Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has distanced himself and the South-East from the recent endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, insisting that no Governor has the authority to speak on behalf of the entire region.
Otti said Uzodimma’s declaration of support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 was merely a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as the collective position of South-East Governors or the people of the region.
Earlier, Governor Uzodimma said the Governors of the five South-East States had resolved to work towards President Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
Uzodimma said the decision was based on what he described as the Tinubu administration’s verifiable achievements in the South-East, which he said contrasted with what previous administrations had delivered to the region.
He also accused some politicians of using the South-East to fuel anti-government sentiment through propaganda.
Speaking during a meeting with members of the Imo State Elders Council and the Imo State Traditional Rulers Council at the New EXCO Chambers of the Government House in Owerri, Uzodimma, who chairs the South-East Governors’ Forum, said the governors were convinced that Tinubu had done more for the region than past administrations.
“The attempt by certain politicians to use the South East as a stage for anti-government sentiment is most despicable. We need to match propaganda with facts,” said Uzodimma, who also serves as Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Director-General of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors.
Speaking on the matter, Otti stressed that every Governor is entitled to express a personal political opinion but cannot claim to represent the views of others.
“As a Governor and as an individual, you can’t speak for everybody,” Otti said.
Referring directly to Uzodinma’s endorsement, the Abia governor said: “The Governor of Imo State said something about re-electing the President, but I’m not sure it is right to say that. As a Governor and as an individual, he can’t speak for every Governor.”
Otti maintained that decisions on the 2027 presidential election would be made by Nigerians at the appropriate time, urging against premature political declarations.
“I’m sure there is an appropriate time when people will take their decision,” he said.
The Governor also noted that governance should remain the priority, adding that there are still important national issues requiring attention before the country shifts its focus to electoral politics.
“I think we still have issues…” he said.
While distancing himself from Uzodimma’s endorsement, Otti clarified that his position should not be misconstrued as blanket opposition to the Tinubu administration.
He acknowledged that the Federal Government had introduced a number of policies he supports, explaining that his backing for such policies predates his emergence as governor.
“But then, let’s also say something here. This is a government, and a government sees all the work from the national level to the sub-national level and even to the corporate level,” Otti added.
“Like I said the other day, there are a lot of policies that I have supported, even as a private citizen before I became the governor of the state.”
His comments come amid growing political discussions over the 2027 general elections following Uzodimma’s public endorsement of President Tinubu for a second term.
@SaharaReporters