By By, Uchechukwu Ugboaja
Startling developments emanating from Abia State during the aftermath of the Democracy Day Celebrations indicates that this could this be the beginning of the end of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State despite being recognised as one of the major strongholds of the embattled former ruling party as activities and events within the State have revealed that the party may be set for a dead end under the leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
BlackBox Nigeria can also report authoritatively that the absence of other key individuals in the PDP from Abia State such as the likes of Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe, Sen. Adolphus Wagbara, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor and some prominent Legislators from the State were conspicuously absent from the dinner as the event was mainly occupied mostly by Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries who went on a tour of some state projects in various local government areas during the day.
Some of these projects include rehabilitation of some major roads in Ohafia, Umuahia and Aba metropolis. The Governor further added during the dinner that he will continue to change the landscape of Abia state as his next line of action will be focused on rehabilitation of primary and secondary schools around the state.
It should be noted that the Governor and his predecessor Sen. Theodore A Orji have had a cordial relationship until this point, where speculations continue to hit the political airwave about Gov. Ikpeazu’s alleged romance with members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) especially the only Governor from the South East Region, Gov. Rochas Okorocha who had stated at different fora that Nigerians should expect one or two Governors from the region to decamp to the APC before 2019 polls.
Recall that the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo was recently in Abia State on on a state visit as part of his tour to the South-East and had revealed that a state like Abia will greatly required the massive investment of the Federal Government for the state to actualize its industrial potential to the maximum in the shortest possible time. Perhaps these and several others may have been the behind the Governor’s recent visits to the Aso Rock Villa to meet with Ag. President Osinbajo.
If this developments are anything to go by, then it appears that there would be more than enough trouble for the PDP faithfuls such as the former governor Sen. T.A Orji and others as they may be left out in the cold by a governor they rested the hopes of the party on. Of course the constant and persistent trips of the governor to Abuja may not be unconnected to the alleged planned decamping as pressure seems to be mounting on him to join the political moving train of the APC who have vowed not to leave any stone unturned ahead of the 2019 general elections as the south east becomes the focal point of global attention over the rising case of insecurity arising from alleged marginalisation and socio-economic exclusion, which have given berth to various groups and agitators who question the essence of the Nigerian state for the South Easterners.
Security was notably heightened in Abia State ahead of the sit at home order issued by members of IPOB and MOSSOB, as members of the Police and Military were seen at different locations in the state ensuring that there was no breakdown of law and order. Military helicopters and armored personnel carriers were deployed to ensure that there was free movement across the state for those who wish to go about their legitimate businesses.
Frantic efforts were made by our correspondent who tried to reach out to the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Ikpeazu, Mr. Eyinnaya Appolos to confirm this shocking development but it all proved abortive as he simply claimed that the Governor needed to rush down to Abuja for crucial meetings.
