Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, Chief Press Secretary to the Abia state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, is under fire from the staff and sympathizers of the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, over his statement that the Deputy Governor did not inform his boss before declaring intention to succeed him.
The social media has been awash with comments disparaging the Governor’s spokesman for attacking the Deputy Governor for only declaring governorship ambition.
Ememanka had while featuring in a radio programme said that Oko Chukwu’s governorship ambition does not have the blessing of the Governor because he did not consult with his boss before declaring his ambition.
Alluding to the Ikpeazu’s non support of the Deputy Governor’s ambition, Ememanka used a popular saying that when a son does not tell his father about his marriage plans, his father will not give his blessings.
Reacting to Ememanka’s claims, the office of the Deputy Governor, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Obasi Okibeh Onwuka, said Ememanka did not consult with his boss before making the allegation.
“The attention of the Office of the Deputy Governor of Abia State has been drawn to a statement on FLO-FM radio credited to the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka alleging that the Governor was not aware of the governorship ambition of his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.
“We would have not bothered to join issues with the Chief Press Secretary who obviously did not consult with his Boss in making such unfounded statements meant to incite hatred and portray a nonexistent feud between the Governor and his Deputy.
“To set the records straight, the Deputy Governor, a man reputed for humility and loyalty, could not have made known his governorship ambition without the knowledge and approval of his Boss, the Governor of Abia State.
“The Deputy Governor actually visited his Boss and duly informed him about his ambition to succeed him. However, details of the private discussion may not have been made available for gossip- liking Ememanka to feast on. The Deputy Governor even did not fail to inform his boss on the day of his formal declaration at the State PDP Secretariat in Umuahia. It is therefore preposterous for Ememanka , a Knight of the Anglican Church, to spew fake stories , incite hatred and bring to ridicule the highly exalted Office of the Governor and by extension the Office of the Deputy Governor.”
He advised Ikpeazu’s aides to refrain from propaganda, fake news and presenting their personal opinions as those of the Governor, stressing that such had become necessary in order not to aggravate political tension and set the State on fire as preparations for the 2023 polls gather momentum.
