Why Chief Charles Ogbonna Is Attacking Governor Alex Otti: Inside the Alleged Land Reclamation, Failed Appointment Bid and Rising Political Frustration

New details have emerged on why Chief Charles Ogbonna has launched a series of attacks on Governor Alex Otti. Allegations, land issues, and political frustrations form the core of the dispute. Click to read the full story.

Fresh revelations have emerged over the growing hostility of former Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Charles Ogbonna, towards Governor Alex Otti, as the Abia State Government breaks its silence on the escalating verbal attacks directed at the Governor.

Chief Ogbonna had recently accused Governor Otti of visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to discuss the sensitive issue of securing the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, but to allegedly lobby for defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). His outburst was accompanied by a series of harsh remarks targeted at the Governor.

However, in a detailed response issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the government revealed the underlying reasons behind Ogbonna’s persistent aggression.

According to the statement, Ogbonna has been battling the emotional impact of political irrelevance since the 2023 general election, a situation that reportedly plunged him into “trauma” after losing influence within his own political bloc.

But beyond political frustration, the government said the real trigger of Ogbonna’s hostility was the reclamation of the Agbozu Cocoa Plantation, which he had allegedly acquired while in office but which yielded no value to Abia State. The Otti administration repossessed the land for public interest, and in line with its human-focused policy, paid Ogbonna compensation, a gesture he reportedly appreciated at the time.

The tension escalated, however, when Ogbonna allegedly nominated his son for a government appointment, expecting favourable consideration. Governor Otti declined and instead appointed another qualified individual from the same community. The government says this rejection bruised Ogbonna’s ego, leading to a cycle of anger, attacks, and unprovoked aggression.

Ekeoma described the former Commissioner’s behaviour as an attempt to attract attention and negotiate relevance, stressing that his attacks intensified each time he felt ignored.

On the Nnamdi Kanu matter, the government emphasized that Governor Otti’s recent visit to Aso Rock was solely to discuss the IPOB leader’s release, a continuation of engagements he has held with the Federal Government for over two years. The Governor had visited Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre before meeting President Tinubu, who was described as “gracious and responsive.”

The rebuttal dismissed Ogbonna’s claim of an APC defection plot as “petty and laughable,” declaring that any party would gladly welcome Governor Otti due to his performance and political strength.

The statement also tackled Ogbonna’s criticism of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road reconstruction, describing it as “wicked” to prefer the suffering of Abians simply to deny the Governor political credit. It accused Ogbonna of representing the old political culture where governance meant sharing public funds and hoarding opportunities.

Finally, the government urged Ogbonna to rise above bitterness and stop weaponizing misinformation, especially on sensitive security matters like Nnamdi Kanu’s case. It also told him that he can pursue his political interests without resorting to “misplaced aggression” against the Governor.