Otti: When Results Eclipse the Politics of Drama
By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD
What should have been another calm and peaceful weekend in the God’s Own State was instead disrupted by a wave of political noise. At the center of this disturbance was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Benjamin Kalu, who moved across some local government areas for political engagements. While such movements fall within his democratic rights, his outings quickly became less about responsible leadership and more about reckless theatrics. Instead of addressing his people with dignity and clarity of purpose, Kalu seized the moment to once again launch direct attacks on Governor Alex Otti, weaving together accusations, dramatic claims, and exaggerated boasts that contributed little to the public good and much to political tension.
Rather than use his platform for constructive engagement, Kalu reverted to the familiar script of personal insults and hollow proclamations. He alleged that attempts were made to obstruct his events, strutting before his audience with the confidence of someone convinced that he and his party would reclaim Abia in 2025. In attempting to denigrate the Governor, Kalu ended up amplifying his own contradictions, performing what many described as a spectacle devoid of maturity or strategic depth.
Yet, while the political noise echoed, a more consequential narrative was unfolding elsewhere. Abia State, under the quiet but steady leadership of Governor Alex Otti, OFR, was earning national recognition that no amount of political grandstanding could drown out. As Kalu and his supporters traded barbs and applause, a nationally respected data driven assessment was presenting a very different and far more compelling story about Abia.
The 2025 SBM Health Preparedness Index, an annual report derived from verified data sourced from reputable international and national institutions, ranked Abia State as the most prepared state for health emergencies in the entire country. Abia topped the list with a score of 26.85, surpassing Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Rivers and others. This performance was anchored on clear and objective metrics. The highest health spending per person at 22,926 naira, a strong 14.8 percent budgetary allocation to health, and one of the highest Human Development Index scores in the country at 0.674. These indicators reflected not political noise, but deliberate planning, institutional strengthening, and a government investing strategically in its people.
The SBM report is a serious evaluative tool. It measures each state’s capacity to respond to emergencies, manage health infrastructure, deploy human resources, and sustain budget discipline. That Abia rose to the top for the first time is not a stroke of luck but a reflection of a governance model centered on transparency, efficiency, and public welfare. While some actors preoccupied themselves with trading insults and staging political drama, the state was quietly positioning itself as a national leader in health readiness.
This achievement aligns with a broader pattern that has defined the Otti administration. Across sectors, development is being placed firmly above drama. Roads are being reconstructed with transparency and quality assurance. Institutions once weakened by years of abuse are being restored. Waste management systems have been reorganized. Salaries and pensions are now paid promptly and consistently. Digital transformation projects have taken off. Schools and hospitals are receiving targeted attention. Abia is being rebuilt with discipline and purpose after years of decay at the hands of those who now raise their voices the loudest.
Throughout these distractions, Governor Otti has remained calm, consistent, and focused. He has repeatedly stated that he will not allow political provocations from those he describes as enemies of progress to derail his commitment to Ndi Abia. His mandate, he insists, is to rebuild the state and restore dignity to governance. Performance, not noise, is his chosen language of leadership.
Ultimately, power in Abia does not belong to any individual who proclaims himself a political god. It does not reside in the loudest voice or the boldest insult. It belongs to the people, and at the appropriate time, only Abians will decide who governs them. For now, Governor Otti remains committed to the work at hand, delivering development, strengthening institutions, and rebuilding a state that was left in ruins by those who now attempt to distract him.
In Abia today, it is the results that speak. And those results continue to eclipse the politics of drama.
Dr. Ebere Uzoukwa is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Public Affairs.