Abia State Governor Alex Otti turned on a journalist during his monthly media chat in Umuahia on Friday, publicly dressing down a reporter who asked him to back up his administration’s economic claims with hard data.
The confrontation unfolded during the February edition of Otti’s routine press engagement, which was broadcast live across the state. Chika Nwabueze, a reporter with BON Media Group, had pressed the governor to go beyond pointing to road projects and provide concrete, measurable evidence that his policies — in effect since he took office in May 2023 — have genuinely improved living standards and economic conditions in Abia.
Rather than fielding the question, Otti turned it back on the journalist, suggesting that as a resident of the state, the reporter should already have the answers himself.
“You have not said anything. Do you live in Abia? So if you live in Umuahia, you are the one that will provide data,” the governor said.
He went on to brand the question irresponsible, insisting his media chat was a serious forum and not a stage for what he called poorly prepared or frivolous submissions.
“You can’t come to a media chat and ask me to provide data about measurable impact on work that is being done in the state that you live in. It’s irresponsible,” Otti said, adding that journalists who attend must come prepared or not raise their hands at all.
The governor then pointed to what he described as visible, feelable improvements — rehabilitated roads, functioning primary healthcare centres, improved public transport, and free education initiatives — arguing that residents needed only to look around them to see the progress his administration has delivered.
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