Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has finally responded to the derogatory comments by Kogi West Senator, Smart Adeyemi against him
THe media recalls that Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West district had called Ikpeazu a ”Champagne drinking” governor.
The lawmaker who made the remark while contributing to a motion on the Safe School Initiative in Nigeria on the floor of the Senate had said Abia State was being governed by drunkards.
Adeyemi said while some governors were committed to the welfare and protection of their people, Abia was ravaging in poverty.
Speaking at the launch of the book MADE IN ABA, an autobiography of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe at the Shehu Yaradua Center Abuja, Governor Ikpeazu berated Smart Adeyemi but maintained that he does not drink nor begrudge those who do drink.
The Abia Governor said, “Let me use this opportunity to respond to whether or not I am a drunkard as posited by someone last week.
I do not drink and I don’t begrudge those who do.
“At a time when leaders are called to speak on serious issues affecting our people, some choose to dwell on what others do and what they do not do.
“Finally, if you are bathing and a mad man takes your wrapper and runs away if you run after him naked, people will not know who is the mad person”.
Former senator representing the Abia North Senatorial District, Sen. Mao Ohiabunwa has slammed Smart Adeyemi, the Senator representing, the Kogi West Senatorial District over alleged insult on Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
The media recalls that senator Adeyemi and the governor had in recent times engaged in a war of words over a comment, referring to the governor as a ‘drunkard’.
Reaction
Reacting, Senator Ohuabunwa in a statement, described the comment as an “uncouth, careless and derogatory outburst against the governor” adding “that Senate is not for thugs”
Senator Ohuabunwa who is also the former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament said the insult targeted at the governor was against the entire Abia people.
“I know Adeyemi’s past but he should not allow his former lifestyle to influence him but behave in line with his present status”, he said.
He called on Adeyemi to immediately retract his comment and apologise to the entire people of the state.
According to him, Adeyemi would not have made the comment on the floor of the Senate if he was still a member.
