Prince Paul Ikonne has commended Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State for his recent decision to reduce electricity tariffs and has urged Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to follow suit in Aba.
In a statement issued through his media aide, Chiagozie Enoch, Prince Ikonne praised Mbah’s action as being in line with the intentions of the Tinubu-led federal government following the removal of fuel subsidy.
He noted that the subsidy withdrawal was meant to free up resources for development in key areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
However, Ikonne expressed concern that many state governments have failed to implement proper social protection strategies, thereby exposing citizens to worsening economic hardship rather than improving their standard of living.
“No serious government would continue to allow the issue of power to stifle economic activities, especially in a commercial hub like Aba where 90% of businesses depend on electricity,” the statement read.
He lamented the continued high cost of electricity in Aba despite the commissioning of the Aba Power project—one of the legacy initiatives from the previous administration—and described it as unfair to business owners already struggling to stay afloat.
Prince Ikonne called on Governor Otti to shift focus from what he described as playing to the gallery, and instead tackle the real issues affecting businesses and the well-being of Abians. He urged him to immediately reduce electricity tariffs in Aba as a way of easing the burden on businesses and residents.
“Anything less than that will continue to expose this government as not having the best interest of ordinary Abians at heart,” the statement concluded.
