Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has enjoined his detractors to give him a break to execute his mandate, which he said, has a spiritual meaning for the unity of the state.

He said that if the judgment against him was allowed to stand, Nigeria would witness frivolous removal of elected governors and even the president through trivial court cases.

Addressing the people of Abia North senatorial zone who paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Umuahia Tuesday, against the backdrop of the current tussle for the governorship seat, Ikpeazu said he would stoutly defend the mandate given him by Abians as he would not labour for another to reap.

“The mandate given to me by Abians has a spiritual meaning. It is the bond of unity, the twine of justice and pillar of equity," Ikpeazu said, adding: "If they were looking for the government buildings, I would have vacated it for them, but I will never relinquish the sacred mandate freely given me by Abians.”

He called on Abian not to despair because of the development. According to him, the God of justice would intervene in the matter since as an appointee of government he was paying his tax, adding that those who issued him with the tax clearance certificate have come out to affirm that the document was given by them.

Ikpeazu told the people that he had visited Dr. Uche Sampson Ogah three times, opportunities he used to ask him to wait for power to revert to Abia North. He did not specify when the visits took place.

He wondered why Ogah who neither campaigned nor contested election would come through the back door to claim his mandate which he worked so hard to win. He said if the ruling of the Abuja High Court was allowed to stand, Nigeria would witness unprecedented removal of elected governors as people could go to any federal high court to institute frivolous cases against those who were victorious at the polls.

Ikpeazu thanked the people for the visit, saying it has reassured him of their confidence in his administration.

Earlier leaders from Abia North, including the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe; Commissioner for Transport; Mrs. Nnenna Obewu-Onwuka; Commissioner for Housing, Osita Igbe; Transition Committee Chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Area, Chief Abraham Ama and Sampson Orji, who spoke on behalf of the people, condemned the Abuja High Court ruling ordering Ikpeazu to vacate office.

They described the attempt by Ogah to displace Ikpeazu as a move to scuttle the Abia Charter of Equity and assured the governor of their support and loyalty.

•Photo shows Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in company of his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, addressing a mammoth crowd of stakeholders and Supporters from Abia North Senatorial zone when they paid him a solidarity visit at Government House, Umuahia. Photo Ibeabuchi Abarikwu.

Update news