Hon Obi Aguocha 


By Chidinma OMAR


We are alarmed by your exaggerated,  reckless and false representations of  happenings along Ikwuano-Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road and your negative tagging of residents, says  Youth leaders in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State on Friday in a letter to Hon Obi Aguocha, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency  in the House of Representatives.


The youths under the aegis of  'Concerned Ikwuano Indigenes' in the letter titled 'Offensive Branding of Ikwuano LGA' told the lawmaker that in several public outings, his condescending and degrading references to Ikwuano has become unpalatable,  downright offensive and " ..should be retracted and apologies rendered to ndi Ikwuano, forthwith."


 Dailyledger.com.ng reports that Aguocha made the particular offensive comments while moving a motion on the floor of the Green Chamber regarding the deplorable condition of Ikwuano-Umuahia-Ikot Ikpene road and the cessation of work on  its reconstruction by the contractor handling the project, Hartland Company Limited.




Aguocha, speaking without references to any official release or security briefing or statistical data had amongst others  alleged that a lot of “kidnappings, armed robbery, and banditry” were happening on the road. He further alleged that Ikwuano has become a safe haven for armed robbers, kidnappers, and bandits.


The letter whose signatories include the Students Union activist and former Deputy Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Comrade Cokey Nwachukwu, and the Prize winning writer, Dr Ugochukwu Ezeribe, and others, analysing the implications of such utterances from a highly placed government official, expressed misgivings that the lawmaker could paint the LG in such fictitious, and damaging light.


"This damaging statement inaccurately paints our Local Government Area in an unfavourable light, casting a shadow over our reputation, and portraying Ikwuano as an unattractive destination for potential investors and visitors, which by implication will harm our economic prospects, social fabric, and overall quality of life. This unfair branding leaves a scar, and the attendant stigma associated with high crime rates and insecurity can persist even after the issues of the road are resolved. 


"Principally, let us point out that your claim that Ikwuano has become a safe haven for armed robbers, kidnappers, and bandits is a false allegation that is not supported by any substantive factual or statistical data. The lack of this supporting data proves that the motion lacks a comprehensive balanced assessment of the situation, which can lead to misguided and unnecessary policy actions",  they stated. 


The youths further lamenting that the South-East geo-political zone is already over-militarized and over-police, argued that that Aguocha's remarks has potentials of attracting additional disproportionate code-red response from the Federal Government authorities which would be  characterised by encampment of  excessive, overzealous security personnel  targeting   innocent youths. 


"Additionally, your specific mention of the University Community endangers the welfare of the students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The narrative of “…a lot of kidnappings, armed robbery, and banditry… especially around the university community”, further exacerbates their vulnerabilities and instigates a climate of fear and uncertainty among the student population who are already victims of profiling, unwarranted searches, arbitrary detentions, and extortion by some unscrupulous individuals within the security forces", the youths further maintained, noting that a more constructive approach should have been to emphasize the economic importance of the road and Ikwuano's position as a vital agricultural hub with so much potential.


The letter was copied to the Ikwuano chapter of the Labour Party, LP to which Aguocha belongs and to  Ikwuano Development Union Federated; Ikwuano Council of Traditional Rulers and  Ndi Eze Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers 


The full letter reads as follows:


19 October, 2023.


Honourable Obi Aguocha

Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency 

House of Representatives 

National Assembly Complex

Abuja 




Re: Offensive Branding of Ikwuano LGA


Let us first, as a group, congratulate you on your emergence as the representative of the good people of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. Every information available to us affirm that you have what it takes to be an effective representative of our people.  We therefore hold you in high esteem and have high expectations. 


This letter was however necessitated by two utterances which you have made about Ikwuano Local Government Area: 


a) During the Ikwuano Socio-economic Summit hosted by Ahamefula Development Initiative, Ikwuano, and held between 3-5 January, 2023, you had referred to Ikwuano people as being “slaves” to the powers that be, in Umuahia North. 


b) In the course of moving a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives calling for action on the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road, you had alleged that a lot of “kidnappings, armed robbery, and banditry” were happening on the road especially around the university community. It is important to note that the “University Community” you referred to is in Ikwuano Local Government Area. 


While we understand that in order to sometimes force the Government to take action, one may try to exaggerate a little, we are however alarmed that this reckless and false representations of what is happening along that road amounts to the tagging of residents of our beloved Local Government Area as criminals and bandits. This, could have deeper implications for us if it is not quickly checked and retracted.  


This damaging statement inaccurately paints our Local Government Area in an unfavourable light, casting a shadow over our reputation, and portraying Ikwuano as an unattractive destination for potential investors and visitors, which by implication will harm our economic prospects, social fabric, and overall quality of life. This unfair branding leaves a scar, and the attendant stigma associated with high crime rates and insecurity can persist even after the issues of the road are resolved. 


Principally, let us point out that your claim that Ikwuano has become a safe haven for armed robbers, kidnappers, and bandits is a false allegation that is not supported by any substantive factual or statistical data. The lack of this supporting data proves that the motion lacks a comprehensive balanced assessment of the situation, which can lead to misguided and *unnecessary policy actions.* 


We do acknowledge the significance of addressing the issue of the terrible physical state of the Umuahia/Ikwuano/Ikot-Ekpene Federal road. However, we cannot afford to have the means cost us more than the end benefits us. 


Sadly, by painting an exaggerated sense of insecurity, our Local Government Area is at risk of a *disproportionate code-red response* from Government authorities. This response is often characterized by the excessive presence of security personnel which might target innocent youths. It is on record that South-Eastern federal roads are among the most militarized in the nation, with multiple checkpoints, roadblocks, and security operations that impact commuting and access to services. We would appreciate it if you do not reinforce a false narrative that would give justification to adding the Umuahia/Ikwuano/Ikot-Ekpene federal road to the list, setting us up for potential militarization. 


Additionally, your specific mention of the University Community endangers the welfare of the students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The narrative of *“…a lot of kidnappings, armed robbery, and banditry…* especially around the university community”, further exacerbates their vulnerabilities and instigates a climate of fear and uncertainty among the student population who are already victims of profiling, unwarranted searches, arbitrary detentions, and extortion by some unscrupulous individuals within the security forces.


Consequently, we believe that a more constructive approach should have been to emphasize the economic importance of the road and our position as a vital agricultural hub with so much potential.


These twin portraitures of Ikwuano people as slaves to Umuahia North, and the Local Government Area as a hub for criminal activities are not only condescending and degrading, but downright offensive and should be retracted and apologies rendered to nde Ikwuano, forthwith. 


Ikwuano people are not slaves to any other Local Government Area, neither is the Local Government Area a hub for criminal activities. 

It is therefore important that, as a public figure, you recognise the importance of applying extreme tact in your utterances and choice of words.


We wish you well in the execution of your duties. 


For: Concerned Ikwuano Indigenes


Cokey Lordson Nwachukwu

Ugochukwu Ezeribe PhD

Nnaemeka Oruh 

Charles Obi Adiezeh 

Nwabeke Michaels Chukwuemeka

Rita Nnanna

Henry Ugwunna

Nnamdi Aruocha



Cc: Ikwuano Development Union Federated 

Ikwuano Council of Traditional Rulers 

Ndi Eze Ohuhu Council of Traditional Rulers 

Labour Party, Ikwuano.