SaharaReporters reported on Saturday, how Governor Otti verbally abused an Abia-based journalist, Chika Nwabueze of Don Media Group, during a media chat held in the state.
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has criticised Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for his “arrogant, rude, pompous and unprofessional” verbal attack on a journalist who asked him a question during a recent media chat held by the governor.
SaharaReporters reported on Saturday, how Governor Otti verbally abused an Abia-based journalist, Chika Nwabueze of Don Media Group, during a media chat held in the state.
During the media chat, the journalist asked the governor to provide verifiable data demonstrating that government policies have improved the economic and living conditions of residents of the state beyond infrastructural projects such as road construction.
Nwabueze asked, “Your administration has received praise for visible infrastructure projects, but critics say that measurable impacts, transparency, and inclusive governance need improvement.
“Can you provide verifiable data showing how your policies have directly improved the economic and living conditions of ordinary Abians beyond infrastructure development?”
However, instead of responding directly to the question, Governor Otti reacted angrily and publicly berated the journalist, referring to him as “stupid” during the exchange.
Responding to the question, the governor said, “You have not said anything. Do you live in Abia?” to which the journalist replied that he resides in Umuahia, the state capital.
Otti then said, “If you live in Umuahia, you are the one that will provide data.” He continued by asking, “The road you use, is it tarred? Do your children pay school fees?” to which Nwabueze answered in the affirmative.
The governor pressed further, saying, “But you see children that don’t pay school fees, right?” before adding, “The point is that this media chat is a serious media chat. We are not here to massage opposition.
“You can’t come to a media chat, and you are asking me to provide data about measurable impacts on work that is being done in the state where you live. It is irresponsible!
“That we throw this open for people to ask questions doesn’t mean that people should be stupid. If you can’t feel what is happening in the state where you live, then I’m sorry I can’t help you.”
He continued, “Let’s take this very serious. Speech is free, so you can…, but when you come for my media chat, you must be prepared. If you don’t have any questions, then you don’t raise your hand.
“I’m at a loss. What do you mean? What do you want to hear from me?”
When the journalist repeated his request for verifiable data, the governor responded, “That is not my business. What my business is is to deliver on my promises.
“It is for you as a journalist, if you are actually one, to say, because roads have been done, accidents have reduced, travel times have reduced, there are electric buses all over the place that are free of charge, there are 200 primary health care centres that were not here before.
“So, when somebody takes ill, he can go to a healthcare delivery centre in his ward. Because you have fixed the state, businesses have returned.
“I don’t know how much you pay as rent. I don’t know how much you were paying before now.
“If you want the governor to sit and tell you the economic impacts, then something is wrong. Next time, when you are coming to ask questions, prepare very well.”
Reacting to the incident in a press statement issued on Sunday, the National President of OYC, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, expressed disappointment over the governor’s reaction, saying a leader should remain composed and respectful when faced with public scrutiny.
According to Igboayaka, Governor Otti failed to maintain the expected decorum during the interaction with the journalist, whose question he described as intelligent and professionally framed.
“Gov Alex Otti really erred; he goofed like a man quarrelling with his own tools. He was very rude, arrogant, and pompous in responding to the most brilliant question in that media conference from the journalist,” Igboayaka said.
He stressed that democratic leadership requires openness to questioning and accountability, noting that press conferences are meant to encourage transparency rather than hostility.
“Our leaders must be willing to subject themselves to public scrutiny and respond to a diverse array of questions.
“When a leader convenes a press conference, they must demonstrate a capacity for tolerance and address questions with intelligence, cheerfulness, and courtesy, unmarred by rancour,” he added.
The OYC leader described the journalist’s question as the most insightful contribution during the media session, stating that it reflected professional journalism and raised important issues about governance performance in Abia State.
Igboayaka argued that government performance should be measured beyond physical infrastructure.
He called on stakeholders to focus on indicators such as poverty reduction, job creation, education standards, healthcare quality, workers’ welfare, technological training, and security.
Igboayaka further said that many critics attacking the journalist lacked an adequate understanding of governance evaluation.
He stressed that infrastructural development accounts for only a small percentage of global performance assessment, while human development and living standards form the larger benchmark.
According to Igboayaka, Abia State’s overall governance record remains unimpressive, arguing that ongoing road rehabilitation projects are being perceived as major achievements largely due to the poor performance of previous administrations.
Igboayaka also asked Governor Otti to prioritise large-scale economic initiatives, particularly the dredging of potential seaports at Azumini Blue Sea and Obeaku in Ukwa East Local Government Area.
“Aba should be the Japan of Igboland,” he said, adding that developing functional seaports could lift over one million residents out of poverty while reducing unemployment and criminality.
He maintained that establishing an operational seaport at Azumini Blue Sea would serve as a defining project capable of transforming Abia State’s economy and proving the governor’s performance credentials.
