A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has accused Governor Alex Otti of diverting attention from his administration’s alleged lack of transparency by using the N54bn project controversy to score political points.
Ikonne, in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, criticized the governor for what he described as an attempt to chase political relevance through emotional issues rather than providing credible answers to pressing financial questions in the state.
According to him, Governor Otti’s frequent comments about the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu appear to be a calculated effort to gain sympathy and divert focus from alleged financial irregularities involving the N54bn project and other questionable expenditures.
“It’s unfortunate that instead of offering Abians a clear account of how public funds are spent, Governor Otti keeps invoking sensitive issues to mask his administration’s failures,” Ikonne stated.
The APC chieftain challenged the governor to disclose details about the alleged N54bn project, particularly the so-called “Smart School” initiative and the N6 billion “Recreational Centre,” which, according to him, remain invisible despite being publicly announced.
Ikonne added, “Let the governor show the people of Abia where these projects are located and invite the media to verify them. If they truly exist, why were they not showcased during his recent publicized inspection of rehabilitated roads?”
He further accused Governor Otti of prioritizing publicity over genuine governance, describing most of the government’s announcements as “social media achievements with no real results on the ground.”
Commenting on the governor’s recent remarks about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Ikonne said it was hypocritical for Otti to suddenly show interest after two years in office without meaningful action or engagement.
“For more than two years, the governor never visited or made any solid effort regarding Kanu’s case. Now that public trust in his leadership is fading, he’s suddenly using Kanu’s name to rebuild his image. That’s political desperation,” Ikonne asserted.
Governor Otti had earlier stated that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who was rearrested by the Nigerian government in Kenya in 2021, would soon regain freedom. However, critics like Ikonne insist that such statements are mere distractions from what they call the unresolved N54bn project controversy.
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