By Jonathan Lois
A policy and legislative governance expert, Chibuzo Okereke, has commended Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, for institutionalising a monthly media engagement platform, describing it as a model for accountability and participatory democracy in Nigeria.
In a detailed analysis issued in Abuja on Friday, Okereke said the governor’s decision to sustain an open-door media forum, the Abia Monthly Media Chat, reflects a deliberate commitment to transparency, public scrutiny and responsible governance.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the principles of the Open Government Partnership by creating a structured channel for citizens and journalists to interrogate public policy and governance actions.
According to him, the forum has evolved into what he described as an “accountability benchmark,” providing citizens with direct insight into government programmes while enabling the media to engage leadership in real time without pre-screened questions.
“Platforms of this nature strengthen democratic culture and deepen public trust in leadership and institutions,” he said, adding that such engagements contrast with tightly scripted media interactions common in political environments.
Okereke’s intervention followed controversy surrounding a question posed by a representative of Don Media Group during the February 2026 edition of the Abia People, Governance and Development Media Chat.
He argued that the incident should be understood within the framework of professional journalism rather than political mischief. While acknowledging that criticism is essential in a democracy, the expert said the journalist demonstrated weaknesses in question framing and lacked analytical grounding.
“The issue was not the act of asking a critical question,” he said. “Rather, the concern lay in lack of specificity, absence of policy focus, no baseline data reference, no measurable impact parameters and contradictory framing of a basic impact question.”
Okereke described Governor Otti as a globally acclaimed development and investment banker capable of responding to policy questions at any time, noting that the governor’s intellectual background and professional record are well documented.
He further argued that it was intellectually inconsistent for a journalist to acknowledge that a governor is “doing a lot,” reference vague opposition concerns, and then demand precise socio-economic impact data without identifying a specific policy under evaluation.
“That approach shifts inquiry from evidence-based questioning to conjecture,” he said.
Responding to public reactions to the governor’s response during the session, Okereke said the governor’s visible displeasure should not be interpreted as hostility toward scrutiny but as a demand for intellectual rigour.
He maintained that high-level accountability platforms require preparation, evidence and clarity, noting that leaders who value excellence naturally expect well-structured engagement.
To clarify what he described as professional standards for evidence-based questioning, Okereke outlined a framework for journalists seeking socio-economic impact data from government officials.
He advised reporters to identify a specific policy under evaluation rather than ask generic questions about overall impact. He also stressed the need for baseline data, such as pre-policy unemployment rates, maternal mortality figures or travel time before infrastructure interventions, to enable meaningful comparison.
The expert further recommended that impact inquiries should be linked to measurable indicators, including poverty rates, business registration figures, internally generated revenue growth, school enrolment and retention rates, maternal and infant mortality ratios, household income levels and security trends.
He cautioned journalists against attributing claims to unnamed opposition sources, urging reliance on verifiable reports and institutional statistics. Professional questioning, he added, should remain objective and outcome-focused rather than emotionally framed.
Okereke said residents of Umuahia and other parts of Abia should be familiar with what he described as visible socio-economic changes under the current administration.
He listed infrastructure upgrades that have reduced travel time and lowered transportation costs, particularly along routes connecting major commercial centres such as Aba. He also cited increased commercial activity, improved business confidence and renewed private investment.
According to him, policy measures have stimulated business registrations, revitalised the hospitality sector and expanded the night-time economy following improvements in security and the business environment.
He further attributed improvements in living standards to youth and women empowerment programmes, expansion of small and medium enterprises, agricultural productivity initiatives and growth in household income.
In the health sector, Okereke said hundreds of healthcare facilities have been built or upgraded across rural and urban areas, resulting in improved access to primary healthcare services and reductions in maternal and infant mortality rates.
He also referenced investments in education, teacher welfare and skills acquisition, as well as expanded digital innovation opportunities for youths and women.
On energy policy, he said reforms have stabilised power supply, boosting manufacturing and commercial productivity. He added that enhanced security measures have contributed to reduced violent crime, restoration of nightlife and improved public confidence in government.
While defending the accountability platform, Okereke emphasised that media chats are not scientific research forums. He said comprehensive impact data typically emerges from structured studies, including household surveys, longitudinal socio-economic assessments and institutional research reports.
Expecting a governor to provide detailed figures without structured data frameworks, he argued, is inconsistent with modern governance practices. He contrasted this with what he described as a past era in Abia when public governance lacked accountability.
He also noted that independent institutions and responsible media organisations bear responsibility for conducting objective impact assessments and challenging government with evidence-based findings.
Okereke urged Don Media Group and other organisations to strengthen policy literacy among reporters assigned to governance platforms. He recommended pre-engagement research, data-informed questioning and analytical neutrality.
“Constructive journalism strengthens governance,” he said, adding that criticism must be informed and professionally grounded.
He described the Abia Monthly Media Chat as a democratic innovation reflecting openness and accountability, noting that few governors in Nigeria provide regular unrestricted access to journalists.
The expert said the incident should serve as a professional learning opportunity rather than diminish the platform’s value.
“Governance discourse must rise to the level of the reforms being undertaken,” he said. “Accountability thrives where questions are sharp, informed and responsibly framed.”
Okereke reaffirmed support for Governor Otti’s reform agenda, stating that Abia’s governance trajectory requires sustained quality engagement between leadership and the media.
He concluded that elevating the standard of public discourse remains essential to strengthening democratic accountability in the state.
End
