Your Agenda Is Dead On Arrival’ — Abia Govt Slams Alleged Tinubu–Otti Rift Plot

In a statement issued on Sunday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, the government claimed that some former governors and past office holders were scheming to undermine Otti’s leadership.

The allegation follows reports that three former governors, now members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), are plotting to unseat Otti and weaken the Labour Party’s hold on Abia State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Anokwuru cautioned that the opposition’s increasing use of President Tinubu’s name to criticise the Otti administration amounted to deliberate distortion and what he described as “manufactured hostility.”

“When former governors and past political office holders, whose records remain fresh in the minds of Abians, gather to challenge the leadership of Dr Alex Otti, the public has every right to question not only their arguments but also their credibility,” he said.

He faulted the opposition for centring its attacks on the federal government’s “Renewed Hope” agenda rather than presenting concrete facts or alternative policy proposals.

“Your entire criticism of Dr Alex Otti’s administration appears to hinge on ‘Renewed Hope.’ One would expect an opposition made up of former governors to rely on their own track records, not constant name-dropping of President Bola Tinubu,” Anokwuru stated.

He urged opposition politicians to abandon what he called politics driven by grudges and personal resentment, stressing that attempts to drive a wedge between Otti and Tinubu would not succeed.

“Stop trying to force a rift between Alex Otti and President Bola Tinubu. It will not work because their relationship transcends politics,” he said.

Anokwuru acknowledged the importance of opposition in a democratic system but warned that it loses credibility when motivated by personal ambition instead of constructive, policy-focused engagement.

“More troubling is the opposition’s dependence on the perceived influence of President Bola Tinubu as its main strength. Proximity to the federal centre cannot replace local legitimacy, nor can it erase the lived experiences of the people under past administrations,” he added.

He also dismissed claims that the opposition enjoyed presidential backing, insisting that Tinubu has consistently shown goodwill toward the Abia governor.

“The irony is that President Bola Tinubu has not endorsed the propaganda being peddled by these relevance seekers. He recognises Dr Alex Otti as one of Nigeria’s best-performing governors and has continued to show support for his administration,” Anokwuru said.

Concluding, he warned that repeatedly invoking the President’s name would not shield the opposition from public scrutiny. “Tinubu is not backing you; you are merely using Tinubu to back yourselves. This strategy does not strengthen democracy; it erodes public trust,” he said.