By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD

In recent weeks, a number of notorious and politically displaced actors in Abia State have returned to their familiar pattern of peddling propaganda and spreading falsehoods in a desperate attempt to distract the administration of His Excellency, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, and mislead the public.

Prominent among them this time are the Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, a former and failed governor of the state; the newly appointed Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, Mr. Chijioke Chukwu; and a few recruited social media urchins. These individuals, who are beneficiaries of the fraudulent and failed past administrations, have been loudly predicting how they will remove Governor Otti in 2027, with the APC sweeping all elective positions in Abia, including the governorship. Apparently driven by envy and jealousy, these agents of darkness have even refused to acknowledge the governor’s transformative leadership and performance, despite the widely recognised progress that continues to earn commendation from discerning Abians and Nigerians alike.

While this piece does not seek to engage these individuals and their cohorts in needless exchanges, it is important to state that their sponsored narratives are deliberate attempts to misinform the public and distract a government whose performance has restored dignity, direction, and confidence in Abia State.

Before 2023, when Governor Otti assumed office, Abia had become synonymous with governance failure. The state struggled to meet even its most basic obligations, including the regular payment of workers’ salaries. Development was neither meaningfully discussed nor pursued. Critical sectors were abandoned, resulting in a weakened education system, failing healthcare services, and collapsed infrastructure. Roads deteriorated drastically, and the once thriving commercial vibrancy of Aba declined, stifling entrepreneurship and economic activity.

Today, rather than acknowledge the rapid transformation underway, these displaced political actors have chosen denial and distortion. When they are not twisting facts, they dismiss visible and measurable progress that can be seen, verified, and experienced by the people.

How else can one explain attempts to deny the remarkable restoration of Aba? The extensive road reconstruction, improved power supply, and renewed economic vibrancy driven by Governor Otti’s administration that clearly announced a city reclaiming its pride as the Enyimba City? Equally evident is the ongoing urban renewal repositioning Umuahia into a modern and functional state capital. The transformation of the transportation sector, including the introduction of environmentally friendly electric buses, reflects a government that is forward looking and responsive. The Umuahia Central Bus Terminal, soon to be commissioned, stands as yet another symbol of this progress.

In the social sectors, the impact has been equally significant. Since 2024, the administration has consistently committed 25 percent of the state budget to education and healthcare, an unprecedented investment in human capital development. The first phase of 200 Primary Health Centres has been delivered, alongside the construction and upgrading of General Hospitals across several local government areas. Key tertiary institutions, including the Abia State University Teaching Hospital in Aba and the Umuahia Diagnostic and Specialist Hospital, have been repositioned for optimal performance, resulting in improved efficiency in healthcare delivery across the state.

The education sector has also witnessed far reaching reforms, positioning Abia among the leading states in the country. Learning infrastructure has improved significantly, qualified teachers have been recruited, and merit based systems have been strengthened to ensure sustainable standards and long term excellence.

At the core of this transformation is a strong social contract between the governor and the people of Abia State, the true owners of the mandate. In less than three years, the people have not only acknowledged but have consistently testified to the impact of purposeful governance. This explains the growing consensus that Abia will not return to the failures of the past as 2027 approaches.

Notably, the people themselves have taken ownership of the 2027 project. They are discerning enough to reject the propaganda and falsehoods being circulated daily to discredit a performing administration. Having experienced the gains of responsible leadership, they remain resolute in their determination not to return to the “Egypt” they left behind.

It is also important to note that Governor Otti has remained undistracted by these attempts to discredit his administration. Rather than lose focus, the New Abia administration continues to deepen reforms and deliver tangible, measurable results. As the governor recently affirmed, this administration is driven by a higher calling to serve the people with integrity and purpose, not to appease those seeking relevance through distortion and distraction.

With the sustained support of the people, it is increasingly clear that the forces of darkness and looters will once again be rejected at the polls in 2027.

Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa is the
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs.