I recently came across an article written by one Ogbonnaya James and titled “Bourdex and the Politics of Borrowed Influence.” The article attempts to question the political relevance, empowerment record, experience and independent capacity of Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, MFR, OON.
Those are legitimate subjects for political debate.
But if we are going to ask questions about political relevance, influence, empowerment and performance, then let us apply the same standard to everyone.
Let the facts speak.
BORROWED INFLUENCE? WHAT EXACTLY IS WRONG WITH POLITICAL ALIGNMENT?
The attempt to portray Bourdex’s political relationship with Governor Alex Otti as some form of “borrowed influence” misunderstands both history and the very nature of democratic politics.
Chief David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex and Dr. Alex Otti did not meet politically after Otti became Governor.
They travelled this political road together.
In 2015, while Dr. Alex Otti flew the APGA governorship flag in Abia State, Bourdex was the party’s senatorial candidate for Abia North.
They were again part of the same political struggle in 2019.
Their political relationship and shared aspirations for a different Abia therefore did not begin with the present administration.
So there should be absolutely no apology for Bourdex standing with Governor Alex Otti today.
There should equally be no apology for Labour Party candidates campaigning on the achievements of a Labour Party Governor.
That is what political parties do.
A performing Governor strengthens his party.
His achievements strengthen the arguments of candidates running on the same platform.
And candidates who share his developmental philosophy are perfectly entitled to tell the electorate:
“This is the government we belong to. This is the direction we support. This is the progress we want to consolidate and extend.”
Indeed, Bourdex’s argument is not that he wants to distance himself from Alex Otti.
It is exactly the opposite.
He is proud to stand with him.
He is proud to belong to the political family supporting the transformation taking place in Abia State.
And he is asking the people of Abia North to send him to the Senate so that the representation of Abia North at the federal level can complement, strengthen and accelerate the developmental work of Governor Alex Otti at home.
What exactly is wrong with that?
IF STANDING WITH YOUR PRESIDENT IS LEGITIMATE, WHY IS STANDING WITH YOUR GOVERNOR “BORROWED”?
There is an obvious contradiction in the argument against Bourdex.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu himself has been one of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vocal political supporters. Shouting and singing “Bola on your mandate we stand at every given opportunities”
He has repeatedly declared his support for President Tinubu and his second-term ambition and rides on that “borrowed influence” because after 8 Years as Governor of Abia State and almost 8 Years as Senator he has absolutely nothing to show, nothing to point at as his achievements and should therefore hide his face in shame. And this is the only reason he keeps shouting “Bola on Your Mandate we Stand” everywhere he goes hoping Abuja would hear him whereas Abuja is already looking the other way.
And yet nobody accuses Senator Kalu of committing a political offence because he stands with his President.
So why should Bourdex be criticised for standing with his Governor?
If OUK is entitled to stand with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and campaign under the political strength and achievements of an APC Federal Government, then Bourdex is equally entitled to stand proudly with Governor Alex Otti and campaign on the achievements of the Labour Party government in Abia State.
You cannot celebrate political alignment in Abuja and suddenly rename the same thing “borrowed influence” when it happens in Umuahia.
That is intellectual laziness and inconsistency.
Politics is built on alliances.
Political parties are built on collective identity.
Candidates campaign on the records of governments belonging to their parties throughout the democratic world.
There is therefore no shame whatsoever in Bourdex saying:
“Alex Otti is my Governor. We share a political history. We share a political platform. I believe in the direction in which he is taking Abia State, and as Senator I intend to work with him to bring even greater development to Abia North.”
That is not borrowed influence.
That is political alignment with purpose.
AND BOURDEX BRINGS HIS OWN RECORD TO THAT PARTNERSHIP
Political alignment does not mean that Bourdex comes to the partnership empty-handed.
Widely recognised as a pioneer of private wireless telecommunications in the former Eastern Nigeria, Chief Bourdex founded Bourdex Telecommunications Limited, helping to expand private wireless communication across areas that today constitute the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones long before the GSM revolution.
His impact was not restricted to handing out occasional gifts to individuals.
He created businesses, provided employment and helped build communications infrastructure upon which businesses and communities in IGBO NATION and Nigeria depended.
His contributions were subsequently recognised by the Federal Republic of Nigeria with two National Honours:
Member of the Order of the Federal Republic — MFR
and
Officer of the Order of the Niger — OON.
He has contested for the Senate in Abia North before, including in 2015 and 2019.
Therefore, the case for Bourdex is not:
“Forget Alex Otti and look at me.”
Far from it.
The argument is that Bourdex brings his own lifetime of enterprise, experience, community involvement and political participation into a partnership with a Governor whose developmental vision he shares and whose administration he proudly supports.
That combination should be considered a strength, not a weakness.
NOW LET US APPLY THE SAME TEST TO OUK
Having established that there is nothing unusual about standing with successful leaders within one’s political family, we must return to the real issue.
