AS the legal battle for the soul of Abia State continues in Abuja, back in the State, uneasy calm prevails.

By Anayo Okoli

Nobody is certain what the situation is. Tension is however less as people go about their normal businesses. But, security in and around Government House, Umuahia, remains tight, and in summary the situation can be said to be calm and confusing.

Two police patrol vehicles used to block the main gate still remains there, and only workers and visitors on foot are allowed to pass through the gate after through search and identification. All vehicular movements have been restricted to the exit gate which is also manned by stern-looking police personnel who also subject people to search and identifications.

Ikpeazu and Ogah

Scores of Ngwa youths who, last week mobilized themselves to the Government House to protect their kinsman, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, remain undaunted. They organized white plastic chairs around the area and have mounted a barricade against a threat to their brother. Their mission is what one of them described as to “occupy the Government House”.

Various opinions are being canvassed by the different camps in the crisis, specifically between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Uche Ogah who was favoured by the Justice Okon Abang verdict which sparked off the political logjam. However, some people who are fans of Chief Friday Nwosu, also pursing the tax certificate matter at the Owerri for long have equally joined in the permutation.

For now, as one observer put it, the fate of Abia people is in the hands of Justice Okon Abang. “We are all waiting to see what will happen on Thursday. We are all waiting for Thursday to come. That day, the Abuja court will tell us our position, for now, I tell you, it is confusion everywhere, no need pretending”, he said.

The major newspaper stands in Umuahia, the capital city have now turned to an arena for political debate where they read, analyse and argue over the reports of dailies. Arguments in support of the various gladiators in the political crisis are canvassed. Both educated and not too educated, have suddenly become lawyers as they argue why their own person would win the case in Abuja.

Therefore, it is now a common joke in the state among friends, and even political opponents to hear, Abia, a state with three governors, as each camp makes desperate effort to predict judicial victory in the on-going legal firework. Simply put, the situation in Abia is confusing.

The confusion is such that a well publicised reception planned for Governor Ikpeazu by all the traditional rulers in the State at the Umuahia township stadium had to be put off at the last minute. Posters and banners announcing the elaborate ceremony were still displayed in major cities of the state yesterday.

According to a top traditional ruler, they decided to put the ceremony off to allow the political uncertainty in the State settle down so that the man we are honouring will be there with us with a rest of mind and be happy with the reception. You can see that the present mood is not the best for the type of reception we plan.”

Despite this tension in Umuahia, elsewhere in the state, normal economic and social activities go on with the residents keeping close to their radio sets, eager to update themselves of the political situation.