A pro-democracy group, Better Abia Movement, has cautioned former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, against what it described as persistent political attacks on Governor Alex Otti’s administration.

The group accused Kalu of engaging in “double-speak politics,” alleging that his recent criticisms of the Otti-led government sharply contrast with his earlier commendations of the administration’s performance.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Ihunweze Ifeanyi, the group questioned the rationale behind Kalu’s public criticism of a government he had previously praised during a personal visit to Governor Otti’s residence in Nvosi.

According to Ihunweze, Kalu had during that visit acknowledged the pace and quality of development across Abia State, particularly in Abia North, where he reportedly commended the rehabilitation of the Umuahia–Bende–Igbo road corridor. He noted that the former governor had praised the project for significantly reducing travel time and being completed ahead of schedule.

The group expressed concern over what it described as the resurgence of “failed political actors,” insisting that Governor Otti had, within three years, delivered projects and reforms that previous administrations could not achieve in over two decades.

Ihunweze listed achievements of the current administration to include massive road construction and rehabilitation, healthcare renewal, housing development, transportation reforms, improved power supply, youth empowerment programmes, sports development, environmental sanitation, public service reforms, rural development, and social protection for senior citizens.

He highlighted the introduction of electric buses for public transportation, noting that residents enjoyed free rides during the festive season. According to him, the initiative compares favourably with transport systems in parts of Europe and Asia, urging Kalu to measure it against the taxi and bus schemes introduced during his tenure as governor.

On environmental reforms, the group said Aba, once notorious for waste management challenges, has witnessed significant improvement. It also cited upgrades in the education sector, where public schools are being transformed into technology-driven learning centres, as well as ongoing healthcare facility upgrades aimed at improving access and service delivery across the state.

Dismissing claims that Otti’s road projects were cosmetic, the group pointed to major interventions such as the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba by Julius Berger, erosion control projects, and the completion of strategic bridges, including the Omenuko Bridge. Ihunweze said the speed of contract awards and execution under the current administration surpasses what was recorded under previous governments.

He further noted that pension arrears inherited from past administrations have been cleared, while efforts are ongoing to settle gratuities dating back to 1999. He described the newly constructed bus terminals in Umuahia and Aba as modern facilities comparable to those in major cities across the world.

Ahead of the 2027 elections, the group warned against attempts to undermine the will of Abia voters, stressing that the vigilance that protected votes across the state’s 17 local government areas in 2023 would be sustained.

The group advised Senator Kalu to focus on delivering tangible dividends of democracy to his constituents in Abia North rather than engaging in political attacks.

Ihunweze concluded by urging political leaders to speak with consistency and clarity, noting that Abia residents are politically conscious and capable of judging leaders based on visible results rather than rhetoric.