‘I Considered Otti My Friend Never Spoke Against Him’ – Orji Kalu Explains Fallout With Abia Governor

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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, has declared his intention to oppose the re-election of Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

Speaking on Thursday at his country home in Igbere, Kalu revealed that he had once regarded Otti as a friend and had never publicly criticized him. However, he expressed frustration over a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Njoku Okaoha, which criticized Kalu for supporting President Bola Tinubu and promising to deliver Abia State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kalu insisted that his allegiance to the APC should not have prompted attacks and accused the governor’s media team of fueling tensions between them.

“I have never criticized the state government. For two years, I considered the governor my friend and never spoke against him,” Kalu said.
“But three days ago, the governor’s press secretary issued a statement against me. There is no governor who can claim that whatever his press secretary says does not reflect his position.

“They fired the first salvo, and I responded by saying that since I am with the APC, I will work for the APC to win. We supported him in 2023, but we will not repeat that.

“What is wrong with working for my party? Is that a reason to insult me? I will work for my party,” he added.

Kalu Questions Otti’s Achievements in Office

The senator also dismissed claims of Otti’s outstanding performance, arguing that the governor had not launched any major new infrastructure projects, but merely rehabilitated roads constructed during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

“I don’t see any outstanding performance. What I achieved in two years as governor is still visible to everyone.

“The funds Alex Otti received in just four months equal what I managed in eight years. So what has he actually done? He is just repairing and rebuilding roads I constructed between 1999 and 2007. I have yet to see a single major new road,” Kalu stated.

He further criticized the governor for neglecting rural communities.
“As a senator, the roads I am building in local communities are completely new farmland roads. I have not seen him even enter these areas. In two years, I achieved what many thought impossible in Abia State,” he said.

Recalling Past Achievements and Governance Philosophy

Kalu also highlighted that during his administration, education and healthcare were provided free of charge. He recalled that his accomplishments earned praise from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who reportedly described him as an “action governor.”

He concluded by downplaying social media acclaim for the current administration, stressing that real governance is not shaped by online narratives.

“I don’t follow all the noise on social media. Governance is not about social media; it is about actions taken at the right time and seen by the people on the ground,” Kalu said.