In a detailed year-in-review report titled “Major Highlights of Abia Opposition in 2025: Achievements in Retrospect,” former Commissioner for Finance and prominent opposition voice, Obinna Oriaku, has chronicled what he describes as the opposition’s critical role in exposing governance failures and propaganda in Abia State.
The report, released on Tuesday, asserts that 2025 was a defining year where the opposition successfully highlighted the stark disconnect between the state government’s social media narratives and the “lived realities” across Abia’s 17 local government areas.
Key Exposés and “Achievements”
Oriaku’s report outlines several areas where sustained opposition pressure allegedly forced government action or public clarification:
· Pension & Gratuity: Forcing a reversal on a plan to have pensioners forfeit ₦70 billion in gratuities.
· Revenue Narrative: Dismantling claims that increased state revenue (up to ₦47bn monthly) was due to local wizardry, attributing it instead to federal fiscal policies.
· Project Accountability: Exposing that major road projects were federally funded and reimbursable, not solely state achievements.
· Local Government Funds: Highlighting mismanagement that led to protests and eventual salary increases for councilors.
· Minimum Wage: Revealing that some health workers still earned ₦29,000 monthly as of August 2025, leading to an adjustment.
· School Rehabilitation: Labelling the claim of spending ₦82 billion on school repairs as “largely fictitious and fraudulent.”
Alleged State Response: Intimidation & Lawfare
The report alleges a harsh government response, claiming no fewer than 13 legal actions were instituted against opposition figures in 2025. It also cites the alleged deployment of security agencies for intimidation, phone surveillance, and coordinated social media attacks to silence critics.
“Audio Projects” and Lack of Transparency
Oriaku listed several “audio projects” he says have stalled, including the Enyimba Hotel, Owaza Modular Refinery, and the Abia Seaport—which he notes was admitted by the governor to be non-existent. He also questioned the transparency and inflated costs of contracts like the Omenuko Bridge.
The former commissioner concluded that while Abia still faces “deep governance deficits,” the opposition’s vigilance in 2025 ensured many truths “would have remained buried beneath hashtags and propaganda.” He vowed to deepen the focus on accountability in 2026.
The Abia State Government is yet to officially respond to the allegations contained in the report.
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Disclaimer:
This report is based on a political document issued by an opposition figure in Abia State. The claims and allegations contained within are presented as the author’s perspective and have not been independently verified by CDA News Nigeria. The government referred to has a right of reply. CDA News Nigeria is an independent digital news platform.
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