Abia Patriots berate former govs for ganging up against Otti

By Steve Oko

A group of elder statesmen under the banner of Abia Patriots, has slammed former Governors of Abia State, for ganging up against the incumbent Governor Alex Otti.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Mazi Adindu Madumere, the group questioned what it described as the sudden emergence of the former governors as “champions of good governance,” noting that they maintained a deafening silence during periods of maladministration in past administrations.

The Abia Patriots said a recent communique issued by former political office holders who served in Abia between 1999 and 2023 had raised serious concerns, particularly regarding the motive behind their newfound unity.

“The big question begging for an answer is what is behind this sudden alliance of long-standing political adversaries. Is it genuine concern for governance or a carefully choreographed scheme to undermine Governor Otti?” the group asked.

They also queried the rush by the coalition to initiate legal action against the governor, arguing that any aggrieved individual could have approached the court independently without resorting to what they described as a show of force.

The group further faulted the former governors for their silence during the administration of ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, alleging that they failed to raise similar concerns when, according to them, governance was conducted largely from Aba and Umuobiakwa.

“Why were they silent when official functions were openly held in Aba and Umuobiakwa, including events attended by the then Vice President? Why were there no court threats at the time?” the statement queried.

The Abia Patriots also criticised what they described as the optics of the communique’s presentation, alleging that some participants displayed conduct unbecoming of elder statesmen, thereby undermining the credibility of their claims.

“We strongly rebuke the tactics of this group, which appear aimed at mobilising resources to create tension, slow down governance and distract the present administration from its development agenda,” the statement added.

The group urged Governor Otti to remain focused and ignore what it termed political distractions, assuring him of the continued support of the people of Abia State as long as he sustains his current development trajectory.

According to the Abia Patriots, “the masses are firmly behind Governor Otti and will continue to support him in his quest to rebuild Abia and deliver good governance to the people.”