- Abia Governor Alex Otti warns against selfish political narratives disguised as group interests.
- He says divisive politics can turn friends and brothers into enemies without improving governance.
- Otti urges Nigerians to prioritise competence, merit and the public good over clannish interests.
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has warned Nigerians against divisive politics, cautioning citizens against narratives that exploit ethnic, community and group sentiments for personal political interests.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Otti spoke during the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of Dr. and Mrs. Nwabuisi Elelenta, where he reflected on political divisions in Nigeria, Abia State and Ngwaland.
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The governor said people often embraced political narratives without examining the interests behind them, only to discover later that such narratives were designed to serve individuals rather than the wider community.
“Sometimes, when people craft narratives, a lot of people follow sheepishly, not knowing that the narratives they are crafting are selfish narratives, dressed up as group interests,” Otti said.
He noted that political divisions could quickly turn people who had previously lived and worked together into enemies simply because one of them decided to contest an election.
“All of a sudden, your brother who has been with you, eating with you, becomes your enemy because he has shown up to contest elections,” he said.
Otti questioned the value of such political narratives, arguing that they do little to address the challenges affecting citizens, including the rising cost of goods and services.
The governor recalled Dr. Elelenta’s support for his political journey, particularly when Elelenta was President of the Association of Ngwa People in the United States.
According to Otti, Elelenta’s decision to support him exposed him to attacks and persecution from individuals who disagreed with his political choice.
The governor said he had forgiven those who had wronged him in the past, stressing that political narratives were ultimately meaningless if they did not produce good governance and improve the welfare of citizens.
Otti also condemned the use of divisive and clannish politics to undermine competence and merit, saying narrow interests should not be allowed to take precedence over the public good.
He urged Nigerians to emulate past leaders and individuals who placed the interests of society above personal sentiments.
The governor cited former military Head of State, Aguiyi Ironsi, and former Eastern Region premier, Michael Okpara, among others, as examples of people whose contributions to society deserved to be remembered.
“Our great-grandparents were great people. Think of all of them. That’s why the other day we decided to honour Aguiyi Ironsi. We will honour more people,” he said.
Otti also mentioned former Foreign Affairs Minister Jaja Nwachukwu, whom he said he had honoured for his contributions.
He argued that many people who accumulate wealth without considering their legacy may ultimately derive little benefit from it.
“As a banker or former banker, I can tell you that most of the time, when you close your eyes and don’t wake up, that money goes to your enemy,” Otti said.
The governor urged citizens to emulate Elelenta’s willingness to stand by his convictions, regardless of opposition.
He also praised Mrs. Elelenta, describing her as a virtuous woman, as the couple marked four decades of marriage.
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