Despite the festering leadership crises rocking Ibeku Egwu Asaa Development Association (IEADA), the socio-political cum administrative umbrella body of Ibeku clan in Umuahia, the Abia State Government has thrown its weight behind the Emeka Enyiazu-led group.

News Express reports that a rancorous election held by the IEADA on December 26, 2016 produced two parallel executives, one led by Chief Emeka Enyiazu and the other led by High Chief Princewill Ukaegbu.

Early this year, the Enyiazu group went to court and obtained an interim court order restraining the Ukaegbu-led executive from parading themselves as leaders of IEADA.

Receiving Enyiazu as the President-General of IEADA and members of his executive in Government House, apart from donating N2 million to his guests for improving health care services in the area, Ikpeazu promised that his administration would carry out palliative work on the Isieke-Ibeku – Bende road axis of the Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road.

The palliative work is to cover the first five kilometers of the road which is terribly dilapidated.

A report from the Government House Press Corps made available to News Express stated also that the Governor directed the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Eme Okoro, to instruct state Ministry of Public Utilities to assess the cost of revitalising the abandoned Ugba Ibeku Regional Water Scheme.

According to the report, Ikpeazu promised to give four transformers to the Ibeku clan, to improve electricity supply to the people, while a team of experts would be dispatched to assess the Umuagu-Emede-Amaoforo erosion site and Umuchime river bridge for attention.

“The Governor appreciated Ibeku people for their support for his administration and called on the association to work closely with the government and to give all Ibeku people a sense of belonging,” the report quoted Ikpeazu as saying.

In his speech, Enyiazu appreciated the giant strides of the Governor so far, in spite of the economic recession and series of litigations against him and thanked him for fixing some bad roads in Ibeku, and for appointing their sons and daughters into positions of trust.

Also, the chairman, Ibeku Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Henry Ezekwem, reportedly told the Governor that “Enyiazu is the legitimately elected President-General of Ibeku Egwu Asaa.”

The royal father, therefore, advised Ikpeazu to “deal with the Enyiazu-led executive and not any other person parading himself as the President-General.”

Ezekwem was said to have further informed the governor that 11 out of the 13 traditional rulers in Ibeku land voted for Enyiazu who, the traditional ruler said, enjoys the support of majority of Ibeku people.

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