Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed deep concern at the current exchange of political brickbats by politicians and groups over who succeeds him in 2023.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka made this known through a press statement on Thursday, 24 June 2021
He described such exchanges as unnecessary, premature, and capable of distracting his administration.
Governor Ikpeazu makes it abundantly clear to all that he is still in charge of the State and will not be stampeded out of office by people who want to alter the natural order of things.
While the Governor appreciates the rights of persons and groups to canvass their political ideas and preferences, he warned that timing is critical in these permutations and that there could only be one Governor at any particular time.
He assured that when the time is right, his successor will emerge through a peaceful process of consensus and justice, involving all interest groups in the State, reminding Abians that it is God that anoints leaders.
Ikpeazu adds that his preoccupation now is how to continue to deliver more people-oriented infrastructural projects for the people of the state, strengthen trade and commerce and keep the people safe.
He noted that the question of who succeeds him is definitely not what he is thinking about at the moment because, “if I start in June 2021 to think about my successor in 2023 and begin to hold meetings on the issue, it will be difficult for me to concentrate again and do my work”.
Governor Ikpeazu appealed to politicians not to allow their rhetorics about 2023 to threaten the peace and tranquility currently enjoyed in the state.
He advised them to pray to God to give life and good health ahead of the politics of 2023 because only the living and the healthy will play politics by that time.
