OTTI DEMYSTIFIED, RESORTS TO THREAT AND INTIMIDATION OF ABIA OPPOSITION – APC Renaissance Group
“A once revered ijele masquerade has turned into ekpo ori maimai (ikpukpuru) ”
When Governor Otti was voted into power, most people expected phenomenal transformation within his first term, having contested twice before finally winning the election in 2023 every political watcher thought he came prepared,
The general conclusion among many was that the Governor had a robust blueprint on how to resuscitate Abia State, given his background; first, as an economist, and secondly, as a seasoned banker. Moreover, the initial name dropping of technocrats purported to be associated with his government, such as Okonjo Iweala, Aruma Otteh, Ndubuisi Ekekwe, and Johnson Chukwu falsely gave the impression that Abia had entered an era of strategic planning and execution. Unfortunately, we later discovered that these names were mostly for validation and photo ops.
It is on record that Abia is blessed with some of the best human capital in the South East.
We saw some of these names participating in retreats, seminars, and interactive sessions with Abians in the diaspora before and after the swearing-in of the Governor. This gave a semblance of structured planning and organized programs to relaunch Abia among the comity of states ready for 21st-century development challenges.
After 28 months of assuming governance, many have seen hope dashed and expectations evaporated. Many had hoped that the government would have begun a structured revival of critical sectors such as education, health, trade and investment, transport, and industrialization
Unfortunately, while other states are opening new factories; like the Stallion Motors Assembly Plant in Enugu or the Orashi Gas City in Oguta, Imo State etc, Abia State is busy acting skits, shouting loud on social media about high performing Otti without any major substance or impact in real term performance. It is alleged the state spends about N530m monthly on media and propaganda. The focus has remained on issues like recoating of old roads, repainting of roofs, incosistency in salary payments, endless worker’s verification exercises, forfeited pensions, and gratuities, which continue to dominate the indices of growth and development.
Until last year, many had believed that opposition in Abia would have died a natural death due to the social media overhype surrounding government exploits, especially on the proposed Abia seaport, modular refinery at Owazza, medical city at Owerrinta, Owerrinta rice ,Abia airport, The revamping of Palm Plantation in Ukwa,Nsulu games village, New Stadium at Umuahia, Enyimba Hotels and other supposedly impactful projects.
However, after waiting in vain for these proposed and highly advertised and celebrated projects to materialize, 29 months after, questions have began to arise about the actual locations and status of these projects.
Today, Abians have come to realize that what they ordered is not what they are being served. Considering the strides of sister states like Imo, Enugu, and Anambra, and given Abia’s status as an oil-producing state, the level of work on the ground does not justify the N38 billion total monthly revenue and over N1 trillion received in under 29 months of Otti’s administration.
These revelations especially on the N72billion controversy over repairs of public schools from January 2024 to June 2025 have emboldened the opposition in Abia to take on the current administration over corruption and poor performance. The goodwill the Government once enjoyed has eroded among civil servants, pensioners, and the general public, including Aba traders who now understand that prompt payment of salaries and pensions cannot be classified as an achievement when the government receives huge revenue of N38 billion monthly with a wage bill of only N7 billion.
Opposition is strengthened and being taken seriously Abians, the number is growing daily, especially with the realization that almost all of the promises of (New Abia ) made during the campaign have been abandoned. Most disturbing is the administration of local government funds, which has already led to the revolt of councillors at Osisioma Local Government and the subsequent resignation of the council leader ,again thats where the power of opposition weighed in and today the welfare and salaries of the councillors have been upgraded the governor, even though it is an aberration that while President Tinubu have been fighting for and preaching local government autonomy Governor Otti, defiantly sabotaged Mr Presidents efforts at realizing a working LG system.
Many now believe that the current administration is neither ready nor interested in re-election come 2027, judging its attitude towards those who supported its emergence in 2023 and the unending crisis in their party .
Today, in Abia, the entire opposition is uniting and congregating to peacefully vote out the present government.
The government that once claimed to be the messiah of Abia has suddenly realized that it has lost grip and can be voted out the same Abians that hailed them. This fear has now birthed threats, intimidation, and talks of writing wills and threats of opposition and would contenders being killed which is being seen as recipe for crisis and anarchy coming from a Government.
A government that truly enjoys the confidence of the majority, including civil servants and pensioners; will not be this jittery about an election that is still many months away.
We noticed that for the first time , Abia State Government stated the true length of the Umuahia /Ikot Ekpene Federal road project, from the initial 27km to 25km after opposition spotted the fraud. As predicted, the cost of the project was not made public. We have also noticed that Abia state Government have seen payment of compensation to those affected the road reconstruction as a veritable tool for fraud. We demand transparency in that regards.
A government sure of its stewardship should be eager to showcase its achievements as the basis for re-election, not resort to threats and fear tactics.
Abia State is now a low-hanging fruit for the opposition, led the Abia APC. Governor Otti is on the path to being a one-term Governor. Former Governor Fayemi of Ekiti State followed a similar pattern and met the same fate before luck smiled on him for second tenure after initial disruptions.
A one-term Governor is loading in Abia.
A new dawn is possible, prophecy is becoming true.
Abians will soon witnesss a government high on empathy and performance.
Abia State APC Renaissance Group.
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