Abia State Governor Alex Otti has declared that his government will no longer celebrate thieves, fraudsters, drug barons, 419 operators and bandits.
He made the statement on Sunday during the 90th birthday celebration of Emeritus Professor Benson Omenihu Oluikpe in Umuahia.
Otti said the practice of honouring people simply because of their wealth and influence, without asking how they got it, is an inherited culture that must end. He described it as something that is not part of Abia heritage and not the way people in the state were raised. Public recognition, he said, should go only to those who have shown integrity and achieved real success.
The governor’s declaration comes amid renewed controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s historical links to a United States investigation into a Chicago drug trafficking network in the early 1990s. Tinubu is currently involved in a legal battle in the United States over the release of FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration records relating to the investigation.
In August 2026, Tinubu asked a US federal court to reject a request seeking further disclosure of the records, arguing that certain information should remain protected under privacy provisions of American law. The records are being sought by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The case has attracted considerable public attention, particularly following reports that the FBI and DEA released hundreds of pages of documents containing redactions.
The controversy also draws attention to a 1993 civil forfeiture involving $460,000 connected to a bank account in Tinubu’s name, which was forfeited to the US government. Tinubu has denied wrongdoing. The Presidency has maintained that the ongoing proceedings are a civil records disclosure dispute, not a criminal trial, and that no US court has convicted him of drug trafficking.
The governor explained that his administration is now building a system to celebrate excellence so that young people will be inspired to work hard and do the right things rather than seek fame through crime or fraud. He pointed to the recent honour given to five Abia public school students who emerged champions at the 2026 International Schools Debate Championship in Doha, Qatar. The team won four major trophies and twelve medals after defeating competitors from six countries. Otti said such recognition forms part of the new direction to promote genuine achievement.
He also criticised the habit of waiting until people die before recognising their contributions. He argued that those who have made real impact on society should be celebrated while they are still alive to enjoy the honour. Otti added that recognition of outstanding Abians will not depend on political party, religion or where they live. He announced plans to honour another Abia born professor and inventor based in the United States in December. The scientist is known globally for an invention that helps target cancer cells more accurately.
To show the importance of integrity, Otti recalled a personal experience from 1989. While working at Citibank he sent 100 naira home. His father asked him to explain the source of the money. Otti said the cash came from extra work and daily allowances, but his father still insisted on full accountability. He urged parents today to ask their children questions about the source of any money they bring home. He noted that values, not the times, have changed, and he gave the example of his own son who recently provided receipts and explanations for money saved towards buying a house in the United States.
Professor Oluikpe, who turned 90, thanked the governor for the honour and prayed that God would honour him in return. He said he first met Otti in 2013 when the governor was still a banker and was impressed by his humility and wisdom. The professor recalled that Otti once stood up at a public event to return an award to him, a gesture he said reflected consistent humility. He described Otti’s 2015 election setback as a divine delay and expressed belief that God was preparing him for the right time to lead the state. Oluikpe urged public office holders to use their wealth and position to touch lives, saying a life without impact on humanity is no life and that wealth that does not reach others is useless. He also warned against sycophancy and advised the governor’s supporters to tell him the truth rather than flatter him.
Otti responded that the professor’s account matched his own understanding of the 2015 events. He recalled that he won the election but had to reclaim the mandate through the courts, succeeding at the Court of Appeal on December 31, 2015, before the Supreme Court affirmed it on February 3, 2016. He said the experience confirmed his belief that God’s timing is always best.
The birthday event highlighted Oluikpe’s long career as a linguist and educationist. Born on October 22, 1936, in Isiala Ngwa, he joined the University of Nigeria Nsukka in 1973, became a professor of English Linguistics in 1982, and later served as head of department and dean of the Faculty of Arts. His works include books on Igbo and English grammar that have been used in schools and universities for decades.
The Abia State Government organised the celebration as part of its wider push to recognise genuine excellence while rejecting honour for those of questionable character.
