2027: Much Ado About Kalu’s Candid Advice to Otti

By Uchechi Onyecheri For some days now, allies of the Governor of Abia state, Dr Alex Otti are calling for the head of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu not for any sin but just offering a candid advice to a friend and erstwhile political acquaintance. They cashed […]

By Uchechi Onyecheri

For some days now, allies of the Governor of Abia state, Dr Alex Otti are calling for the head of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu not for any sin but just offering a candid advice to a friend and erstwhile political acquaintance.

They cashed in on a video of an interview Kalu reportedly never granted to Spin FM, a local station in Abia which it was alleged that he said APC will take over the state’s government currently occupied by Labour Party’s Otti.

Without pausing to ponder over the true content and crying more than the bereaved they went to town occupying the online and offline media calling the Deputy Speaker names and insinuating that he was nursing a governorship election.

If the video was anything to go by and the self appointed ‘Chief Defender’ of Otti listens beyond his premeditated assumptions he would have also seen it as a candid advice couched in the words of wisdom to the governor to return home to the All Progressive Congress, APC where he jumped out simply because he could not obtain the governorship ticket as his political future is intrinsically tied to his former party.

As a reminder, the present governor of Abia who was guber candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2015 and 2019 elections ran back to APC in 2020. However, when he could not clinch the party’s governorship ticket ahead of the 2023 general election, Otti withdrew from the APC governorship primaries and declared for LP where fortune smiled on him.

It’s known that regardless of party affiliation, the Deputy Speaker, Kalu and Otti have a bond which has sustained their brotherhood over the years.

The Deputy Speaker has in various ways partnered with the Governor to bring developmental strides to the people of Abia State.

It is also known that Kalu has never shied away on his efforts in wooing Chief Alex Otti back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Back in May, the Deputy Speaker, speaking when he visited the governor at his home country, Umuehim, Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government of Abia State recalled that Otti was once a member of the APC, saying there was still a room for him in the party.

Kalu, who praised the governor for the return of investors and businesses to Aba and other cities of Abia State, assured the governor of his continued support in the development of the state.

He said “You are not in my party again though I am regretting it. But I want you to know that the people who are also my people are also from different political parties. They are people who love what we are doing. The majority of us here are members of your former party. And we miss you. You only miss a good man, not a bad person. So, Labour Party members should be careful. If you don’t make this man happy, he is going back to his parents’ party.”

So it’s surprising that this recent call by the DS on Otti to join the ruling party is garnering mixed feelings. Well, sentiments aside Kalu by the virtue of his office and position is a national leader in the country and in APC. So it’s expected that he would at any time seek recruitment of new members into his party.

Uchechi Onyecheri writes from Abia