The war of words between Senator Smart Adeyemi and Abia governor Okezie Ikpeazu continues to expand, with one more senator jumping into the fray.
Eight-Senate Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who represents Abia north, lashed out against Adeyemi, saying the senate was “not for thugs” in clear reference to comments by Adeyemi against Ikpeazu.
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Adeyemi, representing Kogi west, had in a speech in chambers, digressed to attack the office of Ikpeazu by saying Abia was “governed by drunkards” and that Ikpeazu was “drunk with champagne”.
There was no response from Ikpeazu.
But hours later, his chief press secretary Onyebuchi Ememanka issued a statement describing Adeyemi as suffering from “protracted case of mental illness”.
Ohuabunwa joined in the backlash, berating Adeyemi for making “uncouth, careless and derogatory outburst against the governor at such a hallowed chamber especially when there was no nexus between the matter being debated and Abia governmet”.
He said Adeyemi did not only disparage the office of the governor but insulted all Abians by inferring that the state is governed by drunkards.
” I know Adeyemi’s past but he should not allow his former lifestyle to influence him but behave in line with his present status,” he said.
He has demanded Adeyemi to retract his comments and offer a public apology to Ikpeazu and Abia state.
Ohuabunwa regretted that if he were still at the senate, Adeyemi would not have escaped unchallenged after the insulting remarks on the floor of the senate.