The Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers has issued a stern warning to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, urging him to refrain from making statements that could strain relations between Governor Alex Otti, President Bola Tinubu, and the people of Abia.

The directive followed an emergency meeting of the council held at the JAAC Building, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, where the royal fathers also passed a vote of confidence on Governor Otti for his performance in critical sectors, including health, education, security, and infrastructure.

In a statement signed by the council chairman, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, and endorsed by First Deputy Chairman Eze Nelson Achilefu, Second Deputy Chairman Eze Franklin Nwosu, and Third Deputy Chairman Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu, the monarchs cautioned Kalu against making “unguarded comments capable of heating up the state’s political atmosphere.”

The council described recent remarks by the Deputy Speaker, suggesting that Governor Otti had underperformed despite receiving substantial federal allocations, as “unsubstantiated” and warned they could spark unnecessary tension between the state and federal authorities.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the traditional rulers lauded Otti’s efforts, noting that no previous governor in Abia had shown as much political will to address the state’s challenges. They highlighted his achievements in rehabilitating roads across the three senatorial zones, renovating abandoned health facilities, revamping primary healthcare centres, boosting security, and ensuring prompt payment of workers and pensioners.

“It is on record that no governor in Abia has shown stronger political will to reposition the state than Dr. Alex Otti,” the council stated.

While commending the governor, the monarchs expressed concern over rising political altercations, warning that public spats among leaders could divide Abians. They urged both Otti and Kalu to embrace peace, mutual respect, and focus on good governance.

“As custodians of culture and peace, we appeal to all political actors to put Abia first and avoid actions capable of derailing development,” the council added.

The traditional rulers further advised politicians to allow the governor to concentrate on governance and wait until 2027 to pursue their political ambitions. “Abia is a peaceful state, and we will not tolerate any form of political or verbal violence capable of plunging it into crisis,” they warned.