NEED TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI FOR CONTINUITY

By Christian Anokwuru, a Public Affairs commentator

No doubt, the 2027 general elections is not merely about political ambition or party tickets,it is about the future of over 8 million Abians who have, for the first time in decades, begun to witness the reality of accelerated, tangible development.

Advisably, any opposition seeking to contest for the Governorship election without a blueprint comparable to what has been delivered by Governor Alex Otti is not just a political naivety; an economic and social recklessness.

Undoubtedly, under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, Abia State has been pulled from the brink of infrastructural decay and systemic collapse. It would be an act of profound self-sabotage for any well meaning Abian to derail this progress with an ill-prepared administration.

Infact, for decades, certain federal roads were treated as “no-go” areas due to neglect but the administration of Governor Otti destroyed this dichotomy, declaring that his administration does not distinguish between federal and state roads, because if a road is in Abia, it must be fixed since Ndi Abia are the ones making use of them.

In a historic partnership with the Federal Government, the state took over the reconstruction of major economic roads including the Owerri–Umuikaa Road, Onuimo–Umuahia Road, the Omenuko Bridge, and the crucial Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road to convincely reassure residents of the state that the present administration means business.

To make it clearer, the 25-kilometer Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene highway, a nightmare for decades to motorists is finally undergoing full reconstruction within an 18-month timeline.
Furthermore, rural development is no longer a slogan. The flag-off of the 13.5-kilometer Ariam-Usaka Ring Road in Ikwuano Local Government Area signals that Governor Otti’s vision is to transform agricultural belts into economic hubs, connecting various communities for the first time.

Recalled that few year ago, Abia was labeled one of Nigeria’s dirtiest states, but today, it ranks among the cleanest due to shocking transformation on the environmental condition by the present administration after Governor Otti declared a state of emergency on waste management.

Laudably, over 4,000 truckloads (more than 80,000 tonnes) of refuse from Umuahia and Aba were evacuated followed by establishment of ASEPA Ohafia zone.
On the transportation front, the Governor is not just building roads; he is revolutionizing mobility. In March this year, subsidized electric buses (Green Shuttles) charging a token fare to move citizens between major cities were launched.

Simultaneously, after previous administrations failed to build a physical airport for nearly a decade,the Otti administration has resolved to build one at Nsulu with compensation issues for over 4,000 landowners handled.

On the Health sector, Governor Otti inherited a system where accreditation was lost and workers were demoralized. To counter the brain drain, he implemented the Abia State Health Workers Salary Structure (ASHWOSS), aligning their pay with Federal Government standards to retain doctors and nurses.

Going beyond repairs, Otti is repositioning the state as a medical tourism destination by flagging off the construction of the $1.3 billion Abia Medical City—a 1,000-bed facility with a five-star hotel spread across 200 hectares—aimed at discouraging Nigerians from spending over $2 billion annually on medical tourism abroad.

Also, the administration declared free and compulsory education from primary one to junior secondary three in all public schools, a policy that has dramatically increased enrollment and relieved the burden of paying school fees from struggling families.

Gladly, the dark era of unpaid salaries is over as the government had committed over N40 billion to clear the backlog of salaries and pensions owed by previous administrations.

To prepare for the future, Abia Government is has digitized the civil service and retrofitted the Old Nnamdi Azikiwe workers Secretariat.
Succinctly, Aba, the commercial nerve center, is “alive again,as a $35 million facility by Ultimum Beverages was commissioned, proving that investors are returning. International delegations, including German investors, are now eyeing the state for partnerships in agriculture and manufacturing due to the improved business environment.

Last year, Governor Otti was named the SDG Personality of the Year in Africa by the International Association of World Peace Advocates for his strides in poverty reduction, education, and health. He has also been singled out for recognition by the Federal Government at the GovTech Awards.

Ultimately, continuity is non-negotiable because,
watching Otti’s trajectory, it is evident that Abia is on a multilateral development that requires ro be consolidated.

The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, captured perfectly, declaring that Otti’s scorecard is “unmatched” and that development is ongoing simultaneously across all sectors. Even the Forum of Deputy Mayors of Abia State 17 local governments Areas have thrown their full weight behind the Governor, urging Abians not to allow the developmental strides witnessed in the state to be disrupted.