What does each candidate personally bring to that political alliance?
Senator Kalu is entitled to support President Tinubu.
Bourdex is entitled to support Governor Otti.
But neither relationship should exempt either man from scrutiny of his own record.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu served eight years as Governor of Abia State and has represented Abia North in the Senate since 2019.
Therefore, rather than merely advertising political connections and national access, he should be asked to identify the enduring legacy of those years.
After eight years as Governor:
What is the signature legacy project that fundamentally transformed Abia State?
What enduring institution established under that administration continues to define Abia’s development today?
What transformative infrastructure stands as the unmistakable monument to eight years of stewardship?
What economic foundation was laid that permanently changed the fortunes of ordinary Abians?
Those are legitimate accountability questions.
And the same standard must apply to his years in the Senate.
If national influence is the argument, then show us what that influence produced.
Not who you know.
Not whose mandate you stand upon.
Not how many powerful people take your telephone calls.
Show us what came home to Abia North.
That is the test.
THE EFCC CASE
Another part of Senator Kalu’s public record is the long-running EFCC case, and it should be discussed accurately.
Kalu was convicted by the Federal High Court in December 2019 in proceedings involving allegations of approximately ₦7.1 billion and was sentenced to imprisonment.
The Supreme Court subsequently nullified those proceedings because the trial judge had already been elevated to the Court of Appeal and therefore lacked jurisdiction to continue sitting as a Federal High Court judge.
That distinction is important.
The Supreme Court decision did not constitute a determination that the underlying allegations were false. Rather, the proceedings and resulting conviction were set aside on jurisdictional and procedural grounds. A Federal High Court subsequently barred his retrial, while further litigation concerning the EFCC’s effort to challenge that decision continued.
What is the present legal status of that case, and what ultimately became of the attempt to retry it? And the fundamental question we still ask is, “is OUK an ex-convict or not”?
That is a legitimate matter of public record concerning someone who has occupied some of the highest political offices in Abia State and Nigeria.
THE CONSTITUENCY PROJECT QUESTION
There are equally serious questions concerning constituency projects.
Published investigations have raised concerns about the execution, quality, contracting and value for money of some projects associated with Abia North.
BudgIT/Tracka’s 2024 reporting referred to projects worth more than ₦500 million which it alleged were poorly executed, awarded to close associates and recorded very low performance.
An ICIR investigation in November 2024 examined the Mile 2 Obinagu–Ezeukwu/Alayi road, linking communities in Abia and Ebonyi States.
Residents reportedly complained that although the proposed project covered approximately seven kilometres, only about 1.3 kilometres had been constructed.
Questions were also raised about the quality and eventual abandonment of the project.
More significantly, the investigation reported a contracting trail involving Nuk International Resources Limited, while government spending information reportedly identified another company as the recipient of a mobilisation payment.
According to the investigation, a CAC search showed that one of the directors of Nuk International Resources Limited was Mascot Uzor Kalu, Senator Kalu’s brother.
These are matters that deserve answers — not insults, propaganda or diversion.
PUBLIC MONEY IS NOT PERSONAL PHILANTHROPY
Another important distinction must be made whenever politicians speak about “empowerment.”
There is a difference between:
money personally spent by a politician
and
projects or items financed through the Federal Government budget.
Tracka had previously raised questions concerning motorcycles provided in Abia North, reportedly financed through a federal budget provision of approximately ₦20 million, but subsequently presented publicly as a “donation.”
A Senator is perfectly entitled to facilitate or nominate constituency interventions.
Indeed, that is part of representation.
But taxpayer-funded projects should not be presented in a manner that creates the impression that public funds came from a politician’s private pocket.
The people deserve to know which empowerment programmes were personally funded and which were financed from federal appropriations.
That is accountability.
LET US AUDIT THE PROJECTS
Let Senator Kalu publish a comprehensive, project-by-project account of the interventions he says he attracted to Abia North.
For every project, let the people see:
The amount appropriated.
The awarding Ministry, Department or Agency.
The contractor.
The beneficial ownership of the contracting company.
The amount actually released.
The percentage completed.
The physical location.
The present condition of the project.
And whether the project is functional today.
If the projects were properly executed, such an audit should strengthen his case.
If they were not, the people are equally entitled to know.
Public office is a public trust.
THE QUESTIONS OUK SHOULD ANSWER
After eight years as Governor of Abia State and, by the completion of his present tenure, almost eight years representing Abia North in the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has accumulated enormous political experience.
Nobody disputes that.
But longevity in office cannot itself be the evidence of performance.
The relevant questions are:
What measurable benefits have those years produced for Abia North?
What is the complete appropriation and expenditure record of the constituency projects attributed to his representation?
Which companies received the contracts?
Who beneficially owns those companies?
How many projects were completed according to specification?
How many remain functional?
