The Abia State government has responded to remarks made by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who compared Governor Alex Otti’s performance with that of his predecessors, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu. The government said Kalu’s comparison is inaccurate and misleading.
According to the state, the total allocation to Abia and its 17 local government areas is N125 billion, not the N304 billion claimed by Kalu. Kalu had alleged that the monthly Federal Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) allocations to Abia had risen dramatically under Governor Otti, from N4 billion to between N38 billion and N40 billion per month. However, Governor Otti’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, disputed this, stating that the actual FAAC allocation for 2025 is N125 billion. Ekeoma also explained that higher project‑execution costs under Otti are due to exchange‑rate differences, as many materials are purchased in foreign currency.
The government further noted that the number of civil servants—both core and non‑core—has increased from about 31,000 under the previous administration to roughly 67,000 under Governor Otti, following the abolition of the core/non‑core distinction. This figure does not include the 5,349 newly recruited teachers.
Finally, the Abia State government accused Kalu of launching a media attack on Governor Otti because of his undeclared ambition to run for governor. The response underscores the need for accurate information and proper context when evaluating public officials’ performance. As the debate over Governor Otti’s record continues, the outcome will likely influence the state’s governance and development.
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