By Godwin Akomah, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State on Sunday raised an alarm over what he described as the reckless and desperate tactics of some opposition politicians to both destabilise the state and destroy the cordial working relationship between Abia and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu -led Federal Government of Nigeria.
Otti said the ugly development exposed the so-called opposition’s desperation to undermine and destabilize the State and by extension, the South-East geopolitical zone, stressing that the divisive antics is also a clear manifestation of their lack of ideas and inability to articulate a credible alternative vision for the State.
The Governor, who came to power on the platform of the Labour Party(LP), made this known in a release through his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, expressed concern that the opposition had resorted to character assassination, misinformation, falsehood, and the divisive politics of planting fake news to incite and turn the FG against him and his administration.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the state to the LP in the 2023 governorship election after what looked like a vice – grip on the state since the return of democracy in 1999. Abia is the home state of the number Six citizen of Nigeria, the Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. It is also the home state of former governor and serving Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
The Daily Crucible reports that since coming to power, Governor Otti has been grappling with toxic opposition desirous of unsettling his administration and labouring to make it unappealing for reelection in 2027. He has been dogged in fighting back.
He named a former commissioner for information, John Okiyi Kalu, as the alleged coordinator of the latest efforts to orchestrate a vicious smear campaign against him.
While deploring the arid politics of the opposition politicians in the state, the Governor, however, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support and approvals of Abia State numerous requests, especially, one for the State to intervene in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of critical Federal infrastructures across the State, including the upgrading of the proposed Airstrip to an Airport.
Otti stated, “The attention of Abia State Government has been drawn to a circulating screenshot publication on social media platforms where the former commissioner for information in Abia State, Mr. John Okiyi Kalu was allegedly issuing instructions to his recruited data boys and e-rats in a closed-circuit platform named ‘WAR ROOM’ to orchestrate a vicious smear campaign against the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, to stoke division in the cordial working relationship between him and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
This ugly development exposes the so-called Abia opposition reckless desperation to undermine and destabilize the State and in extension, the South-East Geopolitical zone.
The Abia State Government views the divisive antics as a clear manifestation of the Abia opposition’s lack of ideas and inability to articulate a credible alternative vision for the State. The Abia opposition daily resorts to character assassination, misinformation, falsehood, and the divisive politics of planting fake news to incite and turn the Federal Government against Governor Alex Otti and Abia State Government are testament to their desperation to return to power by any means.
The Government of Abia State reaffirms Governor Otti’s commitment to the welfare and development of Abia State and its people. Governor Otti’s administration will not be deterred by the Abia opposition’s desperate antics and is committed to continue working closely with the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s leadership to drive progress and prosperity in the State.
The Governor expresses gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support and approvals of Abia State numerous requests, especially, for the State to intervene in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of critical Federal infrastructures across the State including the upgrading of the proposed Airstrip to an Airport, demonstrating the strong partnership between the State under Governor Otti and the Federal Governments under President Tinubu. The existing collaboration will continue to benefit the people of Abia State and Nigeria at large.
The Abia State Government warns the so-called Abia opposition and the former commissioner for information, Mr. John Okiyi Kalu to desist from their desperate attempts to sow discord between Governor Alex Otti and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the people of Abia State will not be swayed by their desperate attempts to destabilize the State. All citizens are hereby urged to remain vigilant and continue to reject the Abia opposition’s toxic politics.”
