Abia State Governor Alex Otti don tok say to oppose President Bola Tinubu 2027 re-election bid while you still dey serve as governor and member of National Economic Council fit lead to ‘implosion’. Na dat one he use explain why he dey support President even though he dey Labour Party.
Otti yarn dis one during exclusive interview wey Arise Television air on Friday, after dem ask am whether support for Tinubu re-election mean say a comfortable arrangement dey between him, a Labour Party governor, and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor tok say he no dey in position to oppose Tinubu candidacy, because of him role inside government and him involvement for federal policy decisions. ‘It works the way you have said. It’s a statement of fact. I am not in a position to oppose his candidacy,’ Otti tok.
But he separate him position as member of National Economic Council from Labour Party choice of presidential candidate for 2027 election. When dem ask whether he dey support Tinubu re-election, Otti recall say he don talk before say he get presidential candidate for Labour Party.
After interviewer identify Tinubu as candidate, governor reject the suggestion. ‘No, that’s not what I said,’ he tok. Dem ask whether he mean Labour Party presidential candidate, Otti answer, ‘Yes.’
Interviewer press am again on whether he dey support Tinubu. ‘What do you expect me to say? To say I’m not supporting him?’ Otti respond.
Abia governor tok say Tinubu get right to contest 2027 presidential election, adding say him membership of National Economic Council mean he dey involved for decisions and policies of Federal Government. ‘I had also said that as a governor in this republic, that a lot of the things that are being, in fact, I’m part of all the things that have been done as a member of National Economic Council. So, we should distinguish that. When somebody now says, ‘Oh, you are supporting or you’re not,’ I have to support him,’ he tok.
Otti explain say he prefer to express disagreements with government policies during official meetings rather than publicly oppose President. He warn say openly opposing Tinubu while he remain part of government fit create internal divisions and undermine operations. ‘And sometimes people don’t understand opposition. When you say opposition, and you are part of a government, then what you are driving towards is implosion. So if I do have a problem with anything, I’ll sit down in one of our meetings and I’ll make my point. So I’m not going to oppose his candidacy,’ he add.
Governor also tok say some Tinubu policies align with him own views, citing removal of petrol subsidy as example. According to Otti, subsidy don become unsustainable, adding say people no necessarily required to agree with him position. ‘Quite frankly, there are a lot of things that we have talked about now, that he has implemented, that resonate with me and my thinking. People don’t have to agree with me, but from where I sit, I know that for instance, the fuel subsidy was even unsustainable,’ Otti tok.
