Unmasking the Misnomer: Is Gov Otti Truly a Doctor? A Closer Look at Dr Ikpeazu’s Impressive Academic Credentials | #NwokeukwuMascot

 Opinion 

IS GOV ALEX OTTI ACTUALLY A DOCTOR? by Chinonye MBA | #NwokeukwuMascot

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I read with amusement the current CPS to Abia state Governor Ctz Ukoha Njoku Ukoha  in one of his diatribe, struggle to compare the former Governor of Abia state Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu with his boss Mr Alexander Chioma Otti. In the said Facebook post, one thing was so obvious not to be ignored.

Ctz Ukoha, repeatedly addressed Mr Alex Otti as "Dr Alex Otti". One then begins to wonder, is Abia state Governor really a Doctor? 

The last time I checked, Mr Alex Chioma Otti was neither a professional medical doctor or academically a Doctorate degree holder.

Ikpeazu is a Doctor by virtue of his academic doggedness and qualifications; While Alex Otti is an honorary doctor- a mere presentation of recognition just like a chieftaincy title.

Dr Ikpeazu studied and Acquired his PhD not the honorary Doctor that most people purchase with money like the one Abia emperor is parading.

Below is a brief profile of Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu:

Dr. Ikpeazu attended Amaise Central Primary School, Umuobiakwa. He had his secondary education at Eziama High School, Aba and Ihie High School, Isiala Ngwa, where he passed out in the year 1979. After his secondary education Okezie Ikpeazu proceeded to the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) where he studied Clinical Biochemistry and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class Upper Division in August, 1984. He later did his Masters in Biochemical Toxicology and defended his Thesis in the year 1990. In the year 1994, he bagged Doctorate Degree in Biochemical Pharmacology from University of Calabar at the young age of 30.

CAREER.

Okezie Victor Ikpeazu started his career as a Biochemist in August 1984, when he worked as a clinical biochemist in the medical laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, during his mandatory one year national youth service.

Dr. Ikpeazu later got employed as a Graduate-Assistant in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Maiduguri, where he lectured between 1986 and 1987. He lectured also at the Calabar Polytechnic between the years 1990 and 1992. He later  worked with Cash Bond Investments and Credits Ltd, Lagos between 1994 and 1996 as an Administrative Manger.

Dr. Ikpeazu eventually became a lecture 1 in the department of Applied Biochemistry, at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT). While at ESUT, Ikpeazu was also lecturing on part-time bases at Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, in the College of Basic Medical Sciences.

 In the year 2002, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu was appointed the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area of AbiaState. After serving in the local government, he was appointed a Special Adviser to the Abia State Governor. He  was  further appointed the General Manager of Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held between the years 2007 and 2009. In 2011, he was reappointed to the same position and he held the office until 2013, when he was appointed the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba.

Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu became the Executive Governor of Abia state on 29th May 2015.

Mr Ukoha Njoku, should stop trying to compare his paymaster with Dr Okezie Victor Ikpeazu. The Duo aren’t dragging anything: politically and Academically Ikpeazu is Ahead of Otti.

- Ikpeazu Defeated Alex Otti 9 times. 

- Ikpeazu handed over as Governor at the age of 58 while Otti became Governor at 65.

- Ikpeazu has PhD in clinical Biochemistry while Otti has only a masters Degree.

- Ikpeazu and Otti may never contest for one position again in life.

- At 58 Ikpeazu is everything a successful man should be.

- Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is a former Governor  who completed his 8 years tenure while Mr Alex Otti is incumbent struggling to finish one term, who's not even sure of securing second term.

- At the age of 30 Okezie Ikpeazu was already a PhD holder, what Mr Alex Otti couldn't get even at the age of 67.

Mr Ukoha should allow his boss to focus and discharge his duties.

To those who may be asking, how did Ikpeazu defeat Alex Otti 9 times? Kindly take note of the following:

Apart from causing Mr Alex Otti to bolt away from the 2014 Abia State PDP Governorship primaries, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu inflicted the following defeats on Alex Otti:

1. On April 11, 2015, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP) won the majority of votes cast in the Governorship election in which Otti also contested.

2. On April 25, 2015, Dr Ikpeazu defeated Otti in the Supplementary Governorship  Election. 

3. On the 3rd of November, 2015, Dr Ikpeazu defeated Otti at the Abia election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

4. On the 25th of February, 2016, the Supreme Court of Nigeria declared Governor Ikpeazu  winner and dismissed Otti’s petition.

5. On August 5, 2016, the Appeal Court dismissed Otti’s motion to join a matter involving Uche Ogah and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

6. On the 12th of May, 2017, the Supreme Court of Nigeria rendered Otti’s motion to be declared Governor of Abia State impotent, called Otti “a busy body and a meddlesome interloper” and affirmed Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the Governor of Abia State. 

7.  On April 9, 2019, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu polled 261,127 votes to defeat Alex Otti, who polled 64,366 votes, to win re-election as Governor of Abia State.

8. On the 20th of September, 2019, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu defeated Alex Otti at the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia.

9. On Saturday, November 16, 2019, the Owerri Division of the Appeal Court dismissed the petition of Alex Otti and declared Dr Okezie Ikpeazu validly elected Governor of Abia State at the 2019 election.

Alex Otti later approached the supreme Court to try more of his luck. Unfortunately to him, his case was thrown to the trash bin of history where it rightly belongs.

Mr Ukoha Njoku should stop creating more problems and enemies for his boss Alex Otti. The way he is going, he may end up being the worst CPS in history of Abia state.

A stitch in time saves nine. 

To be continued....