By Jude Opara, Abuja
An Abia based researcher and political analyst, Dr. Ujo Justice, has cautioned Governor Alex Otti to stop media attack on the immidiate-past Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne, for calling for the creation of Aba state.
Justice described Prince Ikonne’s call as very patriotic, adding that the demand for the creation of Aba state was a legitimate political expression rooted in the quest for equity, development, and fair representation.
It could be recalled that the former NALDA boss had on Thursday criticized Governor Otti’s stand against the creation of additional state for South East but commended Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state for supporting the call.
Governor Otti while responding to the report, through his media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, in a statement titled; “Aba State Creation: Paul Ikonne Needs Help to Salvage His Hate-ravaged Mind”, described the former NALDA boss as “hate-ravaged,” mind.
However, speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, the Abia born Dr. Ujo Justice cautioned the Alex Otti’s led state government against media bullying, saying the governor’s statement is not a defense of governance, but an attempt to silence dissent.
“Resorting to insults, distorting past events, and questioning academic credentials without proof is nothing but intellectual laziness.”
He said: “Prince Paul Ikonne did not incite division; he illuminated reality. His call for the creation of Aba State was a legitimate political expression rooted in the quest for equity, development, and fair representation — a demand many leaders from the South East, including progressive voices across party lines, have long echoed.
“Rather than engage with the merit of his argument, the Governor’s media aide descended into personal insults, calling Ikonne “hate-ravaged,” “infantile,” and “clannish.” Such vile expressions should have no place in public discourse, especially from the office of a sitting governor.
“In truth, Ikonne’s words were firm but patriotic. And in a democracy, that should be respected.”
The political analyst further stated that while Governor Otti, consistently positioned himself as a technocrat, in contrast his arguments against state creation lack the nuance and sensitivity expected of a leader of a multi-ethnic and politically savvy state like Abia.
“It is on record that Governor Otti, in 2020, wrote against the creation of additional states, citing economic impracticality. While that is a valid intellectual concern, what he fails to admit is the underlying injustice in Nigeria’s current state structure — particularly against the South East which remains the only region with five states. This imbalance directly affects representation, federal appointments, and resource allocation.
“Ikonne’s position was not that of a sectional warrior, but of a nationalist calling for correction of a decades-long injustice. To reduce that to clannishness is either a deliberate misrepresentation or a poor grasp of political history.”
Dr. Justice said rather than focus on real governance challenges, the Governor’s aide took a deep dive into history, hurling unverified allegations from as far back as 2007 on Prince Paul Ikonne.
“The accusation that he “neglected Abia” while serving at NALDA is disingenuous. National appointments require national scope. That Abia did not benefit from NALDA as Ekeoma claimed is a reflection of non ethnic bais and should have a more reflection of poor synergy from state actors than any failure on Ikonne’s part.”
He also noted that Paul Ikonne’s advocacy for Aba has started long before the era of Dr. Otti as governor of Abia state.
While calling for a better politics in Abia state, Dr. Justice said: “As researcher, and proud son of Abia, I can boldly say that this state deserves more than bitter media wars and vendetta-driven communication. It deserves leadership that welcomes criticism, not one that weaponizes press releases to hound political opponents”.
The South East region has been clamouring for the creation of additional state to bring it at par with the other zones in the spirit of equity and balance.
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