The recent appointment of Dr Ezinne Chinyere Benjamin-Kalu, wife of the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, as the Chairman of the Management Board of the Abia State Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) is generating serious reactions, especially from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and media aides of the governor.
According to Dr Emmanuel Meribole, secretary to the state government, the appointments of Dr Kalu and others take immediate effect is aimed at strengthening governance, improving service delivery, and enhancing the quality of medical training and healthcare services provided by the hospital.
Reacting to the appointment, Nwakwuribe Elendu said that the appointment of Dr Ezinne Ben Kalu, though clearly borne out of bad faith and political desperation, is a telling signal that Governor Otti is already preparing his handover ahead of 2027.
Reacting directly, Elendu said, “Congratulations, Dr Ezinne Kalu, but the appointment won’t save Otti from an inevitable exit,” insisting that the governor’s time is numbered in the government house following his recent moves.
Elendu said that even if Governor Otti were to go as far as resurrecting Benjamin Kalu’s late parents and granting them state appointments, it would still not stop the APC from taking over Abia State, nor would it deter Benjamin Kalu from leading the restoration of power to Abians.
“This is because the mission of ‘Maka Odinma Abia’ transcends any individual or family; it is a collective movement driven by the will of the people. If Otti chooses, he may appoint Ben Kalu’s son as chief of staff and his daughter as attorney general; it will make no difference. The “Maka Odinma Abia” mission remains resolute and unstoppable.”
Elendu said that Benjamin Kalu, on his part, has consistently dished out appointments across the three senatorial districts without bias, malice, or ulterior motives.
“It is worthy of note that he has not allocated a single position to any member of his own family. That is the hallmark of selflessness and a true demonstration of sincere, people-centred leadership.”
Elendu said that Otti’s action, therefore, represents the height of desperation to attempt to entice the Deputy Speaker, who has facilitated substantial federal appointments for deserving Abians, with a mere state board appointment for his wife, an offer that would last barely eight months.
“And one is compelled to ask: What exactly is Governor Otti’s preoccupation with the wives of his supposed allies?”
Dr Ebere Uzoukwa, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Public Affairs, said that beyond the headlines and reactions coming from the appointment, the decision is anchored on professional competence and the urgent need to reposition a critical health institution.
“A trained medical doctor with years of experience in the profession, Dr Kalu brings a blend of clinical expertise and an understanding of healthcare systems. Her background equips her to appreciate both the operational demands of a teaching hospital and the broader expectations of medical excellence, research, and training that define such institutions.
“The Abia State University Teaching Hospital has long required comprehensive reform to restore its status as a centre for quality healthcare delivery and medical education.
“Revitalising ABSUTH demands leadership that can strengthen governance, enforce institutional discipline, and align the hospital with modern standards in service delivery.
“Her appointment comes at a time when the state government is intensifying efforts to reposition the health sector and ensure that public health institutions function efficiently.”
Uzoukwa said that in making this choice, Governor Otti has always exercised his constitutional prerogative to appoint individuals he considers capable of advancing his administration’s reform agenda.
He said that the governor, widely known for a merit-driven approach to governance, has consistently prioritised competence over sentiment in his appointments.
“Within that framework, Dr Kalu is considered qualified to provide the leadership required at this critical moment in ABSUTH’s transformation.
“Contrary to speculative narratives, her appointment reflects a continuation of a governance philosophy that prioritises merit and capacity.
“The task ahead is clear as she works to help reposition ABSUTH into a functional, efficient, and reputable institution that meets the healthcare needs of Abians and supports the training of future medical professionals.
“As reforms deepen across sectors, many believe that Abians will continue to acknowledge the administration’s commitment to meritocracy and its broader efforts to transform the state into a reference point for good governance and sustainable development,” Uzoukwa said.
Special Assistant to Governor Otti on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that APC are shedding crocodile tears over Otti’s latest appointment.
“Before you use your petty political behaviour and bitter mindset to assess Governor Alex Otti and his appointments, note that he attaches great importance to Abia women, which is why his government parades more women than have ever been seen in Abia since the return of democracy.
Ekeoma listed women appointed by Governor Otti presently occupy the following positions:
Accountant General; Chairman ASUBEB; Chairman Civil Service Commission; Commissioner for Tertiary Education; Commissioner for Women Affairs; Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection; and Commissioner for Trade and Commerce.
Others include the Executive Secretary of ASUBEB; DG of the Abia State Orientation Agency; DG of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA); DG of the Abia State Signage and Advertisement Agency; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Ease of Doing Business; SA of Poverty Alleviation and Vulnerable Groups; the Administrator of the Eye Management Bureau and Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties; the Special Adviser on Health; and the Special Adviser on Legal Matters.
Ekeoma equally said that other positions Otti gave to women include Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Special Assistant on Women Affairs; Special Assistant on Women Mobilisation; Special Assistant on Digital Economy; Governor’s Chief Moderator; Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change; Provost, Abia State College of Education and Technical Arochukwu; Senior Special Assistant on Environment; Chief Liaison Officer, Lagos; CMD, ABSUTH Aba; MD, Abia State General Hospital Aba; CEO, Hospital Management Board; and the Provost, College of Medicine.
Ekeoma also said that the position of Permanent Secretary is a political appointment. “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria emphatically states that a Permanent Secretary in a state shall exist at the pleasure of the Governor.”
Ekeoma said that out of the present 26 permanent secretaries as appointed by Governor Alex Otti, 18 of them are women and 8 men. He stressed that women constitute up to 70% of those heading the primary health centres across the state, as appointed by Governor Otti.
“In 2022, Governor Otti was one of the brains behind the decision to give many female aspirants a waiver that made it possible for them to obtain LP nomination forms free of charge. We have several women on different important boards and agencies.
“Those making baseless conjectures based on ignorance, lack of information, or outright mischief because of the governor’s latest appointment should go and ask questions or, better still, wear their thinking caps.”
Ekeoma said that Abia is not an ISIS-controlled state where it is an aberration for women to be seen, let alone allowed to aspire.
“Governor Otti will continue to appoint capable, qualified and accomplished Abia women into important positions because they have continued to prove their mettle and, therefore, require the necessary support to keep breaking new ground.”
He said that as the APC continues to shed needless tears, Abia women are happy with their governor over the appointment of their fellow women and are ever ready to sustain his street credibility.
