Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
Stakeholders in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have come hard on a former Commissioner for Information, Chief Don Ubani, for his “incessant attacks” on Governor Alex Otti.
Ubani, who is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a Deputy Chief of Staff in the immediate past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu, has been relentless in launching verbal attacks on Otti.
But his Asa kinsmen told journalists during a press conference in Umuahia that the attacks on the Abia governor was “needless and embarrassing” to the oil producing area, which is now having a new lease of life under the Otti administration.
Spokesman of the Asa stakeholders, Mr. Newman Azu, who is the Mayor of Ukwa West, said that Ubani was only speaking for himself and playing destructive politics, adding that he has no locus to speak for Asa land.
He said that it was an irony that Ubani, who was deeply involved in the “inglorious” 24 years of PDP government in Abia has now found a voice to purportedly speak for Asa people.
According to him, the former PDP spokesman was mute when his people were subjected to “untold sufferings” by the PDP government that he faithfully served.
Azu warned Ubani to desist from dirty politics of blackmail and mudslinging directed at the person and government of Otti, all in a bid to mislead and misrepresent Asa people.
“Contrary to the falsehood being peddled by Ubani, Ukwa West had never been so fairly treated by any administration in Abia than Otti has done so far,” he said, adding that he should “look for a better script” to play.
“The vituperation of Don Ubani, does not in any way or shape, represent the views or sentiments of Asa people. Don Ubani represents 24 years of a failed government.
“In the past seven months that Otti has been on the saddle, Ukwa West people have never had it so good, and we are proud of him.”
The Ukwa West Mayor, flanked by the Chairman of Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission(ASOPADEC), Dr. Joshua Onyeike, Ukwa West Labour Party, Chairman, Ihenyerechi Dike, and other stakeholders, insisted that Ubani has betrayed Asa people by his conducts.
He therefore urged the public to discountenance the distracting activities of the former government and Abia PDP spokesman, noting that he was on a futile voyage of seeking “cheap popularity”.
Azu stated that Otti had already inaugurated a road project executed by ASOPADEC in the council within seven months while water projects, market renovations and other road projects are on-going in the area.
In his remarks, the ASOPADEC chairman corroborated the Ukwa West Mayor, saying that the claims of Ubani that the staff of the commission were sacked was “a lie from the pit of hell purposely fabricated to deceive the public”.
Onyeike expressed disappointment that “a baseless attempt to blackmail a performing governor would be championed by an Ukwa son”, who could not attract a single project all through the years his party held sway in Abia.
“We are disappointed that the attempt to vilify Otti is emanating from our brother. We have patiently watched him engage in a shameful dance.
“His vituperation against the governor is embarrassing and misleading. So, we want to dissociate the entirety of Ukwa West from what Don Ubani is doing,” he said.
The ASOPADEC boss made it clear that Ubani “does not in anyway represent the opinions and feelings of Ukwa people”.
“No average Ukwa man likes what he is doing. If there is anybody who likes what he is doing, it can only be members of his own family,” Onyeike said.
