This is the concluding part of this piece which was first published January 18. A major focus of his development efforts appears to be infrastructure, especially the construction and rehabilitation of roads for which several projects were initiated

By Mike Ebonugwo

UNDER the aegis of this initiative, the Governor had appealed to friends and Abians in general to assist him in giving a facelift to the affected schools as well as adopting indigent pupils of these schools as a way of giving them a sense of belonging and in the process reverse the trend of drift to private schools.

Under its Universal Basic Education Provisions, the Abia State Government has launched a pilot arrangement to feed 30,000 primary school pupils three times in a week in 10 local council areas. Pupils are to be fed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Market development: Among the many achievements credited to the administration is the establishment of the Abia State Markets Development Committee, ASMDC, charged with the responsibility of restoring sanity to all markets in the state. This is expected to complement the ongoing War Against Street Trading in Aba and relocation of traders to new sites.

Under the arrangement, new markets are to be provided with modern conveniences, standard roofing, police post, motor parks, fire service posts, among others, to bring them to international standards.

Establishment of agencies: Also listed in the administration’s score card is the establishment of a Traffic Management Agency, similar to the one in Lagos which has at least 200 employees.  There is also the Public Infrastructure Management Agency whose duty is to make sure that touts and those who abuse public infrastructure are checkmated.

But all that Governor Ikpeazu is believed to have achieved so far will come to nought if the recent Appeal Court ruling nullifying his election and declaring his major rival in the election winner is not reversed by the Supreme Court. Indeed the judgement came as a rude shock to the Governor and his teeming supporters in and outside the state.

Arising from this is a raging battle for the soul of the state. Abia state is not a stranger to political leadership succession crisis. Unfortunately the crisis engendered by the Appeal Court judgement is presently threatening to tear ‘’God’s Own State’’ apart. It all began with the governorship election of last year that saw the emergence of Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the duly elected Governor of the state.

But his victory was subsequently challenged by the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, flagbearer, Dr Alex Otti, at the Elections Petition Tribunal. Failing at the Tribunal, Dr Otti had proceeded to the Appeal Court which last week overruled the Tribunal and declared him winner of the election.

Since that development, the state has not been the same as sections of the state have reacted in anger, threatening fire over the judgement. Indeed many aggrieved Abians, including prominent, high-placed individuals among, have been taking to the streets to protest what they have angrily described as a travesty of justice.

Travesty of justice

In the fore front of the mass protests which began on Saturday, January 2 and grounded activities at Aba, were men from Ukwa Ngwa part of the state led by former Senate President, Adolp Wabara and Chief Gershion Amuta. On Monday, January 4, black attires-clad Ukwa Ngwa women took their turn as they stormed Aba and also brought the city to a halt.

The following day, members of the Abia Renion took to the streets of Umuahia and ended at the Govt House to register their grievance over the judgement and to express solidarity with the judicially embattled governor.

But in what will appear as a balance of protests, Otti’s supporters have also taken their turn in the streets to hail and celebrate the judgement which they believe will soon usher their man into Government House Umuahia.

Speaking on the Appeal Court judgement, CPS Adindu, affirmed that it was indeed a travesty and rape of justice, adding that all should ‘’rise up to condemn the judicial rascality   and brigandage of the Appeal Court judges that handled the Abia guber appeal’’.