Group Cautions Ben Kalu Against Provoking Rift Between Gov. Otti and President, Commends Otti’s Achievements

A non-partisan organization under the banner Abians for Sustenance of Good Governance (ASGG) has cautioned the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, against making statements capable of creating discord between Governor Alex Otti, President Bola Tinubu, and the people of Abia State.

Speaking at a press conference in Umuahia on Thursday, the group’s leader, Hon. Dannie Ubani, flanked by other members, expressed concern over recent remarks attributed to Benjamin Kalu regarding the state’s finances. Ubani described such utterances as “temperamental and unstatesmanlike,” alleging they were intended to portray the Abia government as reckless in managing public funds.

He warned that attempts to incite conflict between the Governor and the President for personal political gain were unpatriotic and would be firmly resisted by well-meaning Abians. Ubani also condemned what he called “cowardly efforts” to spread false financial figures, warning that such actions could create unnecessary tension in the state.

The group appealed to political actors in the state to exercise restraint and prioritize peace and stability over personal ambitions. According to Ubani, Governor Otti’s administration has demonstrated transparency and progress, noting that claims of excessive state spending were false and unsupported by official FAAC data.

Commending Governor Otti’s leadership, Ubani highlighted his achievements in restoring public trust, clearing salary and pension arrears, improving infrastructure, and reducing the state’s debt burden from ₦138 billion in May 2023 to ₦72 billion. He also praised the administration’s ongoing road reconstruction projects, including federal routes like Port Harcourt Road, Ohanku Road, Ohafia-Uzoakoli-Arochukwu Road, and the historic Omenuko Bridge, describing them as evidence of Otti’s commitment to transforming Abia State.