Tinubu’s dozens of portraits produced, sent across Govt’s offices – Abia Gov insists
By Chima Azubuike
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has debunked allegations that he had failed to recognise President Bola Tinubu, for not hanging his portrait.
Otti recently trended for a viral picture where his own was hung as governor, but the space for the president’s was conspicuously empty.
Recall that Otti is the only governor of the Labour Party, whose presidential candidate Peter Obi, is contesting Tinubu’s legitimacy in the tribunal.
One of the critics to the viral picture, Femi Kayode, former Aviation Minister, labeled the assumed omission to mean that Otti wouldn’t recognise Tinubu until the legal tussle was over, especially once his legitimacy was no longer in doubt.
Debunking the assertion on Thursday in a press statement Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Governor of Abia State, described Kayode’s assertion as untrue.
According to him, Otti and Tinubu have a relationship that transcends beyond politics, adding that Kayode was only looking for relevance.
The statement partly read, “Our attention has been drawn to the unfounded and malicious allegation by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode that the Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR refused to hang the official Portrait of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in his office on the grounds that Governor Otti, allegedly doesn’t recognise Alhaji Tinubu as his president.
“Unlike Chief Fani-Kayode who had manifested his known trademark of pettiness and lack of decorum when he roundly and repeatedly abused and blackmailed President Tinubu in the past, Governor Alex Otti, in line with his upbringing, orientation, character and exposure does not act irrationally and thus could not have under any circumstances refused to recognise President Tinubu as the President of Nigeria, especially when he and the President enjoy a long standing relationship that transcends politics.
“Governor Otti had President Tinubu’s picture featuring prominently on the first page of his Inauguration Brochure, and also ensured that dozens of the President’s portraits were produced and distributed to different government offices.”
Ekeoma noted that Kayode has a record of using others to curry favour, describing him as one with unstable character.
“Chief Fani-Kayode’s poor strategy of trying to use Governor Otti’s name to secure an appointment in Tinubu’s government is dead on arrival because the President knows that Fani-Kayode is an unstable character who is notorious for spewing venom and vituperation against the innocent for the purpose of economic survival.
“The fact that Fani-Kayode, a former Minister has reduced himself to the level of going to Social Media to copy fake news and use same as basis to insult and abuse a sitting Governor, shows how damaged and disorientated he has become, hence the need to say a word of prayer on his head.
“The general public is therefore enjoined to disregard the malicious allegation and see it as an idle gossip from a mischief maker who desires to sow a seed of discord and disaffection for selfish political gains,” he added.
