The Abia State Government has strongly rebuffed comments made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who compared Governor Alex Otti’s performance with that of his predecessors, Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu.
Kalu, speaking on Sunday, alleged that monthly FAAC allocations to Abia State under Otti had risen to between ₦38 billion and ₦40 billion, far higher than the ₦4 billion reportedly received during the administrations of Orji and Ikpeazu.
Government Counters Kalu’s Figures
In a swift response, Governor Otti’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, dismissed the claim as “false and misleading.”
According to Ekeoma, official records show that Abia’s 2025 FAAC allocation (January to August), including allocations to the 17 local governments, stands at ₦125 billion — a figure far below Kalu’s projected ₦304 billion if his claims were accurate.
“Abia’s 2025 Year-to-Date FAAC allocation (8 months), including LGA share, is ₦125 billion. If we were to go by Kalu’s false claim of ₦38 billion monthly, it would have amounted to ₦304 billion. His figures are simply unfounded,” Ekeoma stated.
Rising Costs of Governance Explained
The government further argued that Kalu’s comments overlooked critical economic realities, including the impact of foreign exchange rates on project execution costs.
Ekeoma explained that under Otti, more funds are required to deliver projects because “materials are imported and purchased in foreign currency,” significantly raising implementation costs.
Workforce and Governance Reforms
Beyond the allocation figures, the government highlighted reforms in Abia’s civil service structure.
It disclosed that the number of civil servants has increased from 31,000 under Ikpeazu to about 67,000 under Otti after the governor abolished the “core” and “non-core” classification of workers.
Additionally, 5,349 new teachers have been recruited into the system, a move the government says reflects Otti’s commitment to improving education and service delivery in the state.
Hidden Political Agenda?
The Abia Government accused Kalu of launching an “unprovoked media attack” on Otti, linking his remarks to an undeclared 2027 governorship ambition.
“Rather than provide constructive support to his home state, the Deputy Speaker seems intent on dragging the administration into needless political battles,” the statement alleged.
As the war of words continues, political observers say the face-off may signal deeper cracks within Abia’s power blocs ahead of the next election cycle.
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