Ikonne Confident Nnamdi Kanu Will Regain Freedom, Faults Abia Govt on Project Spending

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has expressed optimism that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, will soon regain his freedom despite what he described as attempts by opposition politicians to politicize his plight.

Ikonne made the remarks on Friday while addressing members of the Ukwa la Ngwa Youth Forum, who paid him a courtesy visit. He accused certain political actors of using Kanu’s continued detention to gain public sympathy rather than addressing pressing governance issues.

The APC stalwart also took aim at the Abia State Government, questioning the alleged ₦54 billion “Smart School” and ₦6 billion “Recreational Centre” projects reportedly executed by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.

“If truly these projects exist, why were they not commissioned during the governor’s recent road inspection tour?” Ikonne queried. “Why does every report from Abia Government House end up as social media content with no visible evidence on the ground?”

He alleged that the state’s quarterly performance reports contained questionable figures, claiming that billions of naira were being written off for “untraceable” projects, despite Abia receiving over ₦30 billion monthly in combined federal allocations and internally generated revenue.

According to him, “The current government is only repainting and rebranding old structures while claiming new achievements. Abians are now more discerning and will no longer be deceived by photo opportunities or cosmetic projects.”

Ikonne urged Abia youths to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders, insisting that “no amount of propaganda can replace genuine performance.”

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining financial support to state governments and implementing economic stabilization policies. However, he lamented that the Abia State Government had failed to translate such federal support into tangible development for the people.