One of the most commendable aspects of Governor Alex Otti’s administration is its ability to achieve measurable progress without resorting to borrowing—an approach that sets it apart from the previous government’s heavy dependence on loans. Governor Otti’s strategy demonstrates a sound understanding of practical economics, and the results speak for themselves: Abia State has transitioned from lagging behind to ranking among Nigeria’s fastest-developing states.
Predictably, this success has triggered a coordinated smear campaign led by John Okiyi Kalu (JOK) and his associates. Despite their dismal record in office, they’ve turned to social media and platforms like Arise TV’s Right of Reply to spread misinformation, half-truths, and distortions.
Their criticisms—weak and largely unconvincing—center on a few recurring themes. One of the most prominent is the controversy surrounding the New Government House. Critics argue that Governor Otti should have immediately occupied the building, which was hastily refurbished and commissioned just days before the previous administration left office.
To appreciate the full picture, some historical context is essential. The New Government House project began under former Governor T.A. Orji and was modeled after a 17th-century European palace. While opulent in appearance, the project was widely criticized at the time, as it diverted billions of naira from more urgent needs like roads, schools, hospitals, and other basic infrastructure—sectors where Abia State was severely lacking.
When Governor Okezie Ikpeazu took office in 2015, he neither completed the structure nor invested in the surrounding Government Station Layout. The area lacked essential amenities—roads, drainage, electricity, and water. Government facilities, including the State Secretariat and Commissioners’ Quarters, operated under deplorable conditions, often in complete darkness.
It is telling that critics like Okiyi Kalu, who lived and worked in this neglected environment, did little to change it during their eight years in power. Public infrastructure deteriorated across the board. The old State Secretariat became a literal dumping ground, abandoned and overtaken by refuse and waste.
In a last-minute move many saw as politically motivated, the Ikpeazu administration applied cosmetic fixes to the unfinished Government House and rushed to commission it just before leaving office—an apparent attempt to pressure Governor Otti into occupying the structure. But Governor Otti, rejecting this symbolic “Greek gift,” made a more prudent choice.
Rather than spending ₦800 million to retrofit an impractical and outdated structure, the Otti administration redirected funds to develop the surrounding Government Station Layout. This decision has since revitalized the area, transforming it into a livable, functional extension of the state capital.
Unlike previous administrations, Governor Otti’s leadership is marked by foresight, transparency, and a people-centered development philosophy. The noise from discredited former officials cannot obscure the real and visible progress being made across Abia State.
In under two years, Governor Otti has rehabilitated the Commissioner’s Quarters, reconstructed the long-abandoned Old Secretariat, and fully energized both secretariats. Access roads have been built, internet infrastructure now serves public offices, and numerous state assets have been modernized. These results align with what Abians have long demanded: performance, not propaganda.
It would have been inappropriate for Governor Otti to move into a structure that symbolizes a feudal mindset—a building that contradicts the egalitarian and republican spirit of the Igbo people. More concerning is the insistence by some that he must reside in a building known to have structural flaws—one they themselves refused to occupy. Given the history of a 2015 assassination attempt on Dr. Otti in Abuja, these demands raise serious questions about their motivations.
One particularly dishonest claim came during a recent Arise TV interview, where JOK falsely stated that the previous administration owed salaries only to parastatal workers, not ministerial staff. This is patently untrue. Toward the end of Ikpeazu’s tenure, all categories of workers, including core civil servants, were on indefinite strike due to unpaid salaries. When Governor Otti took office on May 29, 2023, government offices were shut, and no formal handover took place because labor unions had effectively paralyzed state operations.
In sharp contrast, Governor Otti has prioritized salary payments. Workers and pensioners now receive their dues on or before the 28th of every month. His administration has also cleared substantial salary arrears inherited from previous regimes—honoring the principle that every laborer deserves fair and timely compensation.
Okiyi Kalu and his camp would have done well to avoid the topic of Port Harcourt Road—perhaps the most glaring example of their administration’s failures. Once a critical artery in Aba, the road was neglected for years. Properties were demolished under the guise of expansion, but no actual work was done. Not a single meter of the road was rehabilitated during JOK’s tenure as commissioner.
Today, under Governor Otti, that same road has been transformed into a dual carriageway, constructed to international standards by Julius Berger—the first such undertaking in Abia’s history. Despite the engineering complexity and the road’s flood-prone nature, the project was delivered on schedule and has become a point of pride for Abians. Yet critics remain fixated on the cost, ignoring the value, scope, and long-term impact of the development.
Public response has overwhelmingly discredited JOK’s revisionist narratives. A glance at his Facebook page reveals that over 90% of commenters reject his positions, often in blunt terms. One comment captured the public sentiment succinctly:
“John is trying to convince Abians that the well-documented monumental failures of Ikpeazu were an illusion. That their awful experience of eight years of misgovernance did not happen. The audacious propaganda is dead on arrival.”
For those seeking comic relief, JOK’s comment section offers a peek into the public’s growing impatience with empty rhetoric and historical denialism.
Governor Alex Otti remains steadfast in his mission to build a new Abia—one founded on accountability, infrastructure, and inclusive development. While critics recycle tired narratives, Abia is moving forward. In this new era, distractions from the past will find no traction.
