Why Abba Moro Is Not Desperate And the Politics of the Otukpo–Obi–Oju Road
Two days ago, the Idoma nation stood still. We lost an illustrious son, Chief Audu Ogbeh, a man whose name will forever echo in the annals of our history. In such an unfortunate moments, politics should take a back seat. Silence should speak louder than any press propaganda and dignity should guide our public conduct.
It is precisely why I chose not to wade into the noisy online chatter immediately. Respect for the dead demands restraint. Unfortunately, Hon. Francis Agbo Ottah chose otherwise, trading solemn reflection for petty political sniping. And that, sadly, speaks volumes .
Ottah’s latest rant centers on the Otukpo–Obi–Oju federal road, a multi-billion-naira project flagged off in November 2024 by Senator Abba Moro. He ridicules the pace of work, ignoring the obvious: not even the federal government, with all its machinery, completes a 65km federal road in eight months, especially when only ₦1bn was captured for it in the 2024 budget as reported. He betrays a worrying ignorance about how governance actually works.
The 2024 capital budget is still active, extended first to June 2025 and now to December 31, 2025, meaning projects under it are still ongoing. An additional ₦3bn has already been inserted in the 2025 budget for the same road, as also stated. So, what exactly is Ottah mocking? Ongoing work? Budget realities? Or simply his own frustration that the project is happening without him?
Abba Moro’s politics is not anchored on desperation. He has nothing to prove to those playing roadside politics for personal validation. His approach, is the politics of duty, not vanity, a call to serve, not a race to occupy a seat. This is a man who has been a local government chairman, a minister, and now Senate Minority Leader. He understands the levers of governance, how to move a file from committee to funding, from budget approval to actual construction.
By contrast, a first-time senator even one with the loudest social media account, would spend their first year learning the labyrinth of the National Assembly. That is what Idoma people cannot afford to waste. Legislative influence is built over time, not bought with billboard slogans or hashtags.
Senior legislators with tenure secure better committee placements, faster project approvals, and more influence over budget negotiations. They are the ones who can pick up the phone, call a minister, and get a stalled file moving. In this regard, Abba Moro’s advantage over Francis Agbo Ottah is not just political, it is structural, procedural, and deeply institutional. And this is why it is troubling to see Ottah, a former lawmaker, descend into media hooliganism, turning Facebook timelines into motor park arenas. The senatorial contest in the district (Benue South) is open to all, yes, but it demands a certain decency, a certain stateliness.
Abba Moro is playing the long game. Ottah is playing for applause in the comments section. One is anchored in legacy and delivery. The other is anchored in likes and outrage. The people of Benue South will decide which leadership model serves them best. But history is not kind to those who mistake noise for influence. For now, the Otukpo–Obi–Oju road is being rebuilt, stone by stone, kilometer by kilometer. And when it is done, it will not be the name of the loudest critic that will be engraved in the people’s gratitude. It will be the name of the man who understood governance beyond rhetoric — Abba Moro.
Edache Joe Ngbede, writes from Benin City, Edo State
josephedache29@gmail.com
