A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has expressed deep sorrow over the reported death of a patient at the gate of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, following the ongoing strike by resident doctors in the institution.
According to eyewitnesses, the patient allegedly lost their life after being denied medical attention due to the absence of doctors on duty. A striking doctor, who spoke anonymously, disclosed that the strike was a result of several months of unpaid salaries, noting that many doctors at ABSUTH were owed up to five months’ arrears.
Reacting to the incident, Prince Ikonne described the situation as “a tragic reflection of leadership failure and misplaced priorities” in Abia State. He decried what he termed the government’s insensitivity to the plight of health workers and the suffering of citizens, emphasizing that the lives of Abians should never be gambled with under any circumstance.
“This unfortunate incident shows the collapse of governance in critical sectors like healthcare. While hospitals lack basic facilities and doctors go unpaid, the government seems more interested in propaganda than in solving the people’s real problems,” he said.
The APC stalwart also condemned what he called the rising wave of multiple taxation, levies, and dues imposed on residents and business owners across the state. He lamented the constant harassment of traders and small business operators by revenue agents, describing the practice as an economic assault on struggling citizens.
Ikonne urged Governor Alex Otti to “shift focus from media-driven governance” and instead prioritize people-oriented development, especially in health, education, infrastructure, and workers’ welfare.
“Abians are tired of governance by headlines. What our people need now is practical governance — where hospitals function, workers are paid, and citizens are not taxed into poverty. Leadership must show compassion, not propaganda,” he stated.
Prince Ikonne therefore called on the Abia State Government to urgently address the grievances of striking doctors, ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries, and restore full operations at ABSUTH to prevent further avoidable deaths.
He emphasized that the true measure of good governance lies in the wellbeing of the people, not in frequent press releases or social media visibility.
