The Abia State Government has defended its proposed airport project, challenging critics to acknowledge ongoing construction work at the site.
The Director of Media of the Alex Otti Campaign Council, Onyebuchi Ememanka, made the defence in response to criticism of the project by Abia State University lecturer, Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze.
In a strongly worded article titled “The Professor and the Abia Airport,” Ememanka said Nwaeze’s recent video from the proposed airport site at Nsulu, which appeared intended to question the project, instead showed that the project had a physical location and construction activities were ongoing.
Ememanka stressed that the Abia State Government had never claimed that the airport project was completed, noting that the construction of an airport was a major undertaking that would require considerable time.
He also alleged that Nwaeze visited the airport site in connection with an APC political meeting held at Mbubo Nsulu, where the party’s governorship candidate, Chief Eric Opah, had reportedly summoned party leaders.
According to Ememanka, Nwaeze attended the meeting but did not publicly disclose his presence, a development he described as significant given the lecturer’s public commentary on Abia politics.
The campaign spokesman challenged Nwaeze to openly identify with the APC, arguing that political association was constitutionally protected and that there was nothing preventing an academic from belonging to a political party.
Ememanka also contrasted Nwaeze’s alleged discretion over his political affiliation with that of Dr. Dom Nwachukwu, whom he said had openly declared his political relationships in the past.
On the controversy surrounding Nwaeze’s employment at Abia State University, Ememanka said he had deliberately refrained from commenting extensively because of his relationship with the lecturer and his position within Governor Otti’s communication structure.
He maintained that the university, being a statutory institution, had the authority to discipline members of its staff, adding that ongoing proceedings before a university panel should be allowed to run their course without prejudging the outcome.
Ememanka rejected Nwaeze’s allegation that Governor Otti was responsible for his alleged persecution at the university.
He cited Nwaeze’s elevation to the rank of professor of Development Economics during Otti’s administration, arguing that the academic’s assessment and promotion process had been completed before Otti assumed office, while the university administration appointed under Otti subsequently approved the elevation.
According to him, the development demonstrated that the university’s management structures could act independently of the governor in both academic promotions and disciplinary matters.
The campaign spokesman also revisited Nwaeze’s criticism of lecturers’ salaries at the university, particularly a post in which the professor reportedly compared the earnings of an ABSU professor with those of a commercial tricycle operator.
Ememanka argued that several outstanding agreements involving university workers predated the Otti administration, adding that the state government later approved the full implementation of agreements reached with workers’ unions.
He further claimed that Otti had apologized to workers over delays in implementing some directives and accepted responsibility for the administrative lapse.
Against this backdrop, Ememanka challenged Nwaeze to provide a fresh assessment of lecturers’ salaries following the implementation of the new pay package.
He also highlighted infrastructure projects at ABSU, including the ongoing Law Faculty building, Faculty of Agriculture building, renovated hostels and new hostel projects.
Ememanka, who said he and Nwaeze were both former students of the university, recalled the poor condition of the institution’s hostels in previous years and argued that the ongoing rehabilitation efforts deserved the same public attention as the airport project.
He accused Nwaeze of selectively focusing on issues capable of portraying the Otti administration negatively while overlooking projects the government considers achievements.
Ememanka, however, acknowledged Nwaeze’s right to criticise the government and participate in politics, saying the Otti campaign also had the right to respond, particularly during the election season.
Invoking Newton’s Third Law of Motion, he said political actions would inevitably attract reactions.
The campaign spokesman also raised security concerns over Nwaeze’s presence at the airport construction site, citing signs reportedly restricting unauthorised access and warning of the security implications of entering construction sites without permission.
Ememanka concluded by describing Nwaeze as his brother and friend despite their political differences, while making it clear that their opposing political positions would continue to shape their public engagements during the campaign period.
