The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has warned that it would punish its members indulging in distracting Governor Okezie Ikpeazu from his focus on developing the state, even as the party in Abia North Senatorial zone has distanced itself from Dr. Uche Ogah, saying his ambition runs contrary to the Abia Charter of Equity.

Abia PDP, while commending Ikpeazu for attracting the African Development Bank (AfDB), which is expected to execute some projects in the state, expressed sadness that some members of the party were bent on derailing the focused governor from deploying his time and resources in bringing about infrastructural rebirth of the state.

The Secretary of Abia PDP, Chief Don Ubami, in a statement released in Umuahia, quoted the state Chairman of the party as saying that PDP would not sit by and watch insubordination to blossom.

The four-paragraph statement titled “Abia PDP hails Governor Ikpeazu on Port Harcourt, Ikot Ekpene roads,” read:

“The Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, once again, has cause to commend Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his commitment towards the infrastructural recovery of Aba.

“In a statement issued in Umuahia by the State Chairman of the Party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, the party expressed satisfaction with the coordinated efforts of the Governor in bringing the African Development Bank to Abia State to partner the State Government in order to reconstruct two strategic federal roads at Aba, Port-Harcourt and Ikot-Ekpene roads.

“The party appreciates the Governor’s efforts in good governance and calls on all detractors and enemies of the state to acknowledge the fact that whatever money they force the Governor to spend in order to sustain the mandate he was legitimately and equitably given by the people of Abia State is money he would, ordinarily, invest in the development of the state.

“The party, therefore, warns that any member of the party who goes on with the nefarious act of sabotage and insubordination against the development of the state by making the Governor waste time and resources meant for the betterment of the masses will attract severe disciplinary action(s) from the party.”

In another development, the leadership and members of the PDP in Abia North have expressed their unalloyed solidarity to the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu while describing the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja in favor of Dr. Uche Ogah, as “controversial and contentious.”

Rising from a stakeholders meeting of the Zone in Ohafia, the Abia North PDP in a statement jointly signed by over 130 leaders of the party in the zone, dissociated themselves from Ogah, who hails from the zone, stressing that he wants to throw Abia into a state of anarchy.

“The controversial and contentious judgment of the Hon. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division came to us as a surprise and a calculated attempt to rock the boat of a smooth sailing government of Abia State under the able leadership of Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D,” they said in a communique issued at the end of their meeting.

The stakeholders contended that “the said judgment, which is misconceived, unresearched and unknown to facts and law, defeats all known principles of justice.” They added: “We totally align with the judgment of Hon. Justice Lewis Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Owerri Division,” which they described “as well reasoned and well researched, both in facts and law, thereby vindicating and absolving Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D of any wrong doing with respect to his tax documents.”

The communique reads in part: “That we dissociate ourselves from the inordinate ambition of Uche Ogah who hails from Abia North and his cohorts, in their bid to throw the state into a state of anarchy.

“That we express our complete solidarity and absolute loyalty to the Government of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and affirm our faith in the Abia Charter of Equity as enunciated by the founding fathers of Abia State which implies that the office of the Governor of Abia State will rotate among the three senatorial districts of the state.

“That the emergence of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu from Abia South at this time is consistent with the provisions of that Charter, Abia North and Abia Central having taken their turn before in 1999-2007 and 2007-2015 respectively.”

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, the senator representing Abia North, Hon Uko Nkole, member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Cusmos Ndukwe, the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Dr. Eme Okoro, the Secretary to Abia State Government, Hon Osita Igbe, Commissioner for Housing, among others, signed the resolution of the Abia North PDP.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.

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