Abia Traditional Rulers Defend Governor Otti
The political landscape in Abia State, often referred to as “God’s Own State,” has taken a dramatic and heated turn. A war of words has erupted between the camp of the incumbent Governor, Alex Otti, and his predecessor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. At the center of this storm is a controversial statement made by Senator Kalu, which has drawn the ire of the state’s traditional institution.
The Controversy: “Road Painter” vs. “Transformer”
The friction began when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, dismissed the infrastructural strides of Governor Alex Otti. Kalu allegedly claimed that the Governor was merely “repainting” roads that had been constructed during his (Kalu’s) tenure as Governor between 1999 and 2007. Furthermore, Kalu publicly vowed to mobilize opposition forces to stop Governor Otti’s re-election bid in 2027.
This assessment did not sit well with the custodians of culture in the state. In a strongly worded reaction, the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, stepped into the fray to set the record straight.
Monarch Hits Back: “Evidence Doesn’t Lie”
Eze Linus Nto Mbah, speaking on behalf of the traditional council, condemned Senator Kalu’s remarks, describing them as an attempt to mislead the public and undermine genuine progress. The monarch pointed to a specific, high-profile project to debunk the “repainting” narrative.
According to the monarch, the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi-Abiriba road—a critical artery that leads directly to Igbere, the hometown of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu—was completely reconstructed by the Otti administration. Eze Mbah expressed bewilderment at how a road that had been in a state of total collapse for years, and which was recently rebuilt from the foundation, could be described as having been “repainted.”
”How could Orji Uzor Kalu have claimed that Governor Alex Otti is just repainting roads… even when Otti completely reconstructed the road that leads to his own doorstep?” the monarch queried. This statement highlights the disconnect between political rhetoric and the physical reality experienced by commuters in Abia North.
Allegations of a “Grand Conspiracy”
The traditional ruler didn’t stop at infrastructure. He raised an alarm over what he termed a “conspiracy” by former governors to truncate the ongoing transformation of Abia State. Eze Mbah specifically referenced a recent high-profile meeting held at the residence of former Governor Theodore Orji, which reportedly included other opposition heavyweights.
The monarch alleged that these “closed-door” meetings are part of a plot to return Abia to what he described as the “dark years.” He listed several grievances from past administrations that the current government is working to rectify, including:
- Unpaid Salaries and Pensions: The chronic backlog that plagued the state for decades.
- Infrastructural Decay: The abandonment of key roads and public buildings.
- Dilapidated Healthcare: The near-collapse of the state’s medical facilities and education system.
Eze Mbah warned that the people of Abia are now more enlightened and would resist any attempt to take the state backward. He declared that despite the “gang-up” by opposition politicians, Governor Otti is on track for a “landslide victory” in 2027 based on his performance.
The Road to 2027: A High-Stakes Battle
The exchange between Senator Kalu and Eze Mbah signals that the 2027 governorship race in Abia has effectively begun. While Senator Kalu is banking on a coalition of former governors and “external forces” to unseat Otti, the Governor seems to have solidified his base through tangible projects and the support of the traditional institution.
For many Abians, the debate is not just about roads; it is about the soul of the state’s governance. The “road painter” comment has backfired in some quarters, as it allowed the Otti administration to showcase its project portfolio, particularly in areas that were neglected by previous regimes.
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