— Warns Against Emotional Blackmail, Urges Focus On Governance And Continuity In Abia

The political landscape in Abia State has been stirred following claims by an APC governorship aspirant, Dr. Eric Opah, that he would secure the release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, if elected governor in 2027.

Reacting sharply to the statement, Ambassador Dr. Osita Offor “De Ultimate Commander” (Ikenga Gburugburu of Ohafia Ancient Kingdom), described the claim as a calculated attempt at emotional manipulation and political exploitation of sensitive national issues.

Offor dismissed the declaration as “dead on arrival,” insisting that such matters fall strictly within the purview of national political and legal processes, not state-level electoral promises.

He questioned the credibility and timing of the promise, asking why such an intervention had not been pursued long before now, rather than being introduced as a campaign slogan ahead of elections. According to him, the idea amounts to political theatre designed to mislead voters.

Ambassador Offor further criticized what he termed the growing trend of using Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s continued detention as a bargaining chip in political campaigns, warning that it is both insensitive and dangerous.

“Using Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as a bargaining chip to blackmail the electorate is not only insensitive, but wicked. His case has continued to affect the psyche of every Igbo person and should not be used for political entertainment,” he stated.

He advised politicians, particularly those in the APC, to desist from what he described as “playing to the gallery” in their desperation for power, urging them to focus on credible policies rather than emotional rhetoric.

Offor maintained that leadership should be anchored on truth, capacity, and realistic plans for development rather than what he called “empty political promises designed to provoke sympathy votes.”

He further cautioned that the people of Abia State are becoming more politically aware and would no longer be swayed by what he termed distractions and deceptive narratives.

In his remarks, he also emphasized the need for continuity in governance, calling on Ndi Abia to sustain the developmental trajectory of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, whose administration he described as pragmatic and reform-driven.

According to him, Abia State cannot afford “unnecessary political distractions rooted in emotional manipulation and unproductive rhetoric,” insisting that focus must remain on consolidating ongoing reforms and development projects.

He urged voters to prioritize leadership consistency and performance over campaign theatrics as the state approaches the 2027 political cycle.