The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, has firmly denied media reports suggesting he threatened Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, over the incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, the controversial leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and alleged political positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In an official statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Mba, Emetu described the earlier report headlined that his government would “teach Tinubu a bitter lesson” as “fabricated” and a “deliberate misrepresentation.”
He said there was no verifiable context, date, venue, or official occasion supporting the quoted remarks.
“At no time did I threaten to ‘teach’ President Tinubu or any member of his family a political lesson concerning the 2027 elections or the continued detention of Mr. Kanu,” the statement asserted.
It added that such language does not reflect Emetu’s character, leadership style, or commitment to constitutional governance.
The deputy governor reiterated his position that highly sensitive national concerns like Kanu’s situation should be handled through lawful, peaceful channels and broad dialogue, rather than through threats or incendiary rhetoric.
Emetu’s response comes amid wider national debates and political maneuvering around Kanu’s detention and its potential impact on voter sentiment in Nigeria’s Southeast ahead of the next election cycle.
Various civic actors and influencers, including regional groups and public figures, have publicly linked Kanu’s fate to political support in the region.
