Ben Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has expressed concerns over Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s performance, stating that it falls short when measured against the substantial financial resources flowing into the state, despite acknowledging some advancements.
Speaking to a gathering of All Progressives Congress (APC) members and supporters in Umuahia, the state capital, Kalu urged the governor to take more decisive action.
He directly challenged Governor Otti of the Labour Party (LP) to elevate his efforts rather than drawing comparisons with previous administrations, which, according to Kalu, operated with significantly smaller budgets.
Representing the Bende federal constituency, Kalu highlighted that former governors managed monthly allocations ranging from N4 billion to N5 billion, whereas the current administration receives between N38 billion and N40 billion.
He emphasized, “It is unreasonable to expect us to equate your achievements with those of your predecessors when you have access to nearly eight times the funds they had.”
“Governors like T. A. Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu worked with N4 billion to N5 billion monthly. Now, with N38 billion to N40 billion at your disposal, the standards should be much higher,” he added.
Kalu further suggested that the solution lies in the electorate preparing to replace the current administration by voting the APC into power, aligning Abia State with the ruling party at the federal level.
“We are determined to win Abia in 2027 and collaborate closely with the President to drive progress in our state,” stated the two-term legislator from the Green Chamber.
He also encouraged residents to ensure they obtain their voter identification cards before the ongoing continuous voter registration period concludes, enabling them to participate fully in upcoming elections.
Despite facing verbal criticisms for his outspoken position, Kalu affirmed his commitment to representing the interests of the people.
“We can maintain personal friendships and family ties, but as long as we belong to different political parties, my role is to hold the administration accountable,” he remarked.
“Though the leader of this government may be a friend, I serve as the opposition leader, and it is my duty to advocate for the masses,” he added.
Finally, Kalu clarified that the APC’s anticipated takeover of Abia State would be achieved through democratic voting rather than any form of federal intervention, countering rumors to the contrary.
