Picture of Abia’s former governors,
A senior aide to Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has dismissed moves by opposition figures seeking to unseat the governor in 2027, describing their efforts as futile and detached from political reality.
Speaking at a press briefing in Umuahia on Monday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, said the opposition’s sustained media attacks against the Otti administration amounted to “chasing shadows.”
Anokwuru was reacting to criticisms of the governor by prominent opposition figures in the state, including former governor and APC chieftain, Orji Kalu.
He titled his address, “Abia Opposition: Stop Tinubu Name-Dropping and Face the Fact!”
According to him, it was unrealistic for former political leaders whom he accused of presiding over years of underdevelopment in the state to expect a return to power by leaning on the influence of President Bola Tinubu rather than their own track records.
He faulted the opposition for frequently invoking the president’s name and the “Renewed Hope” agenda, instead of defending their past performance in office.
“It is a long-established principle in law and public life that anyone who seeks equity must come with clean hands,” Anokwuru said, adding that former governors and office holders have a credibility burden to clear before challenging the present administration.
He argued that the opposition’s criticism of the Otti-led government lacked substance, noting that it was largely anchored on borrowed federal influence rather than concrete alternative policies or achievements.
Anokwuru acknowledged that opposition plays a vital role in a democratic system when it is constructive and fact-based, but warned that it loses moral authority when driven by bitterness, deception and personal ambition.
He described the current posture of the Abia opposition as a coalition motivated more by political survival and relevance than by genuine concern for the welfare of the people.
“The heavy reliance on the perceived might of President Tinubu as the backbone of the opposition is deeply troubling,” he said, stressing that federal proximity cannot replace local legitimacy or erase the lived experiences of Abia residents under past administrations.
The governor’s aide further expressed satisfaction that President Tinubu had continued to support Governor Otti, whom he described as “one of the best-performing governors in Nigeria,” rather than align with what he called opposition propaganda.
Anokwuru maintained that Abia deserved an opposition that is intellectually honest, issue-driven and genuinely committed to the public good, rather than what he described as a reactionary alliance struggling to remain relevant amid changing political realities.
He concluded that while constructive opposition strengthens governance by identifying gaps and proposing solutions, deliberate misinformation and personal vendetta undermine democracy and do not serve the interest of the state.
