Columns/Opinions/Letters

Celebrating Abia's rise from grass to grace By Eagle Okoro During the campaign for the 2023 Governorship Election in the state, one major characteristic about the candidate of Labour Party, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, that his apostles proudly bragged about is his integrity and capacity to deliver on the message of his campaign mantra that "a New Abia is possible". Indeed, no sooner was he inaugurated Abia's fourth executive Governor than he commenced work in such a pragmatic and transformative manner that has today reshaped the landscape of the state. And, although the opposition considered his first major public assignment…

OPOBO–AZUMINI ROAD: CRITICISM IS LEGITIMATE, BUT THE FACTS MUST NOT BE DISTORTED A circulating video shows a severely flooded section of the Opobo–Azumini Road around Ovom Mechanic Village in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State. The condition shown is troubling, and the hardship faced by motorists, traders, mechanics, residents and other road users must not be dismissed. However, the attempt to use one flooded section of a road to declare that the Abia State Government has “failed on all fronts” is exaggerated, politically convenient and unsupported by the full facts. The truth must be stated clearly. THE ROAD IS…

Sixty Years On, Otti Rekindles Ironsi's Vision of National Unity As the Governor's Tribute to Late General Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi Resonates with Nigeria's Enduring Quest for Peace, Unity and Nation Building By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD History occasionally presents moments that transcend remembrance and become defining reflections on a nation's future. The 60th Memorial Anniversary of Nigeria's first Military Head of State, Major General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, held in Umuahia, Abia State, on Wednesday, 29th July, 2026, was one such moment. The memorial brought together political, military, traditional and religious leaders, alongside statesmen, diplomats and distinguished Nigerians from across…

GOVERNOR OTTI AND THE POLITICS OF MANUFACTURED CORRUPTION Putting the Abia School Expenditure Controversy in Proper Perspective By Pastor AProf. Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke Public accountability is indispensable in a democracy. Every government must explain how public resources are budgeted, released and applied. However, accountability must not be reduced to sensational allegations, distorted figures or conclusions that are unsupported by documentary evidence. The allegation that Governor Alex Otti withdrew ₦54 billion to construct 51 Smart Schools—three in each of Abia State’s 17 local government areas—is not established by the evidence presented. The fundamental error in the accusation is the deliberate conflation…

2027: ‘I Won’t Let You Tie Me Down; We’ll Wrestle To Finish’ – Tinubu Warns Opposition President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his determination to seek re-election in 2027, saying anyone hoping to take the presidency from him must be prepared to “wrestle” him until the end. Tinubu spoke on Tuesday while receiving members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), led by its president, Most Rev. Matthew Ndagoso, at the State House, Abuja. The president dismissed concerns over the neutrality of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting the electoral body had not intimidated any political party. “I asked…

EXPOSING THE DECEPTION: OTTI IS FIXING THE ROADS The Truth About Omuma Road, Uratta Road and Ekeapara Road A recent social media post attempted to present the present condition of Omuma Road, Uratta Road and Ekeapara Road as evidence of failure under Governor Alex Otti’s administration. The post relied heavily on selected photographs of deteriorated sections of the roads while ignoring the most important fact: these roads were inherited in terrible condition, and reconstruction work is already ongoing. It is misleading to photograph an inherited problem while rehabilitation is in progress and then present the situation as though the current…