Abians Have Moved On, Old Political Order Won’t Return — Pro-Otti Camp Fires Back at Critics

Supporters of the Abia State government have dismissed criticisms from former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, insisting that residents of the state have rejected the old political order and will not embrace it again, even after Governor Alex Otti’s tenure.

Reacting to a recent opinion credited to Okiyi, the pro-government voices described his claims as misleading and detached from Abia’s long-standing realities. They argued that his commentary gives the false impression that the state’s challenges only emerged recently, rather than reflecting years of decay under previous administrations in which he played a key role.

They pointed to the condition of public schools inherited by the current administration, noting that deterioration was widespread across more than 1,000 schools statewide. According to them, beyond neglect, several public assets were allegedly converted for private use by political elites during past administrations.

The group highlighted that the Otti-led government is currently rebuilding 221 public schools across Abia, with 20 designated as smart schools—one in each local government area and additional ones across the senatorial zones. They clarified that the administration never claimed it would rehabilitate all schools at once, explaining that the initiative is structured in phases, similar to the ongoing upgrade of primary healthcare centres under the state’s reform programme.

They also recalled a recent television appearance in which Okiyi reportedly dismissed ongoing reconstruction at the Abia Government House, a claim they say was later contradicted by video evidence showing completed and ongoing works. They accused the former commissioner of repeatedly downplaying visible projects across the state despite mounting proof.

Supporters of the government maintained that Abians are witnessing tangible development funded by public resources, unlike what they described as an era of abandoned projects and inflated claims. They listed recent achievements including the recruitment of over 5,000 teachers, with plans to hire thousands more, major construction works at Abia State University and its Teaching Hospital, and the upgrade of general hospitals into specialist and referral centres.

They further noted the revitalisation of Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu, which they said had been neglected by the previous administration, as well as broader improvements in environmental sanitation that have ended Abia’s long-standing reputation for poor cleanliness.

The group concluded that the visible changes across education, healthcare, infrastructure and sanitation reflect a clear break from the past, insisting that Abians have embraced a new direction and are unlikely to return to the old political order.