Governor Alex Otti has defended his decision to appoint Dr Ezinne Chinyere Benjamin-Kalu as Chairman of the Board of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.
Dr Ezinne is the wife of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who has often been politically opposed to Governor Otti.
Speaking on Saturday during the wedding ceremony of his Aide-de-Camp, ASP Emeka Ogbonna, Otti said the appointment was strictly based on competence and not political interest.
He explained that Dr Kalu was selected because of her performance during the interview process and her ability to handle the role, adding that politics played no part in the decision.
The governor also responded to the public criticism surrounding the appointment, describing the negative reactions as unnecessary “noise.”
According to him, his administration does not consider political party affiliation when making appointments. He said what matters most is capability and the value an individual can bring to the job.
Otti revealed that Dr Ezinne Benjamin-Kalu ranked first among seven candidates who were interviewed in 2025 for the position of Board Chairman at the teaching hospital.
He further stated that the government is not concerned about where an appointee comes from or their political background, stressing that competence remains the main standard for selection.
In his words, “We are not interested in whether someone is APC, PDP, YPP or any other party. That is not important to us.”
He added that location or origin also does not influence appointments, saying the focus is on intelligence, skills, and the ability to deliver results.