Dr Anthony Nwaubani 


By Tony Icheku 


All is no longer at ease in Ikwuano LGA of Abia State as the people's complaints of leadership failure now includes allegations of financial impropriety suggesting that something is fishy in the administration  of the LG. 

Making their pains public, in a letter to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Mr Emmanuel Asiegbu, writing on behalf of the 'Concerned Citizens of Ikwuano LGA', have demanded immediate and urgent investigation of the LG Chairman, Dr Anthony Nwaubani, plus: 

• A full forensic audit of Ikwuano LGA accounts.

• An independent investigative panel to review all financial and administrative actions.

• Immediate restoration of transparent, stakeholder-driven governance.

"Ikwuano cannot be run as a private estate. Public office is a sacred trust, not a family inheritance. We appeal to Your Excellency to intervene decisively to prevent further erosion of  Local governance, 2027 in view", the letter posted on the social media read 

However, like ostrich, Dr Nwaubani has  buried his head in the sand, but  like butterflies attracted to flowers, the allegations are still clinging to his name and office. Several inquiries made to his office seeking clarifications on the allegations were rebuffed.

From whispers, the allegations are now loudly discussed on the social media. In the  public letter to Gov Otti titled: "An Urgent Appeal: 'A Call To Save Ikwuano LGA.

The Tragedy Of Collapsing Leadership: A Case Study Of Mayor Anthony Nwaubani", the group  stated that  "The leadership style of Mayor Anthony Nwaubani has plunged Ikwuano into uncertainty, mistrust, and administrative breakdown"

They buttressed their accusation by explaining that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs allegedly interrogated Nwaubani and the Head of Department, Works and ordered both of them to make refunds totalling about ₦19,000,000 to the LG Treasury being allegedly pilfered monies   from the coffers of the LG.  "This disturbing episode raises serious ethical and legal questions", the group alleged and urged the governor to institute immediate and independent investigations.

Other damning allegations against Nwaubani include failure to account for internally generated revenues accruing to the LG which he personally collects through his agents, especially from the weekly markets at Ndoro, Oboro; Ariam-Usaka and Awomukwu 

Nwaubani was equally accused of privately operating a bank account on behalf of 'Abia Arise' group without legislative approval or accountability. Contractors seeking contracts from the LG are coerced to make kick-back payments to this account allegedly to facilitate the political interests of Gov Otti as the Abia Arise group accredited to him as  one of his political structures.

According to the group, "These allegations, if left unchecked, threaten not only the development of Ikwuano LG but also the credibility of the reform-driven governance agenda championed by Gov Alex Otti.

In yet another commentary titled "Call for Accountability from Mr. Anthony Nwaubani", Mr Isidore Onyekachi states as follows:  "We, the people of Ikwuano, are growing increasingly concerned about the leadership style of Dr Anthony Nwaubani. To date, he has not called for any stakeholders’ meeting, nor has he shown any visible commitment to addressing the pressing issues within our local government.

"He has consistently avoided engaging with key community structures, including the Ezes in Ariam-Usaka and Ikwuano as a whole and has shown no willingness to sit down with party leaders or community stakeholders to listen or dialogue. This pattern of avoidance raises serious questions about his readiness to lead and his respect for the people he represents.

"Leadership is about presence, responsibility, and service — not distance and silence. We call on Mr. Anthony Nwaubani to rise to the occasion, engage with the people, and act in the interest of Ikwuano. The community deserves transparency, inclusion, and action.

"We, the people, are watching — and we expect better", he affirmed 

Efforts to reach Nwaubani directly or through his aides met a stone wall.

Sources from FAAC and office of the Accountant-Genersl of Nigeria revealed that between Jan-Aug, 2025, Ikwuano LGA received about ₦3.526 billion with a monthly allocation ranging from ₦430m my ₦550m monthly