The Abia State Government has reacted to Senator Smart Adeyemi’s comment about Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
Recall that Senator Smart Adeyemi had called Ikpeazu “a champagne-loving” governor during plenary, causing a ruckus in the Senate, with Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe demanding an apology from the lawmaker.
In a statement released on Tuesday, February 23, through Onyebuchi Ememanka, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia Governor, he criticised the comments by the lawmaker.
Part of the statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to comments made by the Senator representing Kogi West in the Senate, Senator Smart Adeyemi on the floor of the Senate yesterday, Monday, 22nd February 2021.
“While the Senate was debating a motion on how to protect schools across the country; Senator Adeyemi in his contribution stated that while his State Governor had awarded contracts for the renovation of schools; Abia is governed by drunkards. He then went ahead to say that the Governor of Abia State is a “champagne drinking Governor”.
“Our initial response was to totally ignore the story because it is difficult to believe that a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will reduce both himself and the institution of the Senate to such gutter level, but having confirmed that indeed, the Senator made such comments, a response has become imperative.
“Our view is that the Senator is either suffering from a protracted case of mental illness; or is battling with occasional fits of schizophrenia which manifests in making careless, dishonorable, unrelated and incoherent statements.
“This conclusion becomes irresistible judging from the total disconnect between the matter being discussed by the Senate and the comments made by the Senator as they affect the Governor.
“If Senator Adeyemi was of sound mind, he should have known that when it comes to education; Abia is miles ahead of his home State of Kogi. Indeed, not just in education but in every single area of development.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu does not take alcoholic drinks…He is shocked at the schizophrenic outburts of Senator Adeyemi whom he has never met; nor had any dealings whatsoever with officially nor privately.
“Governor Ikpeazu makes it abundantly clear to the Senator that save for the parliamentary privilege which he unfortunately enjoys; Senator Adeyemi would have been put to the strictest proof of his wild and senseless comments before a Court of Law.
“Governor Ikpeazu concludes by advising the Senator to quickly seek psychiatric help before his case becomes unmanageable.”
