The Abia State Government has dismissed claims by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, that he extended overtures of friendship and collaboration to Governor Alex Otti, describing the assertions as misleading and inconsistent with recent events.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Njoku Ukoha, the state government said Governor Otti remains focused on governance rather than political skirmishes, and has consistently demonstrated goodwill and cooperation toward federal lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker.
According to the statement, Governor Otti not only pledged support for constituency projects attracted by Rt. Hon. Kalu and other federal legislators, but also approved and allocated a large parcel of land along the Umuahia-Bende Road for the construction of a housing estate attracted by the Deputy Speaker. The government described the gesture as a clear demonstration of collaboration and goodwill, noting that the governor granted approval despite political pressure to do otherwise.
The Abia Government, however, accused the Deputy Speaker of acting in disregard of due process, particularly in relation to the demolition of Eluokwu Community School in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area. The school, the statement said, had already been earmarked and awarded to a contractor for upgrade into a smart school by the state government before it was allegedly demolished on the orders of the federal lawmaker without consultation.
The government described the demolition as “a deliberate affront” to the state, adding that agents of the Deputy Speaker reportedly went ahead with the action even after encountering contractors at the site. It argued that due process would have required approaching the state government for an alternative location for any proposed project—an option it said Governor Otti would have readily approved.
Further faulting the Deputy Speaker’s conduct, the state government said that after sealing the demolished school in line with the law, Rt. Hon. Kalu bypassed internal resolution mechanisms and escalated the matter to authorities in Abuja. According to the statement, the federal authorities, after investigating the issue, reportedly admonished the Deputy Speaker and advised him to obtain proper approvals from relevant local authorities for future projects.
The Abia Government maintained that Governor Otti has consistently followed lawful procedures in executing federal projects within the state, a practice it said has helped foster a harmonious relationship with the Federal Government.
Reacting to what it described as political posturing, the statement also referenced an alleged invitation extended to Governor Otti to join the Deputy Speaker’s political party, noting that the governor had either declined or ignored it. In a sharp concluding remark, the government suggested that while the Deputy Speaker claimed to have “shut the door,” he should “leave a window open,” urging a return to decorum and due process.
The statement, signed by Njoku Ukoha, Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State, and dated January 28, 2026 is pasted below:
PRESS RELEASE: ON RT. HON BENJAMIN KALU’S DIATRIBE.
The Abia State Government has taken note of a public remark by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, CFR, claiming to have extended hands of friendship and courtesy to the State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, and offering collaboration on development programmes and projects.
While maintaining the Government’s measured position not to join issues with Rt. Hon. Kalu, especially on issues of politics, we consider it necessary to make the following clarifications:
1. Governor Otti prioritizes governance over petty politics as evident in his actions and disposition. He not only pledged support for projects attracted by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and other Federal Lawmakers to their constituencies, the Governor has also demonstrated genuine commitment to collaboration with Hon. Kalu by generously allocating a parcel of land to the Deputy Speaker for a housing project he attracted to his constituency in the recent past. Specifically, the Governor allocated a large expanse of land Along Umuahia-Bende Road for the Construction of a housing Estate. Governor Otti, refusing to bow to political pressure to withhold assent, gave his express approval and the land was made available for the project as a mark of support, collaboration and goodwill.
2. The Governor has consistently kept his doors open to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, CFR. Unfortunately the latter’s actions tell a completely different story. The reckless demolition of Eluokwu Community School in Igbere, Bende LGA, a public school earmarked and awarded to a contractor for upgrade to a smart school by the State Government, without consulting the relevant agencies of the State contrasts sharply with Governor Otti’s commitment to due process when dealing with other arms of government on matters of project execution.
3. The demolition of Eluokwu Community School in Igbere on the orders of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives was a deliberate affront to the State Government. It is strange that even after meeting the presence of the contractors handling the upgrade at the site, agents of the federal lawmaker still went ahead to pull down the building in flagrant disregard to all known conventions of decency. One would have thought that as a lawmaker with a good handle on the provisions of the law, Rt. Hon Kalu would have approached the State Government for an alternative location for his project, a request that the State Chief Executive, in his usual magnanimity, would have granted without hesitation.
4. It is regrettable that after the demolished school was sealed by the State Government in line with the provisions of the law, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu ignored all channels of resolution within the State and ran off to Abuja to report. Expectedly, the authorities he reported to, after thorough investigation, admonished him against acting in a manner that reeks of complete disregard for due process and disrespect to the Governor. They advised that when next he wants to embark on such projects, appropriate approvals must be sought and secured from the relevant local authorities. This is the same lawful approach the Governor has repeatedly followed in the execution of several Federal Projects in the State, a standard that has seen him establish harmonious relationship with the Federal Government. Sadly, Honourable Kalu prefers drama to decorum and due process.
5. Lastly, the Abia Governor appreciates Rt. Hon. Kalu’s invitation to join his political party which apparently had either been declined or ignored. At any rate, now that the Deputy Speaker has, in his own words, “shut the door,” one may also advise that he leaves a window open should the need arise for him to use it for emergency escape or at the minimum, get some fresh air.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
January 28, 2026.