Abia Monarchs Warn Deputy Speaker, Pass Confidence Vote On Otti

The Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers on Wednesday warned the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, to desist from making statements that could strain relations between Governor Alex Otti, President Bola Tinubu, and the people of Abia State.

The warning followed an emergency meeting of the Council held at the JAAC Building, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, where the royal fathers also passed a vote of confidence on Gov. Alex Otti for his remarkable achievements in various sectors of the state’s economy, including health, security, education, and infrastructure.

In a statement signed by the Council’s Chairman, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, and jointly endorsed by the First Deputy Chairman, Eze Nelson Achilefu; Second Deputy Chairman, Eze Franklin Nwosu; and Third Deputy Chairman, Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, the monarchs cautioned Kalu against making unguarded comments capable of heating up the state’s political atmosphere.

They described the Deputy Speaker’s recent remarks that Governor Otti had underperformed despite receiving substantial funds as “unsubstantiated,” warning that such utterances could create unnecessary tension between the state and the federal government.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the royal fathers said no governor in the history of Abia had shown greater political will to fix the state than Otti. They noted that within two years and a few months in office, he had addressed many dilapidated roads across the three senatorial zones and made progress in revamping the education and health sectors.

They also commended the governor for the retrofitting of many abandoned health facilities, the renovation and functionalisation of primary health centres across political wards, rehabilitation of major roads, improved security and payment of workers and pensioners, describing his efforts as a clear demonstration of commitment to grassroots development.

“It is on record that no governor in Abia has shown stronger political will to reposition the state than Dr Alex Otti,” they added.

However, the council expressed concern over what it called “unnecessary political altercations” in the state, saying such public exchanges between leaders were unhelpful and could divide Abians.

“We advise our political leaders to desist from inflammatory statements and media confrontations that can heat up the polity or cause disunity,” the monarchs stated.

They urged both Otti and Kalu to embrace peace and mutual respect in the interest of good governance, adding that as custodians of culture and peace, they would not remain silent while political disagreements escalate into crises capable of threatening stability in the state.

“As custodians of culture and peace, we appeal to all political actors to put Abia first and avoid actions capable of derailing development,” they said.

The traditional rulers called on politicians to allow the governor to focus on governance and to wait until 2027 to pursue their political ambitions.

“Abia is a peaceful state, and we will not tolerate any form of political or verbal violence capable of plunging it into crisis,” the Council warned.