SMART BUT DUMB: WHEN POLITICAL DESPERATION CELEBRATES A FLOODED VEHICLE
By celebrating the sight of a Labour Party campaign vehicle trapped in floodwater, some political actors have once again exposed the emptiness of their opposition and the danger of deliberately misinforming the public.
Their argument is as laughable as it is dishonest: because a branded vehicle was caught in floodwater, Governor Alex Otti should be blamed and “sent back to Isialangwa.” What kind of reasoning is that? 🤣😂
A vehicle entering a flooded section of a road does not automatically prove that the present administration created the drainage problem. Aba’s flooding challenge did not begin with Governor Otti. It is the consequence of decades of neglected drainage channels, indiscriminate waste disposal, uncontrolled construction and failed urban planning.
Those who ignored the decay for years have suddenly become emergency environmental experts because an election is approaching.
Instead of asking whether anybody was injured or whether the passengers were rescued, they openly announced that they were “excited.” That statement alone reveals the bitterness behind the propaganda. Responsible opposition should scrutinise government, present evidence and offer alternatives—not celebrate situations capable of taking human lives.
The irony is even more embarrassing: while they were busy photographing and mocking a flooded Labour Party vehicle, they were also giving Governor Otti and the Labour Party free publicity. The campaign branding remained visible, the images travelled farther, and thousands of people were reminded of the political movement they intended to ridicule.
Thank you, Governor Alex Otti, for flooding their campaign with visibility! 🤣😂
More importantly, one flooded location must not be dishonestly presented as the total condition of Aba or Abia State. Public assessment should consider the roads reconstructed, drainage systems being rehabilitated, abandoned projects revived and the wider urban renewal programme. Genuine criticism must acknowledge both the progress recorded and the areas still requiring urgent intervention.
Nobody should pretend that every drainage and flooding problem accumulated over decades can disappear overnight. Government must nevertheless act quickly on Faulks Road and other vulnerable locations, identify blocked channels, correct structural failures and protect residents and businesses.
But political opportunists must stop weaponising every rainfall and misleading the public with photographs stripped of history, context and honest analysis.
When opposition becomes excited over danger, it ceases to be constructive. When political actors manipulate public frustration without presenting solutions, they become part of the problem.
Laugh if you must, but the joke is on those whose entire campaign strategy is built around a vehicle inside floodwater.
While they drown in hatred and misinformation, Governor Otti must remain focused on rebuilding Abia.
Thank you, Otti! Their propaganda has advertised your campaign for free. 🤣😂
