Mayoral Appointment: Don’t Set Abia On Fire, Ex-commissioner Cautions Gov Otti

A former commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Chief Eze Chikamnayo, has faulted a comment credited to the incumbent state governor, Alex Otti, in respect of the appointment of a non-indigene as the mayor of Aba City.

He warned that Aba is not and can never be a “no man’s land” as claimed by the governor.

In a viral video on social media, Otti, during a stakeholders meeting at the weekend, announced the appointment of consummate Industrialist, Ide John Udeagbala, as the mayor of Aba City, saying the era of indigenes and non-indigene is gone in Abia State.

Ide John Udeagbala who hails from Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State is an economic nationalist, and graduate of Harvard University.

Reacting to the development, Chikamnayo, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, warned the governor against acts and comments that could set the state on fire.

He urged President Bola Tinubu and all security agencies to quickly call Otti to order so as to  avoid turning a peaceful state into a crisis zone.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Aba as we know it today, belongs to two related communities known as ABA NA OHAZU. It is not a no man’s land as is being painted by Alex Otti and can never be,”  the former commissioner noted.

The statement reads in part: “It is therefore preposterous and mischievous for anyone, no matter his position, to arrogate to himself the non-existing powers to mangle this irrefutable fact of history because of temporary political advantage.

“Non indigenes from other parts of Abia State and or Igbo land like old Bende, Anambra,  Enugu, Imo State or Ebonyi, regardless of their wealth or status should never allow themselves to be deceived by Mr Alex Otti to assume that they can mutate into the owners of Aba.

“By recklessly declaring that Aba is a NO MAN’S LAND, Mr Alex Otti is inadvertently setting Abia on fire and instigating avoidable unrest in that peaceful city. For reasons best known to him, he is  ostensibly trying to stoke this fire of indigene – non indigene dichotomy to further insult the Ngwa Nation and polarize the polity.

“Maybe because of his inert desire to assuage his own internal contradictions that has made him a bipolar element with identity  crisis hovering between Nvosi and Arochukwu, Otti is now drawing Abia State into needless ‘Katakata’ that will lead to loss of lives and property if not nipped in the bud.

“Since assumption of office, Mr Alex Otti’s penchant for playing to the gallery is legendary. If he truly wants to patronize his fellow big men like Bourdex, Udeagbara and Co, he must not reduce them to cannon fodders thereby setting them up against the people.”

Faulting the statement credited to the governor, the former commissioner said Chief Udeagbala has built a name for himself in Aba and has lived peacefully with the people, hence he shouldn’t allow himself to be messed up by any diminutive conman.

He continued: “Aba people, Abians everywhere and all peace loving people everywhere should shun devilish instigation and embrace peace. They should not succumb  to the whims and caprices of a confused and rudderless sinking despot clowning in the name of governance.

“Can Mr Alex Otti go to Umuahia and tell Ibeku and Ohuhu people that Umuahia North is a no man’s land? Can he go to Owerri, Onitsha, Port Harcourt or Warri and make such inflammatory,  nonsensical statement?

“I know that the revered members of Aba Sports Club will not allow Mr Alex Otti to gleefully destroy the harmony and conviviality in Aba by his reckless political gymnastics.

“Anything that will destabilize the peace in Aba will destabilise trade and investment in the entire South East and Nigeria.

“I, therefore, wish to alert His Excellency,  President Bola Tinubu and all the security agencies of this seed of discord which is being sown in Abia so that they can act quickly to prevent the consequences of Mr Alex Otti ‘s thoughtless policy of divide and rule.  A stitch in time saves nine.”