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Tag: Alex Otti

  • Excitable Otti versus unyielding Abure

    Excitable Otti versus unyielding Abure

    Abia State governor Alex Otti and Labour Party (LP) factional leader Julius Abure are indications that the ghost of the troubled LP has not been laid to rest, let alone resting in peace. In late January, the Federal High Court in Abuja, citing the April 2025 Supreme Court verdict, declared the Nenadi Usman-led LP as the authentic caretaker executive of the party. Pursuant to the judgement and tired of factionalisation, Dr Otti reached out to the other faction, asking for reconciliation and unity. Mr Abure was adamant. There would be no reconciliation until the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court have had their say, the factional chairman bawled. It is not clear when that would be, but considering the 2027 electoral timetable and the impending party primaries coming up in a matter of months, both appellate courts had better hurry if Mr Abure’s faction is not to lose out altogether.

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    Mr Abure’s dismissive characterisation of Dr Otti’s request for rapprochement was colourful. He said through his faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh: “We are not interested in any move by Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, to reconcile the party because he was the one who brought the crisis to the party in the first place…This reconciliatory thing he is throwing around is of no use. What we just witnessed was a judgment by a court of first instance. Why can’t he wait for the outcome of the appeal before deciding on such a move? Why is he suddenly in a rush to call for reconciliation? As far as we are concerned, their celebration is a pyrrhic victory…Let him know that the battle is not over.” By the time the legal battle is over, it may be too late for credible aspirants to fight for the party’s tickets for the 2027 polls. In all probability, however, Dr Otti, who has resisted persuasions to defect, may be fighting to secure a platform for his reelection and political life.

  • Otti: No coalition with opposition political parties

    Otti: No coalition with opposition political parties

    …to hold congresses next month

    …sets conditions for Abure, others to return to the party

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has ruled out the participation of the Labour Party in any coalition to oust the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power in 2027.

    Otti said this during the first stakeholders’/ National Executive Council (NEC) meeting after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman, the Interim National Chairman of the party.

    The meeting, which was held in Abia Governor’s Lodge, Abuja late on Saturday, had in attendance representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Senator Usman, and other members of the party’s Interim National Working Committee.

    The Abia state governor said that the Labour Party was already a coalition on its own, comprising the Nigerian workers and people of progressive minds.

    Otti said, “Labour is already a coalition. This is the coalition of Nigerian workers and people who are progressive and like-minded.

    “So, I know when people talk about joining another coalition. We have no such plans.”

    The governor also expressed the party’s regret over the defection of its 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as several lawmakers in the National Assembly to the African Democratic Congress.

    Added, “We regret the exit of the former leader of the party, Peter Obi. While we regret his exit, we wish him well. We have also resolved that the party should come together.

    “The NEC acknowledged that the party has lost some members, particularly those elected under its platform into the National Assembly, as well as some caretaker committee officers who have since been replaced. However, it maintained that the party remains strong.”

    He also said the party would hold congresses from March 2026 and begin a nationwide revalidation of its membership, alongside the registration of new members.

    Otti said, “The National Working Committee and other stakeholders are to organise congresses from the ward to zonal level till the national convention. The timetable has been drafted, and INEC has been notified. Very soon, the congresses will happen, and the national convention will follow.

    “The other issue is the revalidation of membership, and a committee has been set up for congresses to start in March.”

    The meeting further agreed to establish a reconciliation committee to engage aggrieved members willing to return to the party.

    He called on the former National Chairman, Julius Abure, and his team to sheath their swords and return to the party, while also urging Nigerians to join the Labour Party.

    He added, “We also decided that we need to set up a reconciliation committee; the Interim National Working Committee will advise us on it. The whole idea is to reconcile everyone who is willing and desires to come back.

    “I call on Julius Abure and his people to sheath their swords and come back to the party. If they are willing to abide by the rules of the party, we will be happy to take them back.”

    Otti thanked INEC for recognising the Interim National Committee and uploading the names of the party’s leadership on its website in compliance with the Federal High Court of Abuja order.

    The party also regretted that it would not be able to participate in the February 21 Federal Capital Territory area councils election.

    The Abia governor also thanked supporters of the party and assured them that the Labour Party would emerge stronger and more united.

    Otti equally expressed regret that the party would be unable to participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections because of circumstances beyond its control, but expressed confidence that the party would be ready for subsequent elections.

  • Otti reaffirms Labour Party’s strength, unveils timetable for nationwide congresses

    Otti reaffirms Labour Party’s strength, unveils timetable for nationwide congresses

    Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed that the Labour Party remains a strong and viable political platform in Nigeria, assuring that the party will proceed with its congresses across the country.

