The Abia State Government has denied an allegation by former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Charles Ogbonna, that Governor Alex Otti described the Ngwa people as having no brains.

Ogbonna made the claim in a video that circulated widely, alleging that Otti personally made the statement to him. He also said he would provide evidence to support the allegation if challenged to do so.

Reacting to the claim on Thursday, the state government dismissed it as false and accused the former commissioner of making statements capable of causing division in the state.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, said the governor had never made such a statement about the Ngwa people, either publicly or privately.

Ekeoma maintained that Otti holds Ndi Ngwa, as well as other Abians, in high regard and pointed to the administration’s appointments, projects and policies across the state as evidence of what he described as equitable governance.

The governor’s media aide also questioned the consistency of Ogbonna’s allegation, noting that the former commissioner had reportedly stated that Otti told him he was from Nvosi in Ngwa before alleging that the governor described Ngwa people as brainless.

Ekeoma consequently challenged Ogbonna to produce the evidence he said he possessed to substantiate the allegation.

The government further alleged that Ogbonna’s comments amounted to incitement and clannish hate speech and claimed that he was attempting to position himself as a political godfather for candidates within his political party.

Ekeoma warned the former commissioner against making statements that could undermine peace and unity in Abia State.