By all professional standards and ethical considerations, the journalist was neither irresponsible nor stupid. What should deeply concern the public, however, is the arrogance with which a governor reacted with hostility instead of transparency and accountability, coupled with a complete failure and outright refusal to provide verifiable data showing how his policies have tangibly improved the economic and living conditions of ordinary Abians.
At this point, Abians can clearly tell who, between the governor and the journalist, acted “irresponsible and stupid”.
That the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, could descend to the gutters with such uncouth, uncivil, and debased language speaks volumes about the climate of intolerance, high-handedness, and abuse of office currently taking root in the state.
Lashing out at a journalist, calling him irresponsible and stupid, for asking a legitimate and fundamental question about governance and accountability only further exposes the rot, malfeasance, and growing abuse of power under Otti’s administration.
The journalist, Chika Nwabueze of Don FM, Umuahia, only asked the governor to provide verifiable data demonstrating how his administration’s policies had directly improved the economic and living conditions of ordinary Abians.
By every standard of democratic engagement, the question was neither provocative nor disrespectful. It went to the heart of governance itself: measurable outcomes and real impact on the lives of the people.
However, instead of responding with facts, figures, or policy explanations, Governor Otti appeared visibly irritated and chose confrontation over clarification.
The governor does not need to like the journalist’s face, nor does it matter whether the owner of Don FM, where the journalist works, is a member of City Boys Movement, to respond to legitimate questions.
He dismissed the question as “irresponsible” and went further to describe the journalist as “stupid.” What an uncouth, unbecoming, and entirely ungovernatorial display by a state governor.
Hear him rant: “You can’t come to a media chat and ask me to provide data about the measurable impact of what the government is doing. It’s irresponsible. That we throw this open for people to ask questions doesn’t mean people should be stupid. It is not my business to measure the impact of government policies on the people. My business is to deliver on my promises. It is for you, as a journalist, if you are actually one, to find out.”
Obviously, Otti’s response raises a troubling dimension in today’s Abia. In modern governance, measuring policy outcomes is not optional; it is fundamental to accountability, transparency, and evidence-based leadership. To suggest that assessing the impact of government policies is not the responsibility of the government itself is to openly reject the basic principles of public service and democratic rule.
Even more disturbing is the governor’s choice of words. Public officials, especially governors, are expected to demonstrate restraint, tolerance, and respect for the press, particularly when confronted with uncomfortable but necessary questions. Resorting to insults not only diminishes the dignity of the office but also sends a chilling signal to journalists whose constitutional duty is to interrogate power on behalf of the people.
A respectable media chat is not a political rally, nor is it a courtroom for intimidation. It is a platform for accountability.
A governor that cannot calmly explain his performance with data should look inward and correct his failures, rather than lash out in anger, bullying the people.
. Appolos is a seasoned journalist based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
