Table of Contents
- Governor Otti Slams Kalu
- Kalu Criticizes Otti
- Otti Responds to Kalu
- Exchange Rate Impacts
- Accusations of Sycophancy
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has criticized the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, for his recent remarks about the governor’s administration.
According to DAILY POST, Kalu, while speaking to supporters in a viral video, dismissed Otti’s government, claiming that the governor's two years in office have been underwhelming.
Kalu asserted that the governor is receiving three times the monthly allocation that previous administrations received.
He stated, “What former governors accomplished with the funds they received from the federal government is precisely what you are doing now, despite receiving higher allocations.”
“The true miracle worker is President Tinubu, who is disbursing funds to the states, not you performing the duties.”
The Deputy Speaker attributed the completion of infrastructure projects under Otti to the initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In response, Otti released a statement on Monday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, labeling Kalu’s statements as falsehoods.
Refuting Kalu’s claims regarding allocations, the governor remarked, “Abia’s total FAAC allocation for 2025 (over 8 months), including Local Government Areas, amounts to 125 Billion Naira. If we were to accept Kalu’s erroneous claim of a monthly allocation of N38 billion, the total would have been N304 billion. Should a Deputy Speaker of the Federal Legislature be associated with such blatant lies?”
Pointing to the exchange rate as a factor in the current financial situation, the governor explained, “As of April 2023, just days before I took office, the exchange rate was N460 to the dollar. Currently, it stands at N1,500 to the dollar, meaning that N3.2 billion today is equivalent to N1 billion in 2023.”
“Since Nigeria relies heavily on imports, the devaluation has led states to gain in nominal terms but very little in real terms, as essential projects are carried out using materials and equipment purchased in foreign currency.”
“This is why a road project that cost N1 billion in 2022 would now approach N4 billion. If we factor in inflation at an average rate of 20% per annum, the situation worsens.”
Accusing the Deputy Speaker of attempting to gain favor from President Tinubu’s administration, Governor Otti remarked that the president “recognizes traitors and sycophants when he encounters them, making it hard to mislead him with lies and provocation.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the accusations made by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu against Governor Alex Otti?
Kalu accused Otti of underperforming during his time in office and claimed that Otti was receiving significantly higher monthly allocations compared to previous governors.
How did Governor Otti respond to Kalu's comments?
Otti refuted Kalu's claims, providing details about the actual allocations and citing the impact of the exchange rate on state funding and project costs.
What impact does the exchange rate have on Abia State's budget?
The exchange rate has significantly affected the value of funds available for projects, with the current rate making it much more expensive to execute infrastructure projects compared to previous years.
