Governor Alex Otti Must Guard Against Political Entanglements That Betray the Mandate of the People

ONN Abuja 10.06.2025

Governor Alex Otti must tread with caution in his political alliances, particularly with elements from the All Progressives Congress (APC) whose track record in governance left much to be desired. These are individuals who, when entrusted with power, squandered the opportunity to make meaningful change. Today, having lost credibility with the people, they seek to reinvent themselves by aligning with the very leaders who embody hope and reform, leaders like Dr. Alex Otti.

History is replete with cautionary tales of visionary leaders derailed by association with compromised individuals. The APC figures seeking proximity to Governor Otti represent a class of political actors whose actions in government contributed to the very socio-economic collapse Nigerians are struggling to recover from. To associate too closely with them is to risk moral contamination and ideological confusion.

Dr. Otti must remain conscious of the ideals and expectations that brought him into office. His political journey was not birthed in the corridors of opportunism but in the hearts of a people desperate for change. These people, many of them part of the Obidient Movement, saw in him a partner in the struggle for a new Nigeria. To now be seen as cozying up to those who symbolized the old, failed order, raises questions about the consistency of his vision and convictions.

It is equally troubling when Governor Otti’s public positions appear to diverge sharply from those of Mr. Peter Obi, a man whose principled opposition to reckless economic policies has earned him national and international respect. Obi has been forthright in condemning the Tinubu administration’s mismanagement of the subsidy removal and its wider economic implications. Yet, Governor Otti has chosen to remain silent, or worse, to applaud these same policies, even as they deepen the hardship of the Nigerian people.

One must ask: is this support for the current administration driven by principle, or by the increased federal allocations states are now receiving? If it is the latter, then it is a dangerous trade-off. No amount of revenue can justify complicity in policies that impoverish citizens. The governor should reflect deeply: Are the people of Abia and Nigeria better off today than they were in 2023? The honest answer will point him back to the people and the values they entrusted him to defend.

In these critical times, Dr. Otti must recommit to the progressive path, not wander from it. He must not act like a political prodigal son, abandoning the moral compass that Mr. Peter Obi represents in favor of short-term political convenience. The Obidient Movement is not just a political force, it is a moral one. Its support is rooted in values, not transactions. And it expects the same from those it backs.

Governor Otti has the chance to chart a course that future generations will be proud of, but only if he resists the allure of familiar but toxic alliances. The people are watching, and history will judge.