Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has dismissed recent statement credited to the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, that he was supporting the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, as mere speculations and wishful thinking.

Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the ongoing final asphalt overlay on Faulks Road in Aba on Tuesday, Governor Ikpeazu stated that “no member of G5 can railroad another member into supporting anyone against his will as suggested by Senator Kalu”.

It would be recalled that Kalu, while speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Monday, said: “Tinubu is well liked by the North and is from the South-West and is going to get a (sizeable) vote in Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, and Enugu. And he’s going to have the support of Governor Wike of Rivers State, so we’re on track.

“My governor here, Okezie Ikepazu, will also support Tinubu. My senatorial district is going to give Tinubu the vote, the puncher to give the 34, 35 per cent to be on the ballot.”

Responding, Ikpeazu, who dismissed Kalu’s statement with a wave of the hand, described it as mere wishful thinking and the usual political speculation associated with the season.

Earlier, the Director of Strategic Engagement, Abia State PDP Campaign Council, John Okiyi Kalu, in a statement issued on Tuesday, stated that there was no truth in Kalu’s statement.

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He recalled that in the run up to the 2019 general election, there were similar mischievous speculations around the Governor because of his “non-rancorous brand of politics which allowed him to accommodate different political views and orientations without any qualms.”

He noted: “Governor ikpeazu is a democrat and even as he frowns at some decisions of his party, the PDP, he remains a committed member of the PDP family.

“Ikpeazu is in touch with Abians and will not derail from the decision of a majority of his people which does not presently incline towards APC or its presidential candidate, Senator Bola Tinubu.

“It is noteworthy that in the field, APC  structures in Abia South Senatorial District have completely collapsed into the PDP as was seen during the PDP rally held at Ahiaba in Obingwa LGA.

“So it is laughable for anyone to imagine the Governor working for the same party that has collapsed as a result of the good work the Governor has been doing in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Ikpeazu has not endorsed Tinubu and will not endorse him because he is a leader that is guided by the feelings of his people. PDP remains formidable and all our candidates in the forthcoming elections hold very strong prospects of winning, in Abia.”

Okiyi further stated that the PDP in Abia State “acknowledges the frustration of opposition parties in the state and sympathizes with them on their imminent rejection by the people who see the PDP as a steady hand guaranteeing continuing peace and progress of the state.

“Abians cannot abandon the PDP which gave them over 200 roads including 4 bridges, 700 new classroom blocks, sent some of her youths abroad on schorlarship and trained shoemakers overseas.

“It is unthinkable for our people to abandon such a party which built 2 brand new giant firms that have been gainfully employing our people and engaging them in other nuerous positive ways.

“The PDP government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has employed over 10,000 youths through direct jobs in TIMAAS, APUMA, ENASCO, Abia school feeding programmes, ASEPA etc.

“It has facilitated regular power supply in parts of Aba through delineate support to Geometric Power Company and has bequeathed the first free trade zone in south east  through Enyimba Economic City.

“It is because we are proud of our record as a party and government that our candidates are campaigning on those records, whereas our opponents are engaging in propaganda and outright falsehood to attempt to hoodwink voters.

“As of today, Abia remains the safest state in the southeast. To the glory of God, the state has not witnessed any successful bank robbery since Governor Ikpeazu emerged in 2015.

“Our people will only go to a place with better prospects or they remain with the party they already know. They are not willing to repeat the same mistake Nigerians made at the National level in 2015,” he said.

The Star