Prince Paul Ikonne, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, has urged Governor Alex Otti to concentrate on the genuine concerns of Abia’s citizens rather than using the name of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for political gain. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, Ikonne released a statement in Abuja on Saturday, asserting that the governor’s recent comments on Kanu appear to be a desperate attempt to divert attention from his administration’s performance.
Ikonne warned that Governor Otti is exploiting sensitive national issues to distract Abia’s people from what he describes as the government’s underperformance and questionable financial management. He criticized the governor for failing to provide transparent accounting of public funds and for inserting Kanu’s name into his narrative instead. Specifically, Ikonne questioned the existence of a ₦54 billion “Smart School” project and a ₦6 billion “Recreational Centre” allegedly undertaken under Otti’s administration, noting that neither project has been visible. He challenged the governor to disclose their exact locations and invite the media for verification, asking why these projects were not commissioned during the recent public presentation of rehabilitated roads and why government reports often lack substance.
Regarding Kanu’s situation, Ikonne accused Governor Otti of hypocrisy. He pointed out that, despite being in office for over two years, the governor had never previously expressed concern for Kanu’s plight. Only now, when his administration’s credibility is under scrutiny, has Otti suggested that Kanu would soon regain his freedom. This follows Otti’s recent statement that Nnamda Kanu, rearrested by the Nigerian government in Kenya in June 2021, would soon be released—a comment that has revived public interest in the case.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Governor Otti’s administration will respond to the concerns raised by Ikonne and other stakeholders.
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