The political rivalry in Abia State has escalated, with the state government, led by Governor Alex Otti (Labour Party), sharply rebuking Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (APC), for his sustained criticism of the administration. The Abia government openly dismissed Kalu’s remarks as a desperate attempt to launch a premature 2027 governorship bid.
The controversy erupted after Kalu, during an APC event in Umuahia on Sunday, claimed that the Otti administration had “underperformed” despite receiving significant federal allocations. The Deputy Speaker also boasted that the APC was positioned to take control of the state in the next election.
In a comprehensive statement issued on Monday, Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, dismantled Kalu’s arguments and accused him of thinly veiled political opportunism:
- Financial Illiteracy Alleged: Ekeoma criticized Kalu for failing to consider the major economic factors affecting current state finances, namely naira depreciation and the substantial increase in the minimum wage, when comparing allocations to previous administrations. He advised Kalu to “be financially literate” before challenging the government on numbers.
- Inflated Civil Service: The statement pointed out Kalu’s failure to mention the dramatic increase in the Abia civil service payroll, which has swelled from 31,000 to over 67,000 workers.
- Unmasking the Ambition: Ekeoma accused Kalu of “playing hide and seek” before “finally unmasking himself and his ambition.” He alleged that Kalu was merely “pretending to be projecting President Tinubu, whom he drops his name at will as a strategy to advancing his selfish political interest.”
- The Lagos Appeal Tactic: The state government also questioned Kalu’s sincerity in appealing to the Lagos government over recent demolitions, suggesting that if the intent was genuine, the appeal would have been handled privately, not as a public relations stunt.
The statement concluded with a stern warning, advising the Deputy Speaker to “have a cold drink, relax, and wait for the appropriate time to launch his governorship bid,” adding that his current behavior was “sheer ignorance and rascality.”
Online Reaction and Social Media Commentary
The public spat immediately spilled onto social media, particularly X (formerly Twitter), where reactions were sharply divided along political and regional lines.
- Pro-Otti Camp (LP/Abia Residents): Many users strongly defended Governor Otti, focusing on perceived infrastructural improvements and timely salary payments under his tenure. They backed the government’s claim that Kalu’s critique was solely driven by personal ambition. Hashtags referencing Otti’s performance trended, with comments like, “Kalu’s ambition is showing too early. Let him keep quiet and let Otti finish the clean-up job first. Abia is seeing real change.”
- Pro-Kalu/APC Camp: Kalu’s supporters countered the “underperformance” tag by reiterating the scale of federal allocations received, demanding more transparency. They accused the Otti administration of being overly defensive. One user tweeted, “If Otti is doing well, why is the response so aggressive? Kalu has every right to call out poor performance, that’s what opposition does. 2027 is open!”
- The “Financial Literacy” Debate: Ekeoma’s sharp requirement that Kalu be “financially literate” sparked a heated debate. Economically conscious users debated the impact of dollar-naira exchange rates and inflation on state budgets, often siding with the government’s explanation of reduced purchasing power for federal allocations.
- General Political Cynicism: A large segment of the online community expressed weariness with early political squabbling, urging politicians to focus on governance rather than 2027 posturing. One cynical but widely liked comment read, “This is Nigeria’s politics: 4 years of campaigning, 0 years of governing. Just do the work and let the results speak.”
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