The Abia State Government has accused opposition figures of deliberately trying to stir conflict between Governor Alex Otti and President Bola Tinubu for political advantage.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, the governor’s Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, alleged that former governors and other past office holders were coordinating efforts aimed at undermining Otti’s leadership.
These accusations follow reports that three former governors, now aligned with the APC, are purportedly working to unseat Otti and remove the Labour Party from power in Abia ahead of the 2027 elections.
Anokwuru warned that opposition actors were increasingly dragging President Tinubu’s name into their attacks, describing the tactic as “manufactured hostility” and a calculated distortion.
He stated, “When ex-governors and former public officials—whose legacies Abians have not forgotten—band together to challenge Dr. Alex Otti’s leadership, citizens have every right to question their motives, their claims, and their integrity.”
He criticized the opposition for premising its arguments on the federal government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda rather than focusing on factual issues or proposing concrete policy solutions.
“Your entire criticism of Dr. Otti’s administration rests on ‘Renewed Hope’. Opposition made up of former governors should defend their records, not hide behind President Bola Tinubu’s name,” Anokwuru asserted.
He urged them to abandon what he described as politics of resentment, stressing that attempts to create animosity between Tinubu and Otti were doomed to fail.
“Stop trying to fabricate a rift between Alex Otti and President Bola Tinubu; it will not succeed because their relationship goes beyond politics,” he said.
According to Anokwuru, while opposition is essential in a democratic system, it loses legitimacy when driven by personal ambition rather than constructive, issue-based criticism.
“What is even more troubling is the opposition’s heavy dependence on President Tinubu’s perceived influence. Proximity to power in Abuja cannot replace true grassroots acceptance, and it cannot erase the realities Abians endured under previous administrations,” he added.
He also dismissed claims that the opposition enjoys the backing of the President, insisting that Tinubu has shown continued support and goodwill toward Otti.
“The irony is that President Bola Tinubu has not aligned himself with the propaganda these attention seekers are spreading. The President knows that Dr. Alex Otti is among the top-performing governors in the country and has consistently supported his administration,” Anokwuru remarked.
He concluded by cautioning opposition leaders that invoking Tinubu’s name would not shield them from public scrutiny.
“Tinubu is not supporting you; you are simply borrowing his name to support yourselves. This strategy weakens democracy and erodes public trust, rather than strengthening it,” he said.
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