By Obinna Okereke
My attention has been drawn to a press statement/Public notice by concerned stakeholders of Isuochi titled, “Re: Alleged Clandestine Plot by Some Isuochi Presidents General to Undermine the Dr Alex Otti-Led Government in Abia State.”
This press statement might have probably emanated from a screenshot message sent out by the President General of Isuochi Community Development Association (ICDA), Chief Ochi Orji, calling on Isuochi people to ‘prepare for war’ in the next election. According to him, he is in “pain.” He is “worried.” He is at a “crossroad.”
As a true and patriotic son of Isuochi, I felt shading more light on this issue, especially where it concerns the political future of Isuochi and Umunneochi at large.
Since the inception of democracy in 1999, Umunneochi has been producing political office holders both appointed and elected, and nobody has ever raised any clannish sentiment.
Out of the three clans that make up Umunneochi, Isuochi has been the most beneficiary. Late Comrade Uche Chukwumerije was in the Senate for 12 years. Then, Chief Ochi Orji was not in pain. Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha was in the House of Representatives for 16 years, yet Chief Ochi Orji had no worries.
In all these, they never lost an election in Nneato, Chieze or Isuikwuato. Yet, Chief Ochi Orji was not at a “crossroad.”
In the House of Assembly, Chief Matthew Ibe from Nneato spent 12 years when Chief Ugochukwu Ekwu, Chief Chidiebere Ude, all from Isuochi, held sway at Nkwoagu as chairmen of the LGA. Nobody beat the drums of war or had any clannish understanding, in the collective interest and development of the Umunneochi project.
Fast forward to the 2023 elections. Hon Onyejeocha was in the race for the 5th term. Umunneochi didn’t fail her. Umunneochi also voted Hon Nwachi for House of Assembly from Nneato. No clannish campaigns or sentiments were attached.
Now come 2027, the agents of division have risen. Chief Ochi Orji, a non-political actor in Umunneochi, is now in pain, worried, and at a crossroads.
First was the scheme by the PG of Ngodo Isuochi, who started a move to endorse a candidate from Ngodo, but for the quick intervention of a well-meaning section of Ngodo think-tank who aborted the move, citing the negative implications on the state led by Dr Alex Otti, who, unlike past administrations, has sited a good number of projects in Umunneochi and Isuochi in particular. Also cited is a potential betrayal of trust by the Governor over the agreement that led to the appointment of the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Housing from Ngodo Isuochi.
Now, it is the President General of Isuochi picking up the dropped idea from Ngodo PG.
It is not out of place to endorse a candidate in an election. Before the primaries in the 2011 elections build-up, Chief P.U. Chukwumerije led a delegation of Isuochi stakeholders to the then Governor T.A. Orji to stop the 4th term bid of Mathew Ibe. That was a good political calculation. They, with the consent of the governor, endorsed Hon Ikedi Ezekwesiri.
Now, the 2027 election primaries have come and gone with the Labour Party in the state electing their candidates for the House of Representatives and House of Assembly with the endorsement of the national leader of the party, Governor Alex Otti. How can one view another clannish campaign, or endorsement of another set of candidates from other parties by Isuochi when other sections of the state are aligning and pledging support to His Excellency for his good works in the state?
Assuming but not conceding that the Governor’s candidates are not performing, why allow the governor to endorse them first? Why not tow the path of PU Chukwumerije, who acknowledged the strength of an incumbent governor in an election and avoided open confrontation? If at all Isuochi or Ngodo should endorse a candidate against a sitting governor, is it not an open challenge to talk of someone who the world knows is still battling with the governor in a 1billion naira libel court case? Someone who, even if Dr Alex Otti is dead, will rise to make sure he doesn’t near Umuahia, not to talk of the House of Assembly complex.
I see this move as a political miscalculation by whoever thought of it in the first place.
In three years of his administration, Dr Alex Otti has never marginalized Ndi Isuochi. Isuochi and Ngodo in particular have one of the highest ministries in the state, talking of the Ministry of Lands and Housing. Isuochi has the Due Process Office. Isuochi has the Health sector of the state. Isuochi has consecutively had the office of the chairman of the LGA under Governor Otti, and one selfishly thinks that Isuochi will be “extinct” in 2027 if he doesn’t fight the governor now.
Coming to projects in Umunneochi under Governor Otti in 3 years, Isuochi has the longest road network ongoing. Isuochi has the only ongoing General Hospital project in Umunneochi. Isuochi has 10 out of 18 renovated Primary Health Centres in Umunneochi. The list is endless. This simply shows that in the ‘proposed war’ by Chief Ochi Orji, Dr Alex Otti will fight with clean hands.
For our serving elected representatives, Hon Amobi Ogah and Hon Nwachi, I am not their fan anyways. I didn’t vote for them in 2023 because I didn’t expect that the Labour Party would win. But they went ahead to win. Today, they have performed beyond expectations. Today, our voice is being heard in the State and National Assemblies.
Hon Nwachi’s security bill gave Umunneochi security today through Operation Crush. Not forgetting Hon Amobi Ogah’s voice in the National Assembly for our security.
Hon Nwachi sponsored more than 5 bills, all assented to by the governor. All the projects being executed in Umunneochi today passed through Hon Nwachi as the House Committee Chairman on Budgets and Planning. When the governor visited Umunneochi on 24 July 2026, I didn’t see Chief Ochi Orji speaking or presenting a gift on behalf of Isuochi, but I saw Hon Nwachi speaking for Isuochi, Nneato and Umuchieze.
Last week, I saw a team of military engineers led by Hon Nwachi and Mayor Sunday Afurobi inspecting the Mmam Bridge at Mbala, an answer to Hon Nwachi’s detribalised request to the governor during the visit. I don’t know what else a lawmaker can do that clannish candidates will do better.
Chief Ochi Orji, if you can harken to the voice of reason, the only way Isuochi will be “extinct” politically is if you go ahead and pronounce any endorsement of any candidates against the candidates of Dr Alex Otti in the coming elections and it boomerangs. No matter the style you use, it must be known because all eyes are on you now. If you decide to play opposition politics against the state, you are on your own. You can’t be speaking for Isuochi. And the only way is to allow Hon Amobi Ogah to complete his 8 years for Umunneochi to lay claim to the House of Representatives again in 2031 with good conscience.
One of the problems facing Nigeria today is ethnic politics over competence and character of the leaders. Introducing clannish tendencies in the Umunneochi political space will do us more harm than good.
History will not be kind to you. Isuochi will be on the losing end. Fighting an incumbent governor is a suicide mission in Nigerian politics, especially from a clan that is benefiting from everything from the governor.
Allow the candidates to sell themselves to the electorate in Nneato, Isuochi, Umuchieze and Isuikwuato.
Let the better candidates win. Stop being swayed by a sweet-tongued political tout and mercenary who helped to destroy Abia State in 24 years and had since been rejected by Dr Alex Chioma Otti. This is the right time to start a build-up to 2031 for my good people of Isuochi. Stop initiating a war that will never end.
Your actions now are capable of turning the component parts of Umunneochi into perpetual enemies. This is how the unity of a people can be destroyed.
You can imagine Isuochi without Nneato and Umuchieze in the politics and economy of Abia State. We must not carry personal character into the public space. And this is the more reason you must tread with caution.
**Obinna Okereke writes from Ngodo Ukwu Kingdom
