PDP chieftain criticises Otti over Tinubu’s planned visit to inaugurate six-kilometre road in Abia

Moses Orji, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, has faulted plans by Alex Otti, governor of the state, to invite President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate a six-kilometre rehabilitated road.

In an open letter titled “Should We Be Inviting Mr President to Abia State Now?”, Orji said the invitation was inappropriate and called it an attempt to “glamourise non-performance”.

He said Tinubu is not just Nigeria’s president but “the leader of the black world”, noting that his itinerary should reflect national, regional and global priorities.

“Dragging the president to Abia to inaugurate just one completed project — a 6km road — is beneath the weight of his office,” Orji wrote.

According to him, Otti’s administration has a habit of “seeking validation from high-profile personalities” to paper over its “underwhelming” performance.

“Governor Otti nearly pulled a similar stunt last year when he tried to bring Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to commission a 200-metre street in Aba,” he claimed.

He questioned the rationale behind Tinubu’s expected visit to Abia, citing his recent tour of Enugu, where the president inaugurated seven completed projects, and Anambra, where he unveiled the Funcity leisure park developed by Chukwuma Soludo, the governor.

“Why would the president commission a multi-billion-naira project like Funcity in Anambra and be invited to Abia to open just one rehabilitated road?” he asked.

Orji further alleged that Abia’s “signature projects” are mostly flag-offs without execution, including the proposed Owazza Industrial Park, seaport, and refineries.

“Where is the feasibility study or EIA report? No one has seen it,” he said.

He raised concerns about Otti’s handling of pension arrears, noting that Abia remains the only state in the south-east still owing pensioners despite increased monthly revenue.

“If pensioners decide to protest during the president’s visit, what will we tell Mr President?” he queried.

Orji also warned that the president’s visit might expose infrastructural gaps in the state.

“What if the president opts to rest at the Government House in Umuahia and finds the ‘presidential lounge’ in disrepair? Will he be taken to the governor’s private residence in Isiala Ngwa?” he asked.

Orji concluded by stating that “a single drumbeat does not make a festival” and said Otti should wait until he has “an array of achievements” worth celebrating before inviting the president.

“Abia is being run on propaganda and make-believe. But a day of reckoning will come,” he said.

ABIA GOVERNMENT REACTS

In a response, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the chief press secretary to the Otti, defended the planned visit, describing the project as “strategic” and worthy of presidential attention.

He said the road in question had been abandoned for over 30 years and leads to what was once West Africa’s fabrication hub — now set to be revived.

“That road was closed for 30 years. It became a dumpsite. Today, it is the location of Aba’s tallest hotel and four publicly owned schools,” Ukoha told TheCable via phone on Tuesday.

He revealed that the road, constructed by Julius Berger and funded through a N36.5 billion contract, includes multiple tunnels to address flooding and will revive economic activity in the area.

Beyond the road, Ukoha said Tinubu would also perform the groundbreaking of a proposed medical village, which has already attracted a $1.3 billion investment.

“What someone is describing as ‘not worth commissioning’ will transform Abia’s economy and impact Nigeria’s GDP,” he said.

He added that the medical village is part of the government’s strategy to curb Nigeria’s annual medical tourism expenditure, which he estimated at N2 billion.

“Otti is targeting a future where most of that money remains in Nigeria — and particularly in Abia,” he said.

“The president is coming to commission a milestone.”