By Uche Aguoru
Ordinarily, one would have chosen to ignore the stream of misinformation and outright falsehoods emanating from Otti’s Government where falsehood have been elevated to an official policy in the Alex Otti administration.
However, in the interest of truth, clarity, and public record, it has become imperative to set the facts straight and expose the deliberate attempt to mislead the public by Governor Alex Otti and his agents.
Sometime in 2024, the people of Amaukwu Igbere in Bende Local Government Area, approached the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, with a desperate plea: Igbere Ward B had no single hospital serving its population. This alarming absence of basic healthcare infrastructure clearly the responsibility of the Abia State Government forced the community to seek the intervention of Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
In the same spirit, the community submitted requests for urgent intervention in public education infrastructure that had been abandoned to decay under the watch of the state government. These requests included:
Construction of a 3-classroom block with Headmaster’s Office at Eluokwe Community School
Renovation of a 3-classroom block with a large auditorium at Eluokwe Community School
Renovation of a 4-classroom block at Ezi Igbere Secondary School
Renovation of three separate 3-classroom blocks at Ezi Igbere Secondary School
Renovation of a 3-classroom block with Principal’s Office and Library at Ezi Igbere Secondary School
These schools had deteriorated to such an extent that parts of their premises reportedly became havens for criminal activities and hideouts for smoking of illicit drugs, an indictment of a government that claims to have spent billions of naira on education and security.
Although these projects fall squarely within the constitutional responsibilities of the Abia State Government, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, consistent with his people centered leadership style, intervened to attract federal support and even facilitated the siting of a hospital in Igbere to alleviate the suffering of the people.
Following this intervention, the Central Council of Amaukwu Ebiri Autonomous Community, in April 2025, duly approved land for the proposed hospital. The community also obtained approval from the state government for the reconstruction of the affected schools (attched is a copy of the approval document ).
The clearing of the hospital site including the removal of a dilapidated two-room structure being used for drug abuse and other criminal activities was entirely carried out by the community, led by the home branch chairmen of Amaukwu, Amakpo, and Ibinanta Autonomous Communities.
For the avoidance of doubt, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu neither selected the site nor hired any contractor.
His role was strictly to attract the project and ensure its delivery not to supervise construction. As at today, he has not even visited the site, it now begs for answer how a man who has not visited a facility will embark on demolition of such a facility. Such a claim can only exist is the mind of manipulative government who only seeks to hide her glaring failures under media propaganda and deliberate misinformation.
It is therefore both mischievous and dishonest for Governor Alex Otti, through his Chief Press Secretary, to drag the Deputy Speaker into issues he has no direct involvement in, except for the obvious purpose of political mischief and blame game.
More troubling is the revelation that when contractors arrived to commence approved renovation works with all necessary documentation they were openly resisted by a headmistress, who reportedly stated that she had “express orders from Governor Otti” not to allow any reconstruction by “Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu”
As incredible as this may sound, it speaks volumes about the level of intolerance, insecurity, and pettiness to which governance in Abia State has been reduced.
To now turn around and play the victim after deliberately blocking interventions meant to benefit Abia children and the Igbere community only further exposes the manipulation and insincerity that have come to define the Otti administration.
At no time did Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu demolish any school in Igbere or anywhere else. Any attempt to associate him with such action/s is a deliberate falsehood, crafted to mask the monumental failures of the Abia State Government.
Even more astonishing is the claim that the schools being renovated are part of a so-called “smart school” initiative. This claim ranks among the biggest falsehoods of our time. Abians are still searching for the ₦82 billion reportedly earmarked for smart schools, which, to date, cannot be found anywhere in the state.
Let the truth be told: Benjamin Kalu, despite political differences, has helped to cover glaring governance gaps in Abia State. At no point has he attempted to undermine Governor Otti. Rather, it is the Governor and his agents who have persistently dished out insults and falsehood against the person and office of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria simply for demanding accountability.
Instead of resorting to blame games and cheap propaganda, Governor Otti owes Abians a clear account of public funds and an honest explanation for non-existent projects such as smart schools, recreational facilities, ICT centres which funds has been budgeted for and allegedly drawn with no such facilities existing anywhere in Abia.
On the issue of calls for Governor Otti to join the APC, the Deputy Speaker has been unequivocal: he will no longer make such calls, as it has become unnecessary. The Governor has the right to belong to any political party of his choice. What truly matters is that he uses the resources meant for Abians to work for Abia State.
Leadership demands truth and accountability not excuses, propaganda and blame game.
Governor Otti should stop scapegoating the Deputy Speaker and instead explain to Abians where the so-called smart schools funded with ₦82 billion are located in Abia State.
Uche Aguoru
Is A Public Affairs Analyst
