OPINION: Understanding OUk’s Panic Attacks On Governor Otti

I had initially chosen to stay silent on the salvos fired by former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu against Governor Otti.

In my years of practical experience in managing government media, I have learnt that in some instances, SILENCE BECOMES A FORM OF STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION.

I chose to be silent for two main reasons. First, OUK had received a sufficient dose of responses from Abians on the issues he raised against Governor Alex Otti. On all social media platforms, he saw the handwriting clearly on the wall that this Governor effortlessly commands the collective support and respect of a far greater majority of the people of Abia State.
Secondly, everything about OUK and his politics is already in the public domain, and needs no further adumberation.

However, after listening to his last interview where he said a lot of ridiculous things about Governor Alex Otti’s performance, I felt constrained to weigh in on what has become a topical issue.

OUK is a very intentional politician. Yes, he is very intentional about distorting clear facts and he does it so very seamlessly that it looks like an art.
I can assure you that OUK doesn’t even believe himself when he says some of these things. He knows they are not true. What amazes me about the man is his ability to say these things with a straight and expressionless face.

So when he says that he doesn’t see anything Governor Otti has done in the state, he knows that it is not true because Otti’s signature projects are scattered all over the state. So, OUK hasn’t seen PH road? Ohanku Road? He hasn’t seen the massively reconstructed Abia Tower – Okpara Square Road that gives a fresh ambience as you enter our capital city of Umuahia?
He hasn’t seen nor heard of Omenuko Bridge? The Umuahia – Bende road of more than 60kms which OUK himself drove on this last Christmas?
On his way from the Owerri airport, he didn’t see the ongoing works from the Imo State border at Obowo all the way down to Abia Tower through Amachara area, or the one ongoing through the Owerrinta axis?

When he says that Otti is just repainting projects he did when he was Governor, he knows too that it is not true because there is no OUK project anywhere that requires repainting. I was already close to my graduation from the University when OUK became Governor and I know the roads he did in Aba then. None of those roads is standing today. Not one! So, what is there for Otti to repaint? Who wastes paint like that?

When he says that what he got as Governor in eight years is what Otti gets in four months, he knows such strange mathematics is only possible under the OUK Almighty Formula that is known only to him. . If you think that OUK doesn’t know that by 1999, 1 million Naira was worth more than 10,000 Dollars while its less than 700 Dollars today, then you don’t know him well.

During the campaigns for the by-election that followed the death of Hon Ossy Prestige in Aba some years ago, OUK came to Aba to campaign for his younger brother, Mascot who was a candidate in that election. I was shocked to my bones when he said openly that the reconstruction of Osusu road was a. Federal Government Project! He knew he wasn’t saying the truth when he said that.
So I know exactly what I am saying when I say that OUK doesn’t even believe himself.

OUK’s recent issues with Governor Otti reveals some political developments which only deep political analysts will discover.
First, it is a confirmation that Otti isn’t joining the APC.

OUK has seen it clearly that their expectations that Otti will come to the APC has crashed. They looked forward to it, especially the negotiations that would have followed such moves. Negotiations that would have put the Governor at their mercy! Recall that early last year, OUK was full of praises for Governor Otti. He honestly expected him to come to the APC. He is disappointed. That’s the truth.

Secondly and perhaps, most importantly, OUK has realized that his hold on the Senatorial Seat of Abia North is under serious threat, not by any form of political brigandage but by the works of Governor Otti in Abia North and his peculiar style of governance. The infrastructural interventions of the Otti administration in the State and in Abia North in particular have raised massive consciousness in that region that certain things are possible now, especially projects that can last the test of time, instead of the wash wash projects they see there.

People have seen that it is possible to have a Governor who says it clearly that he will quit the political scene after his tour of duty as Governor. For the first time, we have seen a sitting Governor who says he doesn’t want to go to the Senate after his time as Governor. He doesn’t also want to be President nor Vice President.

We have seen a Governor who is not interested in building a family political hegemony. Governor Otti has younger brothers who are qualified to hold offices. He has children who are old enough to be nominated for positions but you don’t see such things happening around him.

OUK’s politics is built around erecting a family political dynasty. This is evident from his days as Governor when his mother became SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED.

Today, OUK’s younger brother, a former Member of the House of Reps is Member of the National Assembly Service Commission representing the South East. His daughter’s name appeared on the initial list of Ambassadorial nominees and his other younger brother, Mascot, a serial election contestant and equal loser, wants to be Governor in 2027.
This is the kind of politics OUK plays and the people are simply tired of it!

Otti has concluded plans to begin to gradually offset gratuity arreas of retirees in the state. These arreas dates back to 2001 when OUK was Governor. Pensions payment challenge is gradually becoming history in Abia. OUK is shocked at these developments.

So when you see and hear OUK attacking Otti, he knows exactly what he is doing. He understands that maybe, it’s time up for him.
OUK is worried about 2027. Deeply worried.

Otti’s style has muddled things for him. Uncertainty stares him in the face and knowing OUK, staying outside the corridors of power isn’t something he is used to.

OUK’s attacks against Otti are easily understandable. Otti s the very antithesis of everything he represents and the end seems inevitable.

Ururu Aja is the Director General of the Abia State Strategic Communication Bureau.