Senator T.A. Orji has fired back at his successor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, over recent comments seen as both hypocritical and self-incriminating. In a stinging rebuke, Orji urged Ikpeazu to stop blaming others and accept responsibility for his actions in office. Read full.
The political rift between former Abia State Governors Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has deepened, following a blistering response from Senator Orji to recent remarks credited to Ikpeazu.
Senator Orji, popularly known as Ochendo Global, has asked his successor, Ikpeazu, to “carry his cross” and stop blaming others for his own failures in office.
The fierce rebuttal came after Ikpeazu reportedly criticized past leaders who complain about their predecessors, labeling them as “lazy leaders.” Ironically, Ikpeazu also claimed that he met Abia State in a “gloomy state,” a statement widely interpreted as a jab at the Orji-led administration that handed power to him in 2015.
Responding swiftly, Senator Orji, who governed Abia from 2007 to 2015, described Ikpeazu’s comments as hypocritical and contradictory. Speaking through his former Liaison Officer and Senior Aide, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Orji accused Ikpeazu of trying to rewrite history by blaming others for his underwhelming performance.
“In one breath, he condemns leaders who criticise their predecessors, and in the next breath, he’s doing the same thing. That’s the height of hypocrisy,” Umere stated.
The senator reminded Ikpeazu that governance is not about playing the blame game or making lofty speeches, but about delivering results and taking full responsibility for one’s actions and inactions.
“Ikpeazu should once again carry his cross. He was the Governor of Abia State for eight solid years. He had the opportunity to change the narrative, but instead of doing so, he is now looking for who to blame,” the statement added.
The latest exchange has rekindled a long-standing cold war between the two political heavyweights of Abia State. While Orji handed power to Ikpeazu under the same political platform, their relationship has soured over time, especially following the poor rating of the Ikpeazu administration on infrastructure, economy, and civil service welfare.
Observers say Ikpeazu’s attempt to deflect criticism is a veiled admission of failure, while others view it as an effort to cleanse his legacy ahead of future political ambitions.
Senator Orji has mostly maintained silence on Ikpeazu’s tenure—until now.
His latest response is seen as a no-holds-barred warning that he will no longer tolerate being scapegoated by those who had the power but failed to deliver.
This unfolding drama has gripped the Abia political space, with many residents and stakeholders weighing in on social media, radio programmes, and public discussions, asking: Who truly failed Abia?
As the political atmosphere continues to heat up ahead of future elections, more revelations may still come from the camps of both leaders.
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