(Chuks Onuoha, UMUAHIA; Romanus Okoye and Magnus Eze, ABUJA)
A group, Abia Elders, who say they are “the authentic elders of Abia State” have called for the immediate inauguration of Dr Sampson Uchechukwu Ogah, who they described as “a man democratically accepted by Abians.”
The new set of Abia elders stated this in a nine-point communique, issued after an emergency meeting in Umuahia, Abia State capital.
Led by the traditional Prime Minister of Ibekuland, Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu, those who attended include traditional prime ministers from other parts of the state, titled chiefs, community leaders and village heads of all the autonomous communities across Abia.
They stated that they had extensively and exhaustively analysed the political situation in Abia and frowned at the negative reaction of some reactionary forces who went to Abuja to condemn the judgment of the court.
They dismissed the Senator Adolphus Wabara-led Abia Concerned Elders, “who went to Abuja against the will of the people of Abia, saying they are yet to queue behind the President Muhammadu Buhari Change mantra.
“This forum would not have responded to them if not for the falsehood, distortion of facts and misleading effect it would have on the people.
“We are the true authentic elders and true representatives of the people of God’s own state and we condemn in its entirety the purported meeting they held in Abuja in the name of Abia elders,” they stated and added that “their resolution does not, in any way, reflect the reality on the ground.”
They stated that the true position of things in Abia is that all Abians, male and female, young and old, irrespective of clan, religion and political group are yearning for Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah as their governor, hence, the hilarious and wild celebration that was witnessed in streets and villages when his victory was announced.
Also, Mr Monday Ubani, a lawyer has said Ogah’s victory is valid, not an ambush and that he should be sworn in immediately without delay as pronounced by the court. Ubani told newsmen yesterday in a press conference in Lagos.
He said the matter was instituted two years ago but because the team of Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu explored all forms of legal technicalities to delay the case, it lingered till 2016.
Also yesterday, Abia Interest Group called for the immediate sack of Chief Lawrence Nwuruku, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner for the South East over what it described as his role in the current crisis surrounding the governorship seat of the state.
Nwuruku was the INEC commissioner who presented a Certificate of Return to Ogah, based on the ruling of a Federal High Court which declared him the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Abia, instead of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, in the 2014 governorship priamry in the state.