Alex Otti's Voice Was Heard Loudly in The Niche Lecture, Writes Ikechukwu Amaechi

On Thursday, April 23, 2026, Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti delivered the 2026 TheNiche Annual Lecture at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, and his message was unmistakable, leaving no one in doubt about his stance on the theme, “Governing the Economy: Choices, Trade-offs, and National Priorities.”

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Dr Otti's lecture was a breath of fresh air in a country where political leaders often speak in ambiguous terms, and his 4,875-word address was marked by profound insights, refreshing clarity, and edifying candour, as he emphasized that elections have consequences.

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He began by stating that there is no silver bullet for solving Nigeria's economic challenges, noting that economics is about cold, hard facts, not vanities, and that the high level of unemployment, rising poverty, and growing sense of helplessness amongst Nigerians cannot be wished away, a pragmatic stance that reflects his experience in the banking industry.

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Despite the challenges, Dr Otti expressed optimism about the future of the country, preferring to see the cup as half full rather than half empty, and stated, “I refuse to submit to the position of cynics who insist that our situation is entirely hopeless because it is not… Our country has a great destiny and its future will certainly remain bright.”

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However, he also sounded a note of warning, saying, “Even then, the world cannot afford to wait in perpetuity for Nigeria to begin to play to its full strength, and quietly, it has moved on, hoping that someday, our country may catch up, but whether that day would be in this decade or in the coming century, or perhaps never, will depend largely on what we do in the days and years that follow.”

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Dr Otti emphasized the direct correlation between political choices and the daily experiences of the population, asserting that a good leadership system, one that understands the dynamic laws of economics and the intersection of political behaviour and public welfare, would go a long way in achieving the dream of a better Nigeria.

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He declared, without equivocation, that it is impossible to separate incompetent political leadership from the manifestations of economic decline, such as drastic tanking of the size of the gross domestic product, GDP, widespread unemployment, and reduced investment appetite, which ultimately lead to high poverty levels and endemic anxiety within the community.

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Dr Otti's message resonated with the audience, as he stressed that the foundation of economic governance is built on the decisions made by those in power, and that the outcome of their choices impacts the daily experiences of Nigerians, and that in a political system driven by mercantilism, desperation for power, and corruption, things are bound to go from bad to worse.

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He asserted that strong and resilient institutions cannot be built on the back of a corrupt political culture, and that evidence abounds that it is nigh-impossible to build a robust economy on the foundation of political corruption, a point that was well received by the audience.

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Dr Otti's position on leadership seems to align with the French philosopher Joseph de Maistre's retort that “every nation gets the government it deserves,” which places the responsibility on the people, but this perspective has been questioned, given the experiences of Nigerians in past elections.

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While some Nigerians see votes as wares for sale to the highest bidder, many others do not partake in this practice, and it is essential to note that the decision of some citizens not to vote is often a result of the exercise of their franchise being used to legitimise fraud, rather than a lack of interest in the democratic process.

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Dr Otti's own experience in the 2015 governorship election, where he won fair and square but was not declared the winner, highlights the flaws in the system, and the role of individuals like Professor Nnenna Oti, who upheld the truth, made a significant difference in the 2023 election.

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The question remains whether it is correct to say that the people of Abia State deserved the government they got in 2015, when it was clear that they did not vote for the declared winner, and this raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

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Dr Otti noted that as stakeholders in the Nigerian project, citizens ought to be worried that many compatriots are increasingly shying away from participation at the ballots, but it is crucial to ensure that votes are not only counted but also count in determining who wields power.

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Voting for the sake of it, when the votes do not count, is an exercise in futility, and development is impossible without a proper sense of stewardship amongst those in leadership positions, which is only possible if those in power owe their positions to the electoral wishes of the people.

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Dr Otti stated that poverty and prosperity, employment and joblessness, security and anxiety, prudence and rascality will all be on the ballot in 2027, but with the current attempt at coronation rather than election, it is uncertain whether these issues will be truly addressed.

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The fact that leadership misfits are in power in Nigeria is not necessarily because the people made wrong choices, but rather because the right choices were criminally aborted, and the real test of this pseudo-democracy will be to stop the political marauders in their tracks in 2027, no matter what it takes.