A meeting of former political appointees who served under the administration of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK), held on January 9 at the Umuahia residence of ex-Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji, has been described by participants as a de facto referendum on the performance of Governor Alex Otti’s administration.
According to leaders and stakeholders at the meeting, a consensus was reached that Governor Otti has failed to clearly account for the funds reportedly received by Abia State since assuming office in May 2023. They questioned what they described as the absence of transparent explanations on the utilisation of an estimated ₦1.4 trillion said to have accrued to the state within the period under review.
Data cited during the deliberations, which participants said were obtained from the Abia State Government’s official website (abiastate.gov.ng), reportedly show that the state received about ₦140 billion in revenue, with approximately ₦120 billion expended on salaries and pensions. They noted that the figures referenced did not include statutory allocations accruing to the local government councils.
Beyond financial issues, the gathering reportedly dismissed what it termed the “social media image” of the Otti administration, arguing that online popularity and digital commendations have not translated into visible, commensurate development across the state. Some speakers likened the situation to the era when Diamond Bank won industry awards despite underlying financial weaknesses, warning that media visibility should not be confused with tangible performance.
Participants further maintained that the convergence of former leaders and appointees was driven by deep dissatisfaction with governance outcomes, especially when weighed against the volume of resources available to the state under the current economic climate.
The meeting also reacted to claims by the governor’s aides that the gathering was convened in response to an alleged cancellation of pension payments to former governors. Attendees described the claim as a diversion, insisting that the Otti administration had been challenged for over a week to produce documentary evidence showing that such pensions were paid—an assertion they said remains unanswered.
Drawing comparisons with developments in other states, the stakeholders noted that in Rivers and Imo states, former governors such as Peter Odili and Achike Udenwa have receded from public discourse due to the pace and visibility of development under subsequent administrations. Similarly, they argued that despite past achievements in Enugu State, the name of former Governor Sullivan Chime is now rarely mentioned, owing to changing governance trajectories.
In conclusion, the meeting maintained that the coming together of Abia’s former leaders is a clear signal of widespread disappointment with the current administration, insisting that it reflects a collective verdict that the Otti government has, so far, fallen short of public expectations.
