Ukwa West Political Leaders Deny Ikpeazu’s Ex-aide

Political leaders of Ukwa West local government have distanced themselves from former Abia State commissioner for information and strategy, Hon Don Ubani, over his allegations against Governor Alex Otti.

They said Ubani, who is their kinsman and prominent member of the Okezie Ikpeazu’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government may only be seeking relevance in the Labour Party (LP) administration.

Led by the general manager of the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission, Dr Joshua Onyike, who addressed the press in Umuahia, the state capital yesterday, they described the allegations as a “bundle of lies and mere fabrications.”

“He is not in any way representing the opinions, feelings and projections of Ukwa people. No average Ukwa man likes what he is doing if not, perhaps members of his own family,” Onyike said.

He said through the commission, the administration had embarked on many life-touching projects and programmes in the area, which include the 1.2-kilometre Umuoko-Obehie road commissioned by Otti last September.

He argued that within the seven months of the administration, the hitherto neglected oil bearing area had witnessed massive Infrastructure development contrary to what happened during the PDP’s 24 years.

He further said the developments include rehabilitation of all roads leading to the area from Aba, portions of Enugu-Port Harcourt Express, health centres, markets, classroom blocks and a 20-year old abandoned civic centre.

The general manager explained that it is only a person who does not mean well for his people would criticise an administration that sited a multi-billion naira state Industrial incubation project behind his backyard.

According to him, “So, it is appalling that it is an Ukwa man, who will be in the forefront of criticising, fabricating, and engaging in outright lies against the administration that has made itself our dependable ally.”

Also, the mayor of the local government area, Hon. Newman Azu, denied the allegations which include disengagement of civil servants and staff of the commission, attempt to kidnap him, and failure to deliver on campaign pledges among others.

While maintaining that the former publicity secretary of the PDP was seeking for his stomach infrastructure after having been out of government, he restated their commitment to ensure “Otti remains in office for the next seven and half years”.

In his remarks, the area’s LP chairman, Elder Ihenyerechi Dike cautioned the people against taking Ubani’s allegations as facts, asking him “to point at what he attracted to the area while he was in government for over two decades.”