Dr. Bashir Lamido, leader of the Arewa Summit International and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has launched a blistering attack on Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing him of political duplicity and insincerity in his dealings with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
In a statement released on Monday, Lamido alleged that Governor Otti has been offering what he described as “fake assurances” of loyalty to both President Tinubu and Obi, while secretly aligning with former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi. He claimed that Otti’s public posture of neutrality and goodwill toward the current administration sharply contradicts his private political commitments.
“Governor Otti is not being straightforward,” Lamido said. “You cannot claim to support President Tinubu and at the same time work against his political interest. If Otti genuinely loves the President and wants him to succeed and possibly secure a second term, the honorable thing to do is to openly align himself with the APC, just as sincere leaders like Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State have done.”
Lamido further argued that Otti’s refusal to join the ruling party is driven by what he described as fear of internal power-sharing arrangements and party discipline. He alleged that the Abia governor prefers to operate independently in order to retain unchecked control over state resources, which he claimed are being deployed to settle political obligations—particularly to Rotimi Amaechi, whom he accused of financing Otti’s electoral victory.
The Arewa Summit International leader also took aim at the Abia State government’s media strategy, accusing Otti’s media aides of launching coordinated attacks on former Abia State Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over his support for President Tinubu. According to Lamido, the attacks followed what he described as a “harmless and friendly” remark by Kalu about Governor Otti.
“There was absolutely no need for such hostility,” Lamido said. “Senator Orji Uzor Kalu deserves respect, not insults. Governor Otti owes him a public apology for the actions of his media team.”
Questioning Otti’s democratic credentials, Lamido suggested that the governor appears overly sensitive to criticism and opposition. “Why is he so worried about opposition? Why does every comment trigger panic?” he asked, adding that such reactions could signal intolerance for dissent.
Lamido concluded by urging Governor Otti to embrace transparency and political honesty, warning that what he described as a “know-it-all attitude” and sustained political ambiguity could damage the governor’s credibility, isolate him within Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, and ultimately limit him to a single term in office.
