Claim:
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accused opposition politicians—not the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)—of being behind the recent surge in violent attacks across the state.
Verdict:
The claim that Governor Otti exonerated IPOB in his remarks is false. According to his official statement, he attributed the violence solely to opposition politicians and external collaborators. IPOB was not mentioned in the Governor’s comments.
Analysis:
The statement, issued by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, pointed to opposition parties as the driving force behind the violence, allegedly aimed at destabilizing the state and disrupting its developmental progress.
Governor Otti highlighted his administration’s commitment to countering criminal activities and maintaining public safety. Importantly, the statement did not mentioned IPOB or any ethnic or separatist groups. Claims linking IPOB to the Governor’s remarks appear to misrepresent his position and distort the facts.
Conclusion:
Reports suggesting that Governor Otti blamed or cleared IPOB for recent attacks in Abia State are inaccurate. His official comments focused on political sabotage by opposition elements and omitted any mention of IPOB. It is essential to address such mischaracterizations to preserve public trust and reduce unnecessary tensions.
