A fresh wave of criticism has trailed the Alex Otti-led government in Abia State, as Prince Paul Ikonne, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged clerics across the state to rise to their moral duty by holding the administration accountable.
Ikonne, speaking in Obingwa through his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ujo Justice, reminded religious leaders that their responsibilities extend beyond preaching and spiritual guidance. According to him, clerics are also custodians of moral values, social justice, and the voice of truth in society.
He expressed concerns over Governor Otti’s recent claims of spending ₦54 billion on the construction of 51 so-called “Smart Schools,” noting that no completed school has been identified or publicly showcased to justify the massive expenditure.
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“Abians are still searching for these schools. ₦54 billion is not pocket change—it is enough to transform our education sector and still leave resources for other urgent needs,” Ikonne said, stressing that the government owes citizens a clear account of how such funds were spent.
Beyond the alleged phantom projects, Ikonne also raised alarm over what he described as a suffocating taxation regime in the state. He noted that tricyclists have already staged protests, market women are lamenting, and small businesses are shutting down due to multiple levies. The APC chieftain further pointed out that property rates have been hiked recklessly, with even rural dwellers struggling under new demands.
He argued that this tax burden is unjustifiable given that the Otti administration receives over ₦30 billion monthly allocation from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu. “Instead of creating an enabling environment and delivering the promised ease of doing business, this government is deepening hardship. It is anti-people, anti-progress, and contrary to democratic principles,” Ikonne declared.
Calling on clerics not to remain silent in the face of what he described as growing oppression, Ikonne warned that history would judge them either as defenders of the people or as accomplices to their suffering.
“The government must be reminded that it was elected to serve, not to suffocate citizens with phantom projects, fake promises, and relentless taxes,” he said.
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