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Ours is a republic where citizens are not certain what their government is obligated to do for them when or if they face personal challenges that may be miles above their means.
As a result of lack of known rights over such circumstances, irresponsible political leaders in Nigeria feel reluctant to stretch a hand from the people’s purse to lift the weak or the sick in society.
This has degenerated to the extent that most citizens have come to believe they are actually on their own, as the wicked leaders in the country prefer to steal the state blind and share the loot among themselves and with criminals that will help to rig elections for them.
So, when a leader remembers a helpless member of the society and actually reaches out to give quality support to the needy, it seems necessary to, at least, use that development to preach to ourselves the need for human compassion or support.
It is common knowledge that most Nigerian leaders over the years do not care about selfless compassion. So, when they donate to charity or facilitate community development, observers usually conclude that such actions are done only to achieve some selfish political interests.
This explains why, in the few instances where a compassionate political leader decides to help an individual in moments of emergency, it is necessary to openly appreciate and celebrate such a leader.
This is the where the story of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State comes in.
It has become necessary to acknowledge that, in the midst of the struggle for another election a few months away, Gov. Otti of Abia State was able to reach out to one of the prominent talents in the state, Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu of Nollywood fame, through the payment of N25 million out of her N30 million hospital bills.
Some critics have questioned the real motive behind the gesture.
For me, Gov. Otti’s approval of N25 million for treatment of popular Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu’s N30 million hospital bills is worthy of commendation. I say so because every life is precious and if a government stays back and watches one of its daughters perish because of an amount it can afford, such a government does not deserve that title.
But as is the case with the Nigerian brand of politics, some bitter critics have argued that Otti’s donation was not from his personal pocket but from the state’s purse and as a result should not be presented as a philanthropic gesture in order to gain favour during the 2027 elections.
While accepting the argument that reaching out to help save a life should not be dragged into the dirty pool of politics, I vehemently disagree with the view that Otti’s motive was to gain favour from Abians during the 2027 elections. This is because Otti, taking cognizance of his contributions to the development of Abia State and to the wellbeing of Abians, has no reason to entertain any fear as to whether he would be favoured by the electorate.
Besides, I am yet to see any reason to suspect that the governor did anything to present the gesture as a personal donation. No!
From all I have seen and read, I believe he made it clear it was part of Abia State Government’s support to a great daughter of Abia State in urgent need.
Although some reports, instead of saying Otti made the donation on behalf of the state and from the state’s purse only said Otti has donated the said sum for the treatment of the 62-year-old Nollywood actress, Ngozi Nwosu. This, rightly or wrongly, is in the manner of government officials’ communication in Nigeria.
Making public the donation, the governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Tourism and Entertainment, Martins Okey Justice, in a post on X, commended Otti for “responding to the actress’ health challenge.”
He wrote: “His Excellency @alexottiofr has just stepped in on the health issues of our Nollywood legendary actress, Mrs. Ngozi Nwosu, to approve the first part of her medical bills.”
Since then, some reports have featured critics labouring to fault what they said was politicisation of someone’s moment of need.
To me, it would seem ridiculous to interpret this comment from a state government official, a commissioner, as an attempt to present Otti as trying to take personal credit for the intervention.
All I can see is the need for government officials to adjust their manner of reporting of actions of government to avoid misinterpretation of their messages.
Another thing that has triggered this debate is the fear of his political opponents that Otti has scored another goal!
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This is evident in the fear inherent in the sentiment being expressed by the opposition. This too is understandable but certainly not necessary.
Yes, this is an era of politics, when politicians try to outdo rivals for vote advantage.
But by now we all know Gov. Otti. Whether we are his supporters or not, we cannot deny that he has so far represented Abia State well.
So, it would be fair for us to only see the Otti-led Abia State Government’s intervention in response to Mrs. Nwosu’s cry for financial support as the right thing a responsible government should do.
So, for Abia State Government to donate such sum to help save a life is worth everybody’s commendation, whether or not the funds come from the state’s purse or from the governor’s pocket.
Unknown to Otti’s critics raising eyebrows, anyone raising this kind of argument at this time and in this situation is ironically promoting Governor Alex Otti and the current Abia State Government, instead of diminishing them.
They are only telling Abians and Nigerians that, besides the physical structures that now have the stamp of the Otti-led Abia State Government, the governor has also shown concern for the lives of Abia sons and daughters and of others resident in Abia.
Before Tinubu gets the state police Bill…
I read in the news that the State Police Bill is scheduled for presentation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on September 3, 2026.
The reports quoted Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President, as confirming this development. The report also said Gbajabiamila added that “a national consultation will be held before the President’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials would be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”
Gbajabiamila, the reports said, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at the State House, Abuja, after a meeting of the Presidential Working Group on the National Policing Bill.
“The resulting executive bill package is scheduled for presentation to the President on the third of September.
“Subject to his approval, a national consultation on the completed draft will follow,” Gbajabiamila, who also chairs the Presidential Working Group, said.
He explained further, “The national consultation will come before the President’s final approval, after which the text and supporting materials will be revised and prepared for formal transmission to the National Assembly.”
According to him, “the approved work programme is a seven-week, milestone-driven exercise running from July 27 to September 14, 2026, with legal drafting, policy research, data analysis and implementation modelling taking place simultaneously.”
He said the final package would go beyond a single bill and include schedules, an explanatory memorandum, a legal audit, a consequential amendments matrix, clause-by-clause analysis, a state readiness framework, a fiscal and implementation note, an implementation work plan, a validation report, a risk register and a controlled digital archive.
“These are the materials required to make the reform defensible, auditable and capable of implementation,” he said.
As an interested observer, I must admit I am impressed by every effort so far made to get this issue right, although, like most Nigerians daily tormented by the worsening state of insecurity in our country, I feel state police has taken too long in coming.
It is one of the reforms that must be made if this country ever hopes to effectively tackle insecurity.
So, before the President signs the final approval for establishment of state police in Nigeria, I call on all stakeholders to do their parts painstakingly and in good time.
Nigerian forests, roads and communities desperately await its birth.
• Samuel Hezekiah Egburonu Esq, is a lawyer, veteran journalist, literary scholar and current affairs analyst
