Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared that good governance is the most important gift any leader can give to the people, while firmly rejecting the culture of political godfatherism that has long shaped Nigerian politics. Otti made the statement while speaking about his administration and the kind of leadership he hopes to leave behind in the state, according to a report by Gistlover. "The most important thing you can give your people is good governance. If you're afraid we will go back to Egypt, it will never happen. By the time I'm done, the person who succeeds me will be better than me. I don't tolerate godfatherism; I don't want to be a godfather," he said. The governor emphasised that he does not intend to establish a political structure that would make him a godfather after leaving office, stressing that his priority is to provide good leadership and create an environment where whoever succeeds him can build on the progress made by his administration.
The statement is consistent with Otti's long-standing position on godfatherism. In March 2026, he told residents that his administration belongs to the people and not to any political godfather. "This is your government; it has no godfather," he said at the time, stressing that his administration was brought by God and had no choice but to work for the masses. He promised that residents would witness more infrastructural development, and he has repeatedly framed his leadership as a departure from the era when self-styled political godfathers held Abia State hostage and diverted public resources.
The governor's latest remarks come amid a fierce political battle in Abia State. The state government recently launched a scathing attack on Chief Charles Ogbonna, a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, following a viral video in which he alleged that Governor Otti described the Ngwa people as "brainless." The government described the claim as false, baseless, and a figment of Ogbonna's imagination. "At no time, in private or in public, did Governor Otti make such a statement. Those who know the Governor well know that he does not speak loosely, unlike Ogbonna. Governor Otti holds Ndi Ngwa, like all Abians, in the highest esteem and has demonstrated this through equitable appointments, projects, and policies across all zones of the state," said Ferdinand Ekeoma, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity. The government accused Ogbonna of resorting to incitement and clannish hate speech as a plot to play the role of godfather to the candidates of his own political party, and advised him to abandon his "futile political godfatherism ambitions."
Otti's rejection of godfatherism is significant in a political environment where godfathers have historically dictated the emergence of governors, senators, and other political office holders. In many states, godfathers have been accused of installing their preferred candidates and then demanding a share of power, resources, and influence. Otti's insistence that he does not want to be a godfather and that his successor will be better than him represents a departure from that tradition. Whether he will be able to sustain that posture after leaving office remains to be seen, but for now, the governor has made his position clear: good governance, not political patronage, is what he wants to be remembered for.
The statement has generated significant reaction online, with some Nigerians expressing hope that other governors will follow Otti's example. One commenter wrote, "An idea that looked ordinary on paper worked well for me." Another said, "I'm relocating to Abia State soon." A third urged the governor to remain committed to his principles: "Become a godfather but this time a good one. The next governor must follow your template or leave." Otti's assertion that his successor will be better than him is a bold and unusual claim in Nigerian politics, where leaders often seek to extend their influence beyond their tenure. Whether he will be able to deliver on that promise will depend on whether he leaves behind strong institutions and a political environment that allows merit, rather than godfatherism, to determine who governs Abia State next.
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