Another View on The Southerner Newspaper
Saturday, November 8, 2025

When I heard that Mascot Uzor Kalu had declared his interest to contest for the governorship race in Abia State in 2027, I told those around me that, it was his constitutional right to do so. I expect others interested in the number one political seat of the state to declare their interests.

The Abia governorship race for me, remains open for any eligible citizen of Abia. I dislike the usual “no vacancy” declaration by supporters of incumbents.

If anyone is interested, let them declare and campaign for votes. That is democracy. In fact, let people who think they have better ideas on how to transform Abia challenge the incumbent governor, Alex Otti, in the next elections. It was the democratic choice of Abians that brought in Alex Otti. So, we must encourage and support it.

No interested person for the number one position in the state should be bullied or intimidated out of the race. We are all Abians!

However, I find the declaration of Mascot Uzor Kalu, the younger brother to Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Abia (1999-2007), a little sarcastic, looking at the political credentials of the family. We have not forgotten the political trajectory of the family during their days at Government House, Umuahia, for eight solid years.

Since 1999, Mascot Kalu’s name in Abia politics featured prominently. He had been fully a part of the previous system that collapsed Abia. The big question is, what magic wand does he possess that can beat the current performing governor, Alex Otti?

Abians have not lost memory of how those who served as Commissioners and aides to Orji Kalu were allegedly made to pay homage before Madam Eunice Kalu, the matriarch of the Kalus.

They were allegedly made to perform several demeaning activities including peeling of melon (egusi) for the mother of Gov. Kalu. This they did to reportedly get or retain political positions in the Abia State Government during the eight years of Orji Kalu.

The mother of Orji and Mascot played the role of the First Lady of Abia state during the governorship of her son, Orji Kalu. She reportedly chased away the wife of Orji Kalu from anywhere around government into oblivion and the lady’s name was never recognized or heard of.

We have not lost memory of how allegations poured in against Orji Kalu for tamperrng with Abia’s resources while he served as governor. It was such allegations that led to his arraignment until the Supreme Court gave him some reprieve.

No doubt, Abia was ruined under Orji Kalu as governor, that’s the elder brother to Mascot. Several billions were allegedly diverted to personal businesses owned by Orji Kalu. The government under Theodore Orji, which Mascot helped to install and the successor (Okezie Ikpeazu) did not fare any better. There were egregious allegations of stealing and pure mismanagement hauled against the sixteen years of these last two governors.

Mascot was a strong member of the Abia State Government and Abia State chapter of the PDP for the 24 years the resources of the state were allegedly pillaged.

He was a member of the Abia State House of Assembly and Chief of Staff at some point. He should tell the people of Abia his legislative and executive achievements. During their reign, the executive arm and legislative branch were completely in cahoots and in bed sharing the commonwealth of Abians with ignominy.

It is obvious or crystal clear that, the current government led by Alex Otti is thousands of miles apart from the 24 years ruin of Orji Kalu, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu. The years of these three were a waste, fraudulent, lacking in substance and quality.

I have nothing wrong in genuine criticisms of the present government. I am also one of Gov Otti’s critics because I strongly believe that, genuine criticism assists the government to stay focused and continue with its good works and plan to do more.

Occasionally, I have chipped in my suggestions to the governor on how to remain on track. And, he has always with humility acknowledged my interventions.

Mascot in his declaration for his governorship interest in 2027 talked about irregularities in the 2023 governorship election in Abia but considered that our people want change. I am glad he said our people demanded change for the failure of a government he had been part of for 24 years. What actually is Mascot Kalu coming to do better?

The government during their time removed itself totally from governance. They rather impoverished the masses and completely abandoned development. They represented what late Afrobeat King, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called, “paddy-paddy government.”

There was no construction of infrastructure anywhere and, the little that they met on ground they left to decay. The condition of Abia then made people to cry. The Anambra born oil merchant, Prince Arthur Eze, during a visit to Umuahia wondered and asked; ‘are there no leaders and elders in Abia?’ It was that bad.

Mascot talked about truthfulness in government. I agree with him. But their government under the PDP lied to the people untill they left power in 2023. The resources of the state were diverted to personal accounts. Ordinary civil servants’ salaries were not paid until Gov. Otti came to power in 2023. What then is Mascot’s political pride?

Mascot Kalu agreed that some progress has been made but according to him, it doesn’t match the campaign promises of Otti to the people. That may be correct but Otti is doing wonderfully well compared to the destruction, the decay and collapse he met the state in. May I remind Mascot that, Abia was not governed during their days between 1999 – 2023 until Otti took over.

During the years of PDP in Abia governance took flight. The meaning of government couldn’t be defined as every department scored zero. There was no sign of governance in the state, no particular sector was visited until this God sent, Chioma nde Abia came to our rescue.

