Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has welcomed the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirant, Uchechukwu Ogah, to work with him.
This is contained in a letter he personally signed on Friday and sent to Ogah.
Recall that Ikpeazu’e election was affirmed by the Supreme Court last Friday.
A five-man bench of the apex court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, unanimously upheld Ikpeazu’s election as Abia State Governorafter dismissing Ogah’s appeal for lack of merit.
In his reaction, Ogah said he had accepted the verdict and urged all the people of the state to support Ikpeazu as governor of the state.
The statement read, “On the 12th of May 2017, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave their final verdict over my case with Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the governor of Abia State. Even though a painful verdict, but as someone that believes in the rule of law and the judiciary, I have accepted the decision of the apex court in good faith.
“As the legal battle comes to an end with the Supreme Court’s declaration, I’m exceedingly happy today that in the course of this struggle, I never resorted to self-help nor encouraged my supporters to indulge in any form of violence either in my State or elsewhere.
“May I especially thank my teeming supporters for standing by me all through this journey and may I also use this golden opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia State and urge all Abians to join hands in supporting the Governor in order to move our dear state forward.”
In his letter, Ikpeazu said thanked Ogah for extending hand of friendship. Full letter below
May 19, 2017
Dr. Sampson Uche Ogar, OON.
My dear brother,
RE: CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE
I write to personally acknowledge the message of congratulations sent to us by your good self following the final judicial imprimatur given to my mandate by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, May 12, 2017 as the lawfully nominated and duly elected Governor of Abia State.
First, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that in my administration, the title HIS EXCELLENCY, as used in your letter is not applicable. This is a policy statement that has been in place since my inauguration, please.
As was widely reported in the media, as soon as the Supreme Court delivered their judgment, I immediately issued a statement wherein I urged all parties to sheath their swords and put the interest of our dear fledging state above narrow and personal political interests.
I also made it clear that I have, in the interest of our dear state, put the episode of the long drawn litigation behind me and extended warm invitations to everyone, irrespective of differences in political ideologies, to join hands with me to move the state forward.
I note with delight that you have accepted that invitation.
Please recall that in my two meetings with you before this time, I clearly made the point that at this stage of our development, our state needs all her citizens to join hands together and contribute to her growth and development.
Please rest assured of my commitment to work with everyone on this new path of progress and unity.
Kindly accept, Dear Dr. Ogar, my continued assurances of the highest consideration.
Yours in the service of our state,
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Phd Governor of Abia State
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