The Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has said entrenched interests are working to frustrate the reform efforts of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, because his success would expose years of poor governance in the state.
Achebe made the remarks on Thursday in Lagos at The Niche Lecture 2026, themed “Governing the Economy: Choices, Trade-offs, and National Priorities,” where Otti served as guest lecturer.
‘Too Much Politics, Too Little Governance’
The monarch lamented what he described as Nigeria’s excessive focus on politics at the expense of governance, noting that electioneering has become a near-permanent cycle.
“In Nigeria, there’s too much politics and so little governance. In other countries, politics is periodic. After elections, governance takes over. But in Nigeria, we are already talking about 2031 when 2027 has not even come,” he said, warning that the trend poses serious risks to national development.
He argued that the country’s political culture has become toxic, with many actors motivated more by personal gain than public service.
Push for Independent Candidacy
Achebe called for constitutional reforms to allow independent candidacy, saying it would enable voters to choose leaders based on competence rather than party affiliation.
“We should be able to elect individuals based on their character and capacity, not just the parties they belong to,” he said.
According to him, such reforms would help reduce the dominance of political parties and refocus attention on governance outcomes.
Otti as ‘Ray of Hope’
The traditional ruler described Otti as a “ray of light” in Nigeria’s governance landscape, praising his track record in both the private and public sectors.
He recalled Otti’s tenure in banking, including his role in stabilising a financial institution during a critical period, noting that his transition to public service was driven by a clear vision.
“He has simply transferred his God-given abilities from the private sector to public service. What we are seeing in Abia today is just the beginning,” Achebe said.
He added that Otti’s performance has rekindled hope that effective governance is still possible in Nigeria.
Achebe, however, warned that meaningful reforms often face resistance from entrenched interests determined to protect the status quo.
Drawing from personal experience, he recounted how a foreign construction firm that won a bid to rehabilitate the Onitsha–Owerri road was systematically frustrated despite offering a significantly lower cost.
According to him, the company’s equipment was delayed at the ports for months, and bureaucratic bottlenecks ultimately forced it to abandon the project.
“At every step, they were blocked. Eventually, they left. That tells you how difficult it can be to do business and implement change in Nigeria,” he said.
He suggested that similar forces are now targeting Otti’s administration.
“There have been efforts to stop him because if he succeeds, it will show that the last 24 years in Abia were a waste,” the monarch stated.
Achebe urged Nigerians, particularly Abia residents, to support the governor’s reform agenda, stressing that transformational leadership requires collective backing.
“He needs our support and prayers. If he succeeds, it will not just benefit Abia, but serve as a model for the rest of the country,” he said.
The monarch concluded on a note of cautious optimism, expressing confidence that despite existing challenges, Nigeria can still achieve meaningful progress with the right leadership and institutional reforms.