2020 is a peculiar year across the globe ,Nigeria and Abia in particular considering the various issues that characterized the year,these issues includes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the lock-down that came with it,the EndSars protest that rocked the nation ,Abia inclusive.
Although these issues and others generated controversy among the masses and media influencers in Abia,but for AFNEWS among all topical issues that generated a lot of controversy that vibrated the Abia polity in 2020 is the Abia Speaker Rt Hon.Chinedum Orji’s visit to the Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK)shortly after he was freed from prison by the supreme court.
Rt Hon.Chinedum Orji’s visit to the OUK at his Abuja’s residence almost led to a political war among the supporters of the speaker and those who are regarded as PDP apologist or sympathizers of the Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu,Ph.D .
The visit generated a lot of noise, but what added fuel to the already burning fire was a statement credited to the speaker ,calling on former governor of Abia State Dr Orji Kalu to come and take over the leadership of Abia ,as the true leader of Abia ,A statement which the speaker neither affirmed or refuted.
For many PDP chieftain this was an indictment on the leadership capability of Gov.Okezie Ikpeazu who as the governor of Abia State is seen as the leader of Abia, chief among them was the former Publicity Secretary of the PDP and the current Deputy Chief of Staff to the office of the deputy governor, Chief Don Ubani who openly called for the resignation of the speaker.
Chief Don Ubani went as far as calling on members of the Abia State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP, especially those from Ukwa-Ngwa to start impeachment process of the speaker for anti-party.
Also condemning the visit to OUK by the speaker was the the former deputy speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and the current Commissioner for trade and Investment Cosmos Ndukwe Ph.D who on his wall express his displeasure over the speakers visit.
The call for the speaker’s resignation did not go unresponded, speaker’s media handlers likewise called out Chief Don Ubani and questioned his political relevance and popularity in Ukwa/Ngwa and Abia Politics in general.There was a media cross fire between those in support and against the speaker’s visit .Some political observers and analyst even predicted that the speaker is likely to defect to the All Progressive Congress (APC) and move for 2023.
However the controversy came to an end after the speaker visited Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu on his return from COVID-19 treatment. The active participation of speaker during the governor’s thanksgiving sent a,signal that all is well between the duo and there was no need over heating the polity.
