Otti unfolds reason for not replying the Opposition, critics,
Abia APC guber aspirant announces grouses against him
By Gordi Udeajah
In the midst of mounting criticisms against his administration, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has explained why he did not react, saying that rather than reply or respond directly, he adopted doing more work and letting his performances that are palpable, to speak for him, and serve as his responses.
Otti and his administration have faced various criticisms, accusations and allegations of poor governance, un-openness, disinclusion of the stakeholders, sidelining the federal government , among others
Just at the weekend, the only governorship aspirant that has so far declared for the 2027 election on the APC platform, Mr Mascot Uzor Kalu, announced some of his grouses against governor Otti’s administration, declaring that he will address them if elected governor in 2027.
Governor Otti said so at the weekend during the civic reception organized by Isuikwuato LG Communities for their son, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, who is the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ( HAG).
HAG Uwanna was among the last set of lawyers in the country that were elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Governor Otti said that elevating Uwanna to the rank of SAN has justified his choice as the state HAG, noting that his elevation came came after his HAG appointment
Otti said ” Ikechukwu Uwanna is one of the major pillars of this administration. And, we are very glad to have him because he is adding value. He works very hard, does everything he is assigned that has to do with this administration. So, I want to publicly acknowledge what he has been to this administration and thank the Isiukwuato people for producing such a fantastic son,”.
Elated by the honour done him Mr Uwanna, SAN, expressed gratitude to his people of Isiukwuato Local Government thanking Governor Otti for prioritizing education among other numerous achievements of his administration, saying that without education, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
“ Without education, I wouldn’t be here today. And, I’m happy that His Excellency governor Otti has prioritized education in his administration. As we know, education is now free in Abia State. That opportunity that His Excellency has given to every Abian, to every person from Isiukwuato to be educated, is what will transform Abia State,” Uwanna emphasized
He also thanked Otti for reconstructing and retrofitting schools across the State, recruiting thousands of teachers, and increasing the retirement age of teachers.
” Of particular mention is the ongoing construction of the state-of-the-art law faculty in Abia State University by Governor Otti’s administration, which will be second to none upon completion”.
In attendance at the event were many very important personalities from the political, legal, and business community.
Speaking while declaring his intention to seek for the APC guber ticket for the 2027 election, Mr Mascot Uzor Kalu, who is the younger brother of senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who had governed the state for two terms of 8 years, listed some of his grouses against governor Alex Otti’s administration, alleging that these impact his misgovernance of the state.
Mascot Kalu spoke in his Umuahia Campaign Office during the inauguration, by senator Orji Kalu, of the state APC 28 member Technical Committee mandated to fashion out a Blueprint for the party’s total victory in the state, and that of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu both in the 2027 election.
Mascot Kalu accused the Otti administration of selecting the I7 serving Council Chairmen and Councillors, instead of conducting free, fair, transparent and credible election, not specifically provisioning welfare in the state budget, including not making cost of projects publicly known, querying why rural roads/infrastructures were not being given adequate attention.
He also described as novel , the prevailing scenario that a state governor ( Otti ) resides outside the official governor’s Residence in Umuahia , the state capital, where all his predecessors had resided.
The junior Uzor Kalu ( Mascot ) therefore assured that if elected governor, as he so expects, he will give the state the inclusive, constitutional governance that will ensure full independence , and financial autonomy of the local government in practice , line with the constitutional stipulations.
” My administration will be open, journalists will not be embarrassed or abused for demanding information from government by asking questions, even as the Freedom Of Information Law clearly provided for this.
