OPINION: A Friendly Word To Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze

By Iroabuchi James Chikezie

“When political loyalty becomes stronger than the truth, even the facts standing before us can become invisible.”

Professor Nnamdi Nwaeze is an academic whose intellectual standing I respect. But respect does not mean silence, and admiration does not mean that one should surrender the right to ask difficult questions.

As we approach the 2027 general elections, I believe Professor Nwaeze owes Abians and indeed himself, the duty to distinguish between objective intellectual criticism and partisan political opposition.

Professor, you have every right to criticise Governor Alex Otti. You have every right to support another political party or candidate. You have every right to campaign for the political future you believe in.

But Abians also have the right to demand fairness, consistency and intellectual honesty.

You supported the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. That was your democratic right. But when you look back at that period and compare it with what Abia has experienced since May 29, 2023, can you honestly tell Abians that nothing has changed?

If the answer is no, then why does your public commentary appear so heavily concentrated on what the Otti administration has not done, while the things it has actually done receive little or no acknowledgement?

PROFESSOR, LET US TALK ABOUT THE RECORD

Since Governor Alex Otti assumed office, his administration has reported 414 completed road projects covering approximately 864 kilometres, with another 82 road projects under construction. These projects span different parts of the state.

The administration has also commissioned major road projects, including Portharcourt Road in Aba, sections of the Umuahia–Abiriba–Ohafia road and the Nunya–Eluama road, while continuing road construction across the state. The Abia State Government’s own project records document several of these interventions.

Professor Nwaeze, are these roads imaginary?

Can Abians not see them?

Can the communities benefiting from them not testify?

You may disagree with the quality, cost, procurement process or priorities and those are legitimate questions, but pretending that the projects do not exist is not serious public discourse.

WHAT ABOUT EDUCATION?

Perhaps this should matter even more to an academic.

The Otti administration reports that it has consistently allocated not less than 20 percent of the annual budget to education, recruited 5,394 teachers in 2025, and commenced the recruitment of another 4,000 teachers following increased enrolment under the free and compulsory basic education policy.

In July 2026, Nigeria’s Minister of Education commissioned the Ogbo Central Smart School in Ubakala, Umuahia South, and publicly commended the Otti administration’s investment in human-capital development.

And then there is Abia State University, Uturu.

This should be of particular interest to Professor Nwaeze as a member of the university community.

In March 2026, Governor Otti commissioned an upgraded 5MVA power station, retrofitted three hostels and commenced the construction of two 5,000-capacity hostels, the Faculties of Law and Agriculture and internal roads. A dedicated electricity line for the university was also announced.

More importantly, the Vice-Chancellor of ABSU publicly acknowledged the administration’s intervention in infrastructure and staff welfare, noting that staff were receiving their monthly salaries before the end of each month and listing several ongoing capital projects.

Professor Nwaeze, should an academic not be among the first people to acknowledge improvements in an institution that belongs to the people of Abia?

Or must every positive development be politically filtered before it deserves recognition?

LET US TALK ABOUT HEALTHCARE

The Otti administration reports that nearly 1,000 healthcare professionals have been recruited and more than 277 primary healthcare centres have been retrofitted and functionalised. The administration has also pursued the reconstruction and upgrading of major health facilities across the state.

These are legitimate areas for scrutiny, but they are also legitimate areas for acknowledgement.

Professor, you may criticise the government. In fact, please do.

But criticism becomes more credible when the critic can say:

“Here is what the government has done well; here is where it needs to improve.”

That is what Abians deserve from an intellectual.

POWER, WATER AND TRANSPORTATION

The administration has also pursued interventions in power and public utilities, including the Geometric Power partnership and efforts to extend reliable electricity supply beyond Aba to Umuahia and other parts of the state.

The government has also flagged off the rehabilitation of the ₦1.3 billion Ubakala and Ariaria Water Schemes.

And in Umuahia, the newly built Prof. Nnenna Otti Central Bus Terminal, which can accommodate more than 340 buses, has been commissioned as part of the administration’s transportation reforms.

These are tangible interventions.

They can be inspected.

They can be debated.

They can be criticised.

But they cannot reasonably be wished away.

PROFESSOR, LET US APPLY ONE STANDARD

This is where I find your position difficult to understand.

When you supported the previous administration, did you apply this same level of scrutiny to its record?

If yes, then let us see the same standard applied today.

If you demanded accountability from Governor Ikpeazu, demand it from Governor Otti.

If you praised achievements under Ikpeazu, praise achievements under Otti.

If you criticised failures under Ikpeazu, criticise failures under Otti.

But do not change the measuring scale simply because the political occupant of Government House has changed.

Abia belongs to all of us—not to Labour Party, APC, PDP or any individual politician.

THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND ABIA IS WATCHING

As the 2027 political season gathers momentum, Abians will hear many narratives.

Some will campaign for continuity.

Others will campaign for change.

Some will praise the government.

Others will condemn it.

That is democracy.

But intellectuals and academics occupy a special place in society. Their voices carry weight. Therefore, when an academic speaks repeatedly on political matters, the public is entitled to ask:

Is this an independent assessment of governance, or is it partisan political advocacy?

There is nothing wrong with political advocacy.

If Professor Nwaeze wants to become an active partisan political voice, he should do so openly and proudly.

Join the political platform of your choice.

Campaign.

Mobilise.

Persuade.

Contest.

That is democracy.

But if you choose to speak as an academic and public intellectual, then please give Abians the benefit of your scholarship: facts, evidence, context, balance and consistency.

Do not become so politically invested in yesterday that you become incapable of recognising what is happening today.

WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR PRAISE, WE ARE ASKING FOR FAIRNESS

Nobody is asking Professor Nwaeze to praise Governor Otti.

Nobody is asking him to become a member of the Labour Party.

Nobody is asking him to support the Governor’s 2027 political ambitions.

What we are asking for is much simpler:

Be fair.

If the government fails, say so.

If it succeeds, say so.

If a project is defective, expose it.

If a policy is wrong, challenge it.

If public money is mismanaged, demand accountability.

But when a government delivers roads, schools, hospitals, water projects, university infrastructure, power interventions and public transport infrastructure, acknowledge those facts before proceeding with the criticism.

That is not propaganda.

That is intellectual honesty.

AND FINALLY, PROFESSOR…

I say this not as an enemy but as a fellow Abian who wants the best for our state.

Your voice is important.

Your academic background is valuable.

Your criticisms can contribute positively to Abia’s development.

But please do not allow the approaching 2027 election to turn every discussion about governance into an opportunity for partisan combat.

Abia needs critics who tell the truth, not critics who only tell one side of the story.

The Otti administration should be held accountable.

So should every administration before it.

But the people of Abia should also be allowed to see, discuss and acknowledge the changes taking place across the state without being told that recognising development amounts to political worship.

And Professor Nwaeze, as a member of the Abia State University academic community, you are uniquely positioned to observe some of these changes firsthand. That makes your voice even more important and makes balance even more necessary.

Professor Nwaeze, disagree with Governor Otti if you must.

Challenge him if you must.

Oppose him politically if you must.

But when the facts are on the ground, please do not ask Abians to close their eyes to them.

History will judge every government.

It will also judge those who defended them, criticised them, and those who chose silence when facts demanded acknowledgement.

Let us put Abia above politics.

Let us put facts above sentiments.

Let us put the interest of the people above partisan loyalty.

Let us build Abia together.

Enyia, “Were ire gi gụọ eze gị!”

Iroabuchi JC (Udo 1)
Concerned Abian
08/10/2026