Abia State Governor Alex Otti has warned against divisive and clannish politics in Nigeria, Abia State and Ngwaland, cautioning citizens against narratives created to advance selfish interests under the guise of protecting group interests.
Otti spoke during the 40th wedding anniversary celebration of Dr and Mrs Nwabuisi Elelenta.
The governor said people often followed political narratives without questioning their motives, only to discover later that such narratives were designed to serve personal interests rather than the collective good.
“I just want to make one point, and that is our politics in Nigeria, politics in Abia State and politics in Ngwaland.
“Sometimes, when people craft narratives, a lot of people follow sheepishly, not knowing that the narratives they are crafting are selfish narratives, dressed up as group interests,” Otti said.
He said divisive politics could turn former friends and associates into enemies simply because one of them decided to contest an election.
“All of a sudden, your brother who has been with you, eating with you, becomes your enemy because he has shown up to contest elections,” he said.
The governor recalled a saying that cautions people about the personal attacks that often accompany political contests.
“Somebody said, if you don’t want to know who dated your great-grandmother, don’t join politics,” he said.
Otti questioned the relevance of such divisive narratives to governance, arguing that they did little to improve the living conditions of citizens or address pressing challenges such as the rising cost of goods and services.
He said Dr Elelenta was among the early supporters who believed in his capacity to transform Abia State after listening to his political vision when he ventured into politics.
The governor recalled that Elelenta supported him while serving as President of the Association of Ngwa People in the United States, a decision he said exposed him to criticism, trouble and persecution from those who disagreed with his political choice.
Otti said he had forgiven those who wronged him in the past as a result of divisive political narratives, stressing that such political differences were ultimately meaningless if they did not produce good governance and tangible benefits for the people.
He condemned the practice of allowing divisive and clannish considerations to undermine public interest, competence and merit in favour of narrow political or sectional interests.
The governor urged citizens to emulate the sacrifices of previous generations who, according to him, placed the greater good of society above personal and sectional sentiments.
“Our great-grandparents were great people. Think of all of them. That’s why the other day we decided to honour Aguiyi Ironsi. We will honour more people.
“I honoured Jaja Nwachukwu the other day, and we will keep honouring our people who made sacrifices.
“They were not sentimental; they were not myopic. Some of them, like M. I. Okpara, I understand, didn’t have a house. He could have accumulated all the money, and today he’s gone.
“I tell you one thing: a lot of the money we are all gathering, left, right and centre, we don’t need them.
“As a banker or former banker, I can tell you that most of the time, when you close your eyes and don’t wake up, that money goes to your enemy.”
Otti urged the people to emulate Elelenta, whom he described as a man who stood firmly by his convictions despite opposition.
He also praised Mrs Elelenta, describing her as a virtuous woman, while congratulating the couple on their 40 years of marriage.
