Strategic Governance: Why Otti’s Federal Alignment is a Win for Abia

ONN 21.02.2025 Umuahia

One of the biggest lessons in Nigerian politics is that governance should be about pragmatism, not just party loyalty. A state’s ability to attract federal projects often depends on how well its leadership aligns with the government at the center. This is where Governor Alex Otti seems to be getting it right—learning from the past and ensuring Abia State is not left behind.

Ikpeazu’s Miscalculation: A Missed Opportunity

Under Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, Abia suffered from a lack of federal presence, and much of that was due to political choices. Ikpeazu aligned himself too closely with Nyesom Wike, his fellow PDP governor, while ignoring the APC-led federal government under President Buhari.

While Wike had the financial strength to play opposition politics, thanks to Rivers State’s strong IGR and federal allocations, Abia was not in the same position. By prioritizing loyalty to Wike over a working relationship with the federal government, Ikpeazu missed out on federal projects that could have benefited Abia.

Think back: how many federal ministers visited Abia during Ikpeazu’s tenure? How many federal projects were flagged off or commissioned in the state? The answer is close to none. Abia was sidelined because its leadership failed to engage strategically with the center.

The Smart Politics of Umahi & Ayade

Contrast this with governors like Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) and Ben Ayade (Cross River). While both were originally in the PDP, they understood the importance of maintaining a cordial relationship with the federal government.

• Umahi leveraged his ties with the center to transform Ebonyi State, delivering landmark projects like modern bridges, road networks, and the Ebonyi International Airport.

• Ayade also benefited from federal support in Cross River before eventually decamping to APC.

Their strategy was simple: party loyalty should not come at the expense of development.

Alex Otti: A Different Approach for Abia

Governor Alex Otti appears to have learned from these past mistakes. Despite being in Labour Party (LP), he has made deliberate efforts to maintain a positive relationship with the APC-led federal government.

• If APC has held 10 major events, Otti has attended at least 6, signaling his commitment to working with the center rather than against it.

• For the first time in years, federal ministers are actively engaging with Abia:

• Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has visited multiple times, ensuring that federal road projects are executed in the state.

• Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, visited Abia and flagged off the Abia Airport project—something that never happened under Ikpeazu.

The results are already visible. If you visited Abia last December, you would have seen serious work underway on Port Harcourt Road, a major project that had been abandoned for years. This is the power of strategic engagement with the federal government.

Not Everything is Politics

While debates over the cost of Otti’s projects are valid, the key takeaway is that at least projects are happening. Abia is finally seeing progress because the governor is prioritizing development over political sentiments.

Final Thoughts

Governor Otti’s decision to work closely with the federal government is a smart move that will bring more projects to Abia. The lesson here is clear:

Governance should be about results, not political rivalry.

If Otti continues on this path, Abia State will finally see the infrastructural development it has lacked for years.

~Onyeani Kalu

Political Analysts &

Promoter of good Governance