What measurable economic outcomes — jobs, businesses, investment, infrastructure or institutions — resulted from those expenditures?
Which empowerment programmes were funded personally by Senator Kalu, and which were financed by taxpayers?
These are not insults.
They are questions every public officeholder should be prepared to answer.
Documents should do the fighting.
THE NATIONAL INFLUENCE TEST
The defenders of Senator Kalu frequently speak about his national influence, political connections and access to powerful people.
Very well.
Let us accept that argument for the purpose of examination.
But influence is not an achievement by itself.
The proper question is:
WHAT DID THE INFLUENCE PRODUCE FOR ABIA NORTH?
If a politician has served eight years as Governor and nearly eight years as Senator by 2027, then simply saying:
“I know powerful people.”
cannot constitute a performance report.
Political access must produce measurable public benefit.
Therefore, the people should ask:
What major federal institution has this extraordinary influence permanently brought to Abia North?
What transformative infrastructure resulted from it?
What sustainable industries were established?
How many enduring jobs were created?
What major federal investment fundamentally changed the economy of Abia North?
What major national policy accomplishment can be directly connected to this much-advertised influence?
What institutions will remain in Abia North long after the politician leaves office?
Those questions allow the electorate to distinguish between access to powerful people and results for ordinary people.
THE SENATE PERFORMANCE TEST
Let us equally examine the legislative record.
How many Bills were sponsored?
How many passed the Senate?
How many passed both chambers of the National Assembly?
How many received Presidential Assent and became law?
How many Motions directly addressed the peculiar needs of Abia North?
What measurable benefits came to Abia North from the Senator’s committee positions?
How much federal appropriation was secured for the district?
How much was actually released?
How much became completed and functional infrastructure?
That is how genuine national influence should be measured.
Not by photographs.
Not by proximity to powerful people.
Not by the number of years spent in politics.
But by results.
PROJECT QUANTITY IS NOT PROJECT QUALITY
There is another distinction the people of Abia North must understand.
A politician can publish a list containing one hundred projects.
That does not automatically mean one hundred successful projects were delivered.
Every project should pass through an accountability chain:
ANNOUNCED → APPROPRIATED → AWARDED → FUNDED → EXECUTED → COMPLETED → FUNCTIONAL → VALUE FOR MONEY
Anything short of that is merely a line on a political scorecard.
So if anybody says:
“I attracted 100 roads,”
excellent.
Publish the appropriations.
Publish the contract values.
Publish the contractors.
Publish the amounts released.
Publish the completion certificates.
Then allow independent engineers and the affected communities to inspect those projects.
A politician with a strong performance record should welcome such scrutiny.
BOURDEX AND OTTI: NOT BORROWED INFLUENCE, BUT SHARED PURPOSE
The attempt to use Governor Alex Otti’s popularity against Bourdex therefore fails completely.
Bourdex does not need to run away from Alex Otti’s achievements.
He should embrace them.
He should campaign on them.
He should defend them.
Because Bourdex’s senatorial aspiration is part of a broader political project to ensure that Abia State has representatives at every level of government who understand and support the developmental direction currently being pursued by Governor Alex Otti.
The argument is straightforward:
Alex Otti is rebuilding Abia State.
Bourdex wants Abia North’s representation in the Senate to reinforce that transformation.
A Senator working in harmony with a performing state government can help attract federal infrastructure, investment, institutions and opportunities that complement what the state is already doing.
Imagine the possibilities when a performing Governor at home has a Senator representing Abia North who shares that vision, understands the direction of government and is committed to working with him rather than pulling in another direction.
That is not dependence.
That is coordination.
That is not borrowed influence.
That is political partnership.
And if political partnership with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is legitimate for OUK, political partnership with Governor Alex Otti cannot suddenly become a political weakness when the candidate involved is Bourdex.
One standard must apply to everyone.
SO LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE ON THE RECORD
Abia North does not need another shouting match.
It needs accountability.
Let every candidate place his record before the people.
Let every claim of empowerment be examined.
Let every constituency project be inspected.
Let every appropriation be traced.
Let every legislative claim be verified.
Let every assertion of national influence be measured against actual results.
And let every candidate tell the people what he intends to do differently.
Because ultimately:
Longevity is not performance.
Access is not achievement.
Appropriation is not execution.
Attracting a project is not the same as completing it.
Public money is not personal philanthropy.
And political connections matter only when they produce measurable benefits for the people.
Above everything else:
INFLUENCE SHOULD LEAVE EVIDENCE.
Roads people can drive on.
Hospitals treating patients.
Schools educating children.
Electricity powering businesses.
Jobs supporting families.
Industries creating prosperity.
Institutions surviving politicians.
That is how national influence should be measured.
And after all the noise has subsided, that is the question the people of Abia North must answer in 2027:
WHOSE RECORD OFFERS THE STRONGER CASE FOR THE FUTURE?
Let the evidence speak
