The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has dismissed as false a statement attributed to him in which he allegedly criticised Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the recent demolition of Igbo businesses in the state
The statement, which circulated online, claimed Governor Otti in a statement titled “Governor Alex Otti Fires Back At Lagos State Government Over Demolition Of Igbo Businesses”, said: “I have no business with Lagos, I’m not competing with Lagos. My competition is China and Dubai. By the time I’m done with Abia, Lagos will look like a village.”
In a press release dated October 5, 2025, and signed by Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Otti described the statement as “poorly scripted” and entirely fabricated.
“It must be unequivocally stated that the poorly scripted statement and other innuendos contained therein are not only false, baseless, and unfounded, but represent divisive propaganda from a group of frustrated politicians,” he said.
The release described Governor Otti as a statesman who avoids inflammatory rhetoric and prefers to engage colleagues through appropriate channels on sensitive matters affecting citizens’ welfare.
“It’s therefore ridiculous for anyone to imagine that Governor Otti could have made such a reckless and unintelligent statement that bears the signature of arrogance, thoughtlessness and divisiveness,” the statement reads.
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It further highlighted the long-standing relationship between Governor Otti and his Lagos State counterpart, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, describing their bond as spanning decades and making direct communication between them straightforward.
He alleged that the fake statement was part of a coordinated campaign by opposition elements to undermine his achievements, particularly around the time President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was scheduled to commission projects in Abia State.
“The authors of this hogwash had started by planting fake stories, petitions and inciting articles immediately they learnt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was coming to commission landmark projects in Abia,” he continued.
He noted that although the President could not attend in person, his representative received “unprecedented” presidential support and solidarity during the visit.
The statement emphasised Governor Otti’s track record of excellence and urged Abia residents, particularly social media users, to be vigilant against misinformation campaigns.
“Abians, especially social media users, are enjoined to be wary of the many fake stories and articles being sponsored and churned out by a handful of desperate politicians who are angry and frustrated that Abia has finally overcome mediocre governance,” Otti concluded.
The denial comes amid heightened tensions following demolitions in Lagos State that affected businesses owned by traders of Igbo extraction, sparking debates about inter-state relations and the treatment of non-indigenes in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
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