Abia’s decline started in Kalu’s second term after Abaribe’s impeachment – Osita Chidoka

The decline of Abia State, spanning from 2003 to 2023, has been attributed by former Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Osita Chidoka, to the political discord experienced under the leadership of ex-governor Orji Uzor Kalu. Chidoka addressed this during a keynote speech commemorating the 35th anniversary of Abia State's formation, held in Umuahia.

While acknowledging the initial growth under Kalu's tenure, Chidoka asserted that the situation deteriorated during Kalu's second term. His comments were primarily focused on Kalu’s decision to impeach his deputy, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and his subsequent political disagreements with the federal government. Chidoka's stance was that after Kalu’s second term, the state began to decline significantly, with improvements in infrastructure and education falling behind.

He emphasized that the current state of affairs in Abia is a direct result of Kalu's actions during his second term, and he holds him accountable for the state's underdevelopment. Chidoka praised Governor Alex Otti for his initiatives in education and infrastructure, suggesting that future generations of Abia will remember him more favorably than his predecessors.