery pick key opposition political players for vendetta and persecution.”
Mr Chikamnayo expressed worries that if the situation lingers, “sooner than later, the atmosphere of peace and security carefully sustained, enjoyed and even taken for granted by some Abians will suddenly evaporate, giving way to a new wave of killings and persecution under the Gestapo style of an imperial impetuous leadership. This disaster, foretold by all well-meaning members of the Abia community, is now unravelling, albeit too quickly, before our very eyes.”
Nut in a swift reaction, Mr Otti”s camp, through his Media Adviser, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, denied involvement in the act, absolving his boss from the action.
“The Abia Governor-Elect, Dr Alex Otti, is neither insensitive nor cowardly. He is not known for acting through subterfuge and thus could not have initiated such action in secrecy and in a manner that would affect the welfare of Abians, especially workers.
“For accusing Dr Alex Otti falsely in a bid to misrepresent him and mislead the public, the governor-elect will now get involved to get to the root of the matter since the outcome would affect his administration which takes effect from May 29, 2023.
“Abia State government should be bold enough to tell the world that those they entered into fraudulent contracts with and tried to short-change before leaving office were responsible for the litigation. Is it a difficult thing for the failed Okezie Ikpeazu led-government to publish the court documents for the world to see?” he asked.
Some quarters are highly bothered and are not comfortable with the allegations that some contractors are responsible for freezing the accounts. They are of the opinion that this smells a rat of the Governor-elect’s camp of being privy to what transpired. They are of the opinion that such speculations are not palatable coming from a camp accused of masterminding the actions.
What generates more sensitive concerns among well-meaning Abians is the allegation that the incoming government is on a vendetta. The majority of the opinions are calling on the incoming government to retreat if the allegations are founded or prove the state government wrong if the allegations are unfounded through its subsequent actions to retain the confidence of the Abia populace.
All the same, whether the incoming Dr Alex Otti’s government is on vendetta or not remains a puzzle which unfolding events can only resolve.
