Former Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Eze Chikamnayo, has leveled serious allegations against Governor Alex Otti, accusing him of centralizing local government funds, stifling grassroots development, and failing to demonstrate transparency in the management of state resources.
Speaking on Saturday, Chikamnayo claimed the governor has “mopped up” allocations meant for local councils, rendering them unable to function effectively.
“Alex Otti has made sure that grassroots development is completely grounded,” he said. “He has made it impossible for the local governments to operate and to breathe.”
Chikamnayo clarified that recent calls for accountability by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, were not rooted in personal or political rivalry but in the public interest.
“There is no personal issue between Honourable Benjamin Kalu and Governor Alex Otti,” he stressed. “All we are saying is: Governor Otti, practice what you preach.”
He praised President Bola Tinubu for releasing substantial funds to states, adding that governors now face heightened expectations for visible results.
“President Tinubu has freed resources,” Chikamnayo noted. “Because of these resources, a lot more is expected of the governors.”
The former commissioner argued that governance should be measured by outcomes, not slogans, and questioned the lack of tangible projects despite billions reportedly spent.
“Over N80 billion has been spent on public schools, yet not one smart school is visible,” he alleged. “N22 billion on health centers—built only on paper. Recreation centers exist in reports, not on ground.”
Chikamnayo accused the governor of reacting defensively to legitimate scrutiny, saying Otti “doesn’t want to be accountable to the people of Abia State.”
In a separate matter, Chikamnayo dismissed forgery allegations against Minister of State for Labour, Nkiruka Onyejocha, calling them politically motivated and baseless.
He described the accuser, Honourable Amobi Ogah, as “a drowning man trying to drag somebody along,” noting that Ogah’s court case involves perjury, not election disputes.
“The court has only granted leave to apply for an order of mandamus—not issued one,” Chikamnayo clarified. “There is no forgery charge against Onyejocha or INEC.”
He commended Onyejocha for remaining focused on her duties, particularly in driving the Labour Intensive Business Support (LIBS) programme.
Concluding his remarks, Chikamnayo renewed his appeal for decentralized governance and fiscal transparency.
“Let the local governments operate. Let them breathe,” he urged. “Let us have development commensurate with the huge funds coming into Abia State.”
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