A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has praised the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the ongoing reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, describing it as a project of great economic and social significance to the people of Abia and the entire South-East region.
Ikonne, who spoke in Aba while addressing members of the Abia Liberation Movement (ALM), expressed delight over the president’s commitment to infrastructural development across the country. He said the president has continued to demonstrate genuine leadership and a pan-Nigerian spirit through equitable distribution of developmental projects.
According to Ikonne, the president’s administration has shown clear evidence of purposeful governance by “looking inward and executing meaningful projects that impact lives.”
The former Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) said he had known the president for years and could attest to his nationalistic outlook and sincerity of purpose.
However, Ikonne took a swipe at the Abia State Governor, accusing him of running what he termed a “government of half-truths and propaganda.” He alleged that the governor thrives on media publicity rather than genuine service delivery.
He faulted the state government for allegedly failing to acknowledge the various federal projects currently ongoing in Abia, describing such an attitude as dishonest and politically motivated.
Ikonne further criticized the state government’s handling of workers’ welfare, lamenting that despite the removal of fuel subsidy and an average monthly federal allocation of about ₦38 billion, civil servants in Abia are yet to experience any significant improvement in their welfare.
He questioned the credibility of some of the state’s infrastructural projects, particularly the remodelling of the Aba–Owerri Road, which he described as a “cosmetic exercise” aimed at inflating costs rather than providing durable infrastructure.
“What we are witnessing in Abia today is a ‘break-and-repaint’ administration—one that focuses on projects that look good on camera but have little impact on the lives of the people,” Ikonne said.
He urged Abians to remain hopeful and steadfast, assuring them that better days are ahead as, according to him, “the truth will eventually prevail.”
The event was attended by members of the Abia Liberation Movement and APC stakeholders from across the state.
