The political atmosphere in Abia North has intensified as the Labour Party senatorial candidate, Chief Dr. David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, MFR, OON, bared his mind on the glaring political somersaults of the incumbent senator, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Speaking during the latest edition of the interactive broadcast, The Bourdex Hour, Chief Bourdex dissected the shifting rhetoric of the former governor, questioning his political consistency, ideological discipline, and accountability regarding federal constituency projects running into billions of Naira.
Responding to public curiosity during the live programme regarding allegations of ₦14.2 billion received for constituency projects, Bourdex emphasized that true leadership goes beyond headline figures and requires a granular, verifiable breakdown of public funds.
“We must separate four things: the amount appropriated, the amount actually released, the amount expended by the implementing agencies, and the condition of the completed projects,” Bourdex stated.
“A headline figure can attract attention, but a detailed record is what enables citizens and oversight institutions to establish the facts. Public accountability should never end with political declarations; it must be supported by evidence.”
Turning to the central political debate dominating Abia discussions—Senator Kalu’s sudden transition from a fierce critic vowing to uproot the Labour Party to publicly praising Governor Alex Chioma Otti—Bourdex did not mince words.
He noted that public leadership requires absolute consistency, honesty, and discipline, stressing that integrity remains the bedrock of public service.
Bourdex recalled the timeline of events that left many observers bewildered:
January 2nd: Senator Orji Uzor Kalu appeared in widely circulated videos publicly pledging to deliver Abia State to the APC and retire Governor Alex Otti and all Labour Party candidates.
March: He predicted a clean sweep for the APC across the state.
August 11th: Following a public appearance on Channels Television where he commended Governor Otti’s re-election prospects, the State APC chapter publicly demanded an apology from him.
August 23rd: Reports emerged of a hurried reconciliation between the party and the senator over his pro-Otti remarks.
“A politician can acknowledge the achievements of someone in another political party, but when a public figure makes strong declarations and subsequently takes a completely different position, he owes the public an explanation,” Bourdex asserted.
“What changed? Was it a new assessment of the political situation and a quest for survival? Was it a judgment about government performance or an act of cowardice? These are legitimate questions, and the public deserves clear answers rather than speculation.”
Addressing speculations surrounding the political undertones of Kalu’s praise for the state government, Bourdex issued a sharp clarification regarding Governor Alex Otti’s position.
He cautioned against assuming that rhetorical praise or acknowledgment of good governance could serve as a backdoor bargain for electoral convenience.
“Does he expect that publicly supporting His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, would oblige the government to abandon its own party and reciprocate by supporting Kalu’s senatorial ambition? And if Senator Kalu wins, would his support continue, or will he return to pursuing APC control?” Bourdex queried.
“Governor Otti is under no obligation to exchange his political convictions or party commitments for anybody’s endorsement. Public praise should never be mistaken for an automatic political bargain.”
Drawing the curtain on the interactive broadcast, Chief Bourdex urged the people of Abia North to look past political theatrics and focus on tangible developmental progress.
He praised the transformative leadership of Governor Alex Otti, noting that infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic revival are inextricably linked.
Bourdex called on all Abians to come out en masse in the upcoming 2027 general elections to vote massively for Governor Alex Otti and all Labour Party candidates, ensuring that the current foundation of progress solidifies into lasting prosperity for future generations.
