In the last two weeks, the Abia landscape has been agog, as the people of “God’s Own State” joined the hard working Governor of the State, Governor Alex Otti, OFR and other first time Governors across the federation in making their 3rd year anniversary celebration and by extension, the uninterrupted twenty seven years of democratic governance in Nigeria.
However, while Governor Alex Otti’s counterparts across the federation were building on the solid foundation of their predecessors, the Abia State Chief Executive did not allow the dismal condition he inherited to dampen his morale and enthusiasm for the goals he had set for himself towards effective service delivery to Abians who freely gave him their mandate in that landmark election.
After effectively mobilizing Abians for partnership in the past three years of focused leadership, Governor Alex Otti’s impressive scorecard has demonstrated that nothing is unachievable where the will exists especially for a people that have taken the path towards collective prosperity.
Acknowledging the imperative of partnership in the attainment of society’s goals, an accomplished social worker and crusader for the down trodden, the irreplaceable Mother Theresa, once observed, quote: “I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot. Together, we can achieve great things”, end of quote.
Collaborating Mother Theresa on the essence of partnership, Steve Job, a renowned British author and Essayist said, quote: “Great things in business are never done by one person, they are done by a team of people”, end of quote.
Governor Alex Otti has indeed done great things in Abia State in the past three years with active collaboration of Abians, hence the litany of projects being commissioned by his administration across the state.
Available statistics reveal that no fewer than eight hundred (800) kilometer urban and rural roads has been constructed and reconstructed across the State with drainage system and solar power street lights. As a major economic driver, good road network has multiple benefits, including easy movement of goods and service, seamless intra-city movement social interaction. What is more, rural farmers long exploited in the scheme of things now, maximize the opportunity of good roads to enjoy the fruits of their labour, confirming the fact that to create wealth, first build roads.
Governor Alex Otti has also made visible impact in the health sector of the state. Prior to his assumption of office in 2023, the three levels of health care delivery systems of the state – primary, secondary and tertiary were in utter state of comatose-owing to years of neglect by the previous administrations. The only serving federal facility – Federal Medical Center (FMC) Umuahia was visibly overstretched to the limit to the effect that, patients even in their troubled conditions were seen lying on bare floor, especially at emergency wards. The declaration of state of emergency by Governor Alex Otti in this critical sector led to substantial deployment of resources for the revitalization of various healthcare facilities across the state’s health care delivery ecosystem. Today, every ward across all the seventeen local government areas has a functional healthcare facility equipped with the state of the art facilities as well as qualified personnel for effective service delivery. Same goes to the secondary health care system. Despite the enormous capital involved, Governor Alex Otti had ensured that every senatorial district in the state must have a functional tertiary healthcare facility. Having secured the re-accreditation of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) Aba, returning same for full operations to serve the tertiary healthcare needs of Abia South, the Governor has upgraded the Amachara General Hospital to tertiary health facility to serve the Abia Central Senatorial District. In the course of the 3rd year anniversary celebration, the Umunnato General Hospital in Bende Local Government Area has similarly been upgraded to a tertiary healthcare facility by Governor Alex Otti to serve Abia North Senatorial District.
Already macro and micro economic experts posit that with the foundation being laid by the Governor so far in the state, Abia would rank amongst the fastest growing economies in Africa in the next few years.
Governor Alex Otti has demonstrated uncommon courage in ensuring effective security to lives and property which is the primary purpose of government. In the face of creeping banditry and kidnapping that has overtaken the nation, the governor erected a formidable hedge round the state. He has tactfully demystified the security nightmare that had long confronted commuters along the Lokpanta, Umunneochi and Isuikwuato roads, thus restoring peace and business activities in that troubled region of the state. Today, it goes without saying that Abia has remained the most secured state in Nigeria and safe haven for genuine investors.
Governor Alex Otti’s administration in the past three years has been marked by style and elegance. Little wonder, Comte Buffon, a celebrated British essayist once observed that: “The style is the man”. The construction of the landmark Nnenna Otti Bus Terminal, in Umuahia and that of Aba in the making has indeed established the essential Alex Otti. Apart from upgrading the beauty of the capital city, the facility would bring sanity to the transport operations as well as act as necessary check to the insecurity in the transport sector.
Thus, in the past three years of active stewardship, Governor Alex Otti has matched every word with action in every sector of the State economy to the admiration of the people. Leveraging on the de-regulation of the power sector by the federal government, the Governor acquired sixty (60%) percent equity shares from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC) as well as established the Abia State Electricity Regularity Authority. He has also partnered Geo -Metric Power Limited to ensure constant power supply to the nine (9) local governments of Abia South senatorial district as the Governor is working assiduously to address that of the eight local governments of Abia Central and North Senatorial Districts.
As a scholar in governance, Governor Alex Otti has exhibited great intellect and vision. He has used his speeches, on informed lectures and public addresses to proffer solutions to national problems.
Convinced on the genuine intensions of Governor Alex Otti towards building an enduring state, Abians in the last three years have demonstrated deep understanding, making sacrifices, and discomfort where necessary believing that tomorrow would be better for all.
The Governor Alex Otti’s stewardship has substantially demonstrated his superiority over his competitors and rivals. His first shot at Governance has established him as a true statesman, proving his immense capacity for national and global leadership.
As the Governor walks boldly through the last lap of his first tenure, Abians must remain resolute in their support and hold tenaciously these lofty heights attained. Abians must close ranks and leave no room for reactionary forces to engender the collective match to progress.
— Okorie, a former Secretary to the Abia State Government, writes from Umuahia.