Let us assume that, the past governments built roads, took care of schools and health institutions. Assuming they paid salaries and pensions, invested in building the economy, certainly, Gov. Otti won’t be attending to every area of the state but,t unfortunately, Otti had to begin his work from the scratch by visiting every sector in the state.

So, just two years of Otti has proven that, indeed Orji Kalu, T. A Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu’s 24 years in power were a monumental disaster in Abia. And that is the pain of the opposition – Otti is exposing them as a bunch of irresponsible and marauding leaders.

Otti has only been in government for just 29 months against their 24 years in power. Yet, look at the quantum of development he has recorded in the new Abia. Ordinarily, if Mascot and his gang of disgraced leaders did well while in government Otti will only be building on their foundational records but alas, the God sent is beginning from the foundational level.

Mascot promised to lead a people-focused government rooted in equity, transparency and economic development if he becomes the governor. What kind of governments in Abia did Mascot work for in the past? So, Mascot for 24 years worked for Abia government that was never people-focused? In Otti’s government there is equity because development in and around Abia is being deepened. The transparency may not be top-notch as much as we demand but we are seeing the results of our money.

Otti has scored high grades in economic development of the state. Any government which recognizes and pays attention to Aba’s development has economic sense. Aba is the business hub of the South East. Aba is the number one IGR of the state and, since coming to power he has improved, changed and still building Enyimba City to world class standard. Ariaria International market is today truly an international market yet, he is not done.

Gov Otti is investing massively in the electricity sector. He recognized the importance of power in the state because of the commerce and industrial advantage in Abia, and have partnered with the Enugu Electricity Development Company and others.

Umuahia the state capital has changed from a mere village circle under PDP to an organized, improved and advanced modern city under Otti’s LP. In Umuahia, roads and streets are rehabilitated and dualized with street and traffic lights installed.

He is not forgetting the health sector. Gov. Otti is ensuring that the state owned hospitals are improved upto standard. Salaries of doctors, nurses and other staff are adequately catered for.

What many never thought possible in Abia is happening here. An ultra modern bus terminal is under construction in Umuahia. A new market is under construction in Umuahia to relocate the traders around Isi-Gate.

There is no Local Government in the state that has not felt the Otti revolution. Almost every road and street in Abia especially in Umuahia and Aba have been rehabilitated to the embarrassment of the past governments.

In the past, what the governors of Abia did was to jump out of the country every month after receiving the state monthly allocation from the federal government. It is rare under Gov. Otti. He hardly travels outside the country. Rather the foreign ‘oyibo’ investors are coming one after the other to Umuahia to see him.

The Port-Harcourt – Aba Expressway that was abandoned by motorists because of its deplorable condition is now looking like one of the many highway roads in Abuja. He has recently accepted and signed into building the Ikot-Ekpene – Umuahia, Umuahia – Onuimo roads and several others.

In Alex Otti’s government there is respect for human rights and tolerance for opposition figures. Despite all attacks on his person and government, he moves on ignoring their vituperation. But few that have gone above the line, he simply approaches the law and not resort to arbitrariness. His mind and time are fixed on working for Abia and scoring good goals. Today, all across the board, he is hailed, admired and urged to remain on track.

Mascot talked about opening state government financial records to public scrutiny. That is important and the way to go. Did they open their financial records during their era? Recently, four states were mentioned to be leading in states with best financial records. They are Anambra, Enugu, Abia and Kwara. Mascot, how about that?

Mascot talked about civil servants and pensioners to be treated with dignity and paid promptly. In Abia under the PDP which Mascot served for years, the civil servants and pensioners were denied salaries and entitlements for years. Today under the new Abia, civil servants and pensioners are receiving their monthly pays as and when due because Gov. Otti is committed to that.

It is the responsibility of the opposition, labour and civil rights movement to always draw the government’s attention to remain focused on delivering dividends of democracy and present good governance to the people at all times. Any good leader or administrator appreciates and welcomes genuine criticisms and Gov. Alex Otti is a listening leader who appreciates quality advice.

For months now, the opposition and media have been drumming for transparency and accountability in financial spendings of Abia government. It is time for Gov. Otti to act on this as fast as he could. Let contracts be bidded for by qualified professionals. Let spendings by government be made public every month by the finance ministry. It is Abia people’s money and they deserve to know how their money is spent.

Gov Otti appreciated genuine suggestions on how he can move Abia to greater heights. This pull him down syndrome by some unscrupulous political elements will only jettison progress in the state.

With two years + achievements of Gov Otti against the wasted 24 years of PDP, Abia does not deserve to go back to Egypt. Abia does not have any business, not anymore, reviving the era of egusi peeling which Mascot Kalu and his ilk represent.