A sharp exchange has erupted on social media following criticism of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over his remarks crediting President Bola Tinubu with the construction of federal roads in Abia State .
In a lengthy rebuttal to a post by Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, a Facebook user, Janny Linda Ozochi, has set social media ablaze by invoking Governor Alex Otti’s own public statement from November 1, 2025, to dismantle claims that the projects were solely executed by the Abia State Government .
“That epistle would have been beautiful literature if it wasn’t struggling so hard against documented facts. The grammar is strong, the adjectives are plenty, but unfortunately… screenshots are stronger,” Ozochi began .
Point-by-Point Rebuttal
Ozochi reminded readers that Governor Otti, on his official Facebook page, had publicly acknowledged “collaborative synergy with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu” and listed the Omenuko Bridge, Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, Owerrinta–Umuikaa dualization, Onuimo Tower Road, and Ohafia–Arochukwu Road as projects approved by the Federal Government .
“Was Governor Alex Otti lying then? Or are you revising history now?” Ozochi queried, adding that these are federal trunk A roads and cannot be awarded by a state government without federal corridor approval .
Defending Kalu’s Remarks
The social media commentator defended Deputy Speaker Kalu, who had stated at the APC State Congress that these projects were delivered under President Tinubu’s administration. “When a Deputy Speaker of the Federal Republic speaks at a public function acknowledging federal execution, suddenly that one does not count?” Ozochi asked .
She accused critics of emotional ventilation rather than factual rebuttal, stating, “If the projects are state funded, bring documents. If they are federally funded, accept reality. Shouting adjectives will not convert federal asphalt into state concrete” .
The Bottom Line
Ozochi concluded by urging calm, noting that infrastructure should not be tied to ego. “You cannot rewrite public statements. You cannot erase recorded acknowledgments. And you cannot gaslight citizens into forgetting what was said openly. The road will not disappear because someone else was credited for building it” .
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