By Godwin Akomah, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has raised concern over alleged false alarm misinformation, and incitement about banning Fulanis from entering Abia State, describing it as not only irresponsible but also dangerous and wicked.
Governor Otti who identified Obinna Oriaku as the person behind the false information about banning the Fulanis from the state, accused him of resorting to ethnic incitement, lies, and blackmail in desperation for political power, even at the risk of sacrificing the blood of his own people.
Reacting to a social media post by Oriaku on Thursday where he allegedly peddled the misleading information about banning the Fulanis in the state, Otti through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, accused him(Oriaku) of engaging in petty and dangerous opposition politics.
According to the Governor, Oriaku has “demonstrated his reckless readiness to endanger and sacrifice his State, the Igbo Nation, the lives, properties, and businesses of our people across the Country, including the peace of the Country on the altar of desperate and petty opposition politics.”
He wondered why any sane person would accuse a detribalised Nigerian like him of banning the Fulanis from a State where he had not only abolished the indigene policy but also declared that anybody who lives in Abia is an Abian.
The Governor added that he took further steps to demonstrate his detribalised disposition both in words and actions by appointing non-Igbos into positions of authority in the State and hired workers into the State’s workforce on merit irrespective of State of origin, ethnicity or religion.
The full text of Governor’s reaction:-
DESPERATION TAKEN TOO FAR: OBINNA ORIAKU INCITING AN ETHNIC CONFLICT.
The busy-body, attention-seeking, and desperate former Commissioner for Finance in Abia State, a PDAPC chieftain and the Commissioner designate representing Abia State in the Federal Character Commission, Mr. Obinna Oriaku has taken his petty and hate-ridden cynicism, falsehood, lies, and misinformation in the guise of opposition politics, beyond the boundaries of sanity and acceptable discourse.
In an incitement-laden false alarm on his social media account yesterday, Mr. Obinna Oriaku demonstrated his reckless readiness to endanger and sacrifice his State, the Igbo Nation, the lives, properties, and businesses of our people across the Country including the peace of the Country on the altar of desperate and petty opposition politics.
Mr. Oriaku’s inciting and dangerous dimension is more worrisome because he can pass off as an educated elite who understands the prevailing ethnic volatility and mutual suspicion in Nigeria but chooses to ignite a flame that can set the Country ablaze and consume the lives and sources of livelihood of our people in the name of opposition politics and being critical of his nightmare, Governor Alex Otti.
Oriaku’s false alarm, concoction, lie, misinformation, and incitement about banning Fulanis from entering Abia State are not only irresponsible but also dangerous and wicked.
Why would a mammal that eats food and drinks water accuse a detribalised Nigerian like Governor Alex Otti of banning Fulanis from a State where he has not only abolished the indigene policy but also declared that anybody who lives in Abia is an Abian and has demonstrated it, both in words and actions by appointing non-Igbos into positions of authority in the State and hired workers into the State’s workforce on merit irrespective of State of origin, ethnicity or religion? Under Governor Otti in Abia State, where you are from is no longer a part of interview questions.
Obinna Oriaku’s resort to ethnic incitement, clannishness, lies, and blackmail in the name and guise of opposition has further exposed his desperate thirst for political power even at the risk of sacrificing the blood of his own people.
Under Governor Otti, Abia State is open for business to all Nigerians, Africans, and the globe, irrespective of race, tribe, ethnicity, and religion. Gov. Otti as a private sector person has lived and worked in different parts of the Country, and appreciates the fact that every Nigerian is free to peacefully live and work in any part of the Country without restriction or molestation, and can never conceive the idea of banning or restricting any Nigerian in any part of Abia State.
This madness by Obinna Oriaku which is capable of endangering the lives and properties of Abians and Igbos living in the Northern part of the Country must be condemned by all men of good faith and lovers of peace. Nigeria must not be turned into a theatre of war ignited with propaganda and lies just to satisfy the desperate power thirst of one man.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
26-09-2025.
