Monday Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has called on Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, to bury his face in shame following what he described as derogatory remarks by Abure against Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.
Abure had on Friday launched a scathing attack on Otti, accusing him of promoting political impunity and undermining the integrity of the party that brought him to power.
Abure was reacting to Otti’s controversial “masturbation” comment aimed at the party leadership. He described the remark as both disgraceful and unprovoked, saying it was unbecoming of someone who should be the face of unity in the party.
Governor Otti had dismissed claims by Abure to the national chairmanship of the party, describing his actions as a “deliberate illusion” and a disservice to the spirit of democratic leadership.
However, Ubani, a close ally to Otti, in rejoinder titled: “Rejoinder to Abure’s Irresponsible Utterances Against Governor Alex Otti,” Ubani condemned Abure’s description of Otti as a “dwarf both in appearance and in knowledge,” labelling the comment as reckless, envious, and desperate.
Ubani asserted that Governor Otti’s achievements in less than two years have dwarfed the records of past administrations in Abia. He highlighted ongoing road reconstructions, the revival of healthcare facilities, prompt payment of civil servants, and a sweeping infrastructural renaissance as evidence of Otti’s impactful leadership.
“Dr. Alex Otti stands tall, physically, intellectually, morally, and in governance. These are not the actions of a ‘dwarf’ but of a giant in leadership,” Ubani stated.
In contrast, he painted Abure as a figure mired in controversy, citing allegations of corruption, financial mismanagement, and internal party crises that have plagued the Labour Party under his leadership.
“Let it be known that Dr. Alex Otti is not deterred by the rantings of political jobbers”.
“We call on Abure to bury his face in shame and stop being an agent of destabilization. Governor Alex Otti will not be distracted. He will continue to serve Abia with integrity, courage, and clarity of purpose”, the statement read.
Ubani suggested that Abure’s attack on Otti was a desperate attempt to cling to relevance after being “imposed, used, and discarded by powerful forces.”
The statement also referenced Abure’s refusal to step down as Labour Party chairman despite a Supreme Court ruling against his continued leadership, describing his defiance as “mind-boggling.”
“This is the final scream of a drowning man,” Ubani declared, accusing Abure of being an “agent of destabilisation” who should “bury his face in shame.”
Ubani emphasised that Governor Otti remains undeterred by “the rantings of political jobbers,” noting that the people of Abia stand firmly behind him due to his transformative governance.
He added that Otti’s political platform in the 2027 elections would be irrelevant to Abians, who are more concerned with his leadership substance than party affiliation.
“Whether he runs under Labour Party or any other platform, Abians will follow him because of his proven integrity and performance,” Ubani affirmed.
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