By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Otti to Uzodinma: “No individual Governor, or leader, has the mandate to commit the entire South-east region and its people to any political cause or ventures. As a Governor, as an individual, you can’t speak for everybody. I’m sure there are appropriate people who will take that kind of decision”
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has distanced himself from a statement credited to his Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to the effect that all the five South- east Governors have resolved to back the second term bid of President Bola Tinubu.
Governor Otti, in dissociating himself from Governor Uzodinma’s statement, declared that only the Nigerian electorate will determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during his monthly media chat for the month of July, the Abia state Governor said no one person, including a sitting Governor has the mandate, or right, to determine the political direction of the people of the South East.
He maintained that whatever political expression made by Governor Uzodinma in relation to the political fate of President Tinubu was only made in his personal capacity and not on behalf of the people of the region.
While acknowledging the constitutional right of Governor Uzodinma to hold political preferences, Governor Otti however, insisted that such right does not include holding brief for others.
According to him, no individual Governor or leader has the mandate to commit the entire South East region and its people to any political cause or any other ventures.
Otti posited that while the Imo State Governor is entitled to support and defend President Tinubu as a fellow All Progressive Congress, APC, member and flag bearer, others, including himself, have their various political platforms and their candidates.
“As a Governor, and as an individual, you can’t speak for everybody. I am sure there are appropriate people who will take that kind of decision.
“I strongly believe that Nigerians will determine the outcome of the 2027 presidential election and other elections through the ballot” Otti stated.
Governor Otti emphasized that as an individual ,as well as a leader, that he still appreciates and supports some of the policies of President Tinubu, especially the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of Naira.
He noted that his support for the aforementioned Federal Government and others predated his tenure as Governor.
According to him, he had been known to consistently advocate for the removal of petroleum products subsidy and the floating of Naira in his weekly contributions in the ThisDay Newspaper a couple years ago
He maintained that as a Governor of a state, there are a lot of policy initiatives at the national level that enjoy his unflinching support.
However, such policy alignment and cooperation should not be misconstrued. He insisted that support for national by sub-nationals are routine political protocols which should not be misunderstood for political endorsement.
The Source reports that before his clarification, Governor Otti had at different fora, maintained that he does not have any right to stand on the way of the President pursing his political ambition, just as himself is also entitled to harbour and defend his political preferences.
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