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| Okezie Ikpeazu |
Former Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has taken a swipe at elected governors who discredit their predecessors upon taking office, branding them as “lazy leaders.” Ikpeazu made the pointed remarks on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at an event in Abuja themed “Showcasing Africa’s Developmental Capacities in the Current Multi-polar Realities.”
Addressing the audience, Ikpeazu stated, “Anybody who comes to leadership and starts by saying that everything that his predecessor is doing is bad is a lady leader because you must be able to see what is good and build on it if you have come in the interest of the people.” The statement, which appears to contain a possible verbal slip—likely intending “lazy leader” instead of “lady leader”—has sparked discussions online, with some interpreting it as a direct jab at his successor, Governor Alex Otti of the Labour Party.
Ikpeazu, who served as Abia State Governor from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been locked in a public feud with Otti since the latter assumed office in 2023. The rivalry intensified when Otti accused Ikpeazu of mismanaging state funds, alleging that the former governor withdrew N1.9 trillion from the state treasury during his tenure. Following these claims, Otti commissioned KPMG International Nigeria Limited to conduct a financial audit of the state’s accounts, a move that Ikpeazu and his allies have dismissed as politically motivated.
Ikpeazu’s comments at the Abuja summit come amid ongoing debates about leadership transitions in Nigeria, where new administrations often blame their predecessors for governance challenges. While Ikpeazu urged leaders to focus on building on past achievements, critics have pointed out the irony of his stance, given the contentious nature of his own administration’s legacy. During his tenure, Ikpeazu faced accusations of underperforming on infrastructure development, a critique Otti has frequently highlighted in his own governance narrative.
The former governor’s remarks have drawn mixed reactions. Supporters argue that Ikpeazu is advocating for constructive governance, emphasizing the need for continuity in development projects. However, detractors, including some netizens on X, have called his comments hypocritical, pointing to his administration’s own record. One user on X noted, “It’s easy to preach continuity when you’re out of office, but what did Ikpeazu build that Otti could even work with?” (Sentiment sourced from posts on X, not directly quoted.)
The political tension between Ikpeazu and Otti reflects a broader trend in Nigerian politics, where successor-predecessor conflicts often dominate public discourse, sometimes at the expense of addressing pressing issues like economic growth and infrastructure deficits. As of now, neither Ikpeazu nor Otti has directly responded to the latest remarks, but the feud is likely to fuel further debates as Abia State navigates its developmental challenges.
NetizenParrot.Com.Ng reached out to representatives from both camps for comment but had not received a response by press time. Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding story.
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