    Otti gave the assurance while chairing the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the party held in Abuja, alongside members of the Interim National Committee.

    Briefing journalists after the meeting, the governor expressed appreciation to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising the Interim National Committee and for uploading the names of the party’s leadership on its website in compliance with a court order.

    He disclosed that the NEC and the Interim National Committee had agreed to roll out a timetable for congresses at the ward, local government, state and zonal levels, culminating in a national convention.

    According to Otti, the congresses are scheduled to commence in March, beginning with the revalidation of existing members and the registration of new ones. A committee has been constituted to oversee the exercise.

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    The NEC also resolved to establish a reconciliation committee aimed at reuniting aggrieved members willing to return to the party. In this regard, Otti appealed to Barrister Julius Abure and his associates to embrace peace and rejoin the party, while also calling on Nigerians to identify with the Labour Party.

    The governor noted that the party’s leadership regretted the exit of its former leader and presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, describing his departure as unfortunate while wishing him well. He urged party members to close ranks in order to build a stronger and more cohesive political force.

    The NEC acknowledged that the party had lost some members, particularly elected representatives at the National Assembly and certain caretaker committee officials who had since been replaced, but maintained that the party remains resilient.

    The party also expressed regret over its inability to participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory election.

    Otti, who is the leader of the party, thanked supporters for their continued loyalty and assured them that the Labour Party would emerge stronger going forward.

  • Public schools surge from 117,000 to 300,000 in Abia

    Public schools surge from 117,000 to 300,000 in Abia

    The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, says that public school enrolments in the state have skyrocketed from 117,000 last year to over 300,000 this January, tripling the number of school children in our public schools.

    Otti stated this in Umuahia, the state capital, at the banquet hall of Government House, Umuahia during the January edition of his monthly media interaction tagged “Governor Otti Speaks to Abians”

    Otti said that the positive results coming out from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education concerning the increase in the enrolment is the kind of results he wants.

    “That’s exactly the kind of result we expect. It’s good news. The recruitment of 4,000 additional teachers is on at the moment. We are paying a lot of attention to make sure that things move smoothly.

    “We will continue with our push to make education available and affordable to every Nigerian living here. Reconstruction projects continue in different schools.

    “The renovation, rebuilding, retrofitting of hostels, offices in the Abia State University, Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, are still ongoing”

    Otti, who noted that a lot of projects are getting to finishing stages, disclosed that his administration would be commission the Omenuko Bridge and the Abam – Okobo – Amuvi – Arochukwu road.

     The State Chief Executive also announced that he would  soon flag-off the reconstruction of the Uratta road and Old Express road to achieve the complete recovery of Aba.

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    The Governor further informed Abians that the government would be flagging off the Pocket Layout Housing Estate construction and other housing estate projects including, Mbaisii, Mgbarakuma, and another one in Ubakala.

     Otti said that his government had signed a ground breaking partnership to digitally create and rate every hotel and hospitality facility in the State.

     “In the next few months, all the hotels in the State will be accessed using the Global Positioning System, and verified criteria that is used to classify hotels, guest houses, and lodges.

    “So, at the click of a button, you can see the hotels, get their rates, and then be ready to make your choice without necessarily visiting,” Otti stated.

     In the area of science and technology, the Governor disclosed that the State is launching a pilot bio-gas programme at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

    He informed the people that the whole idea is to turn waste into clean energy, to provide Abia with renewable energy from bio-gas.

     “This is a pilot programme, so, instead of the waste that we are disposing of, we can turn that with this technology into clean energy. We will be able to power a whole lot more places, particularly in the Umuahia ring fence,” he said.

     The Governor reported that the “Project Ekwueme Phase 1 project which is 200 primary healthcare centres have been completed and many of them functionalised, while those that have not been functioning will be functioning soon. He informed the people that plans are in place to start the 2nd phase of the project Ekwueme initiative.

     He added that, “We insist that before a primary health care centre is functionalized, it must have not just all the facilities and minimum standards that we have set up.

    ” We insist that before we open any primary healthcare centre, we must have healthcare professionals around those centres.

    “We hired over 600 health care professionals recently and we are deploying them. Some of them have now resumed. As they resume, we will continue to functionalize more.

    “We also have awarded the construction of a brand new general hospital in Ndoki, Ukwa East. Just recently, a contractor took over the site,” the governor further revealed.

    On the CKC Aba water project flagged off last year, Otti said that the project was almost completed and would be commissioned soon to supply water to parts of Aba, while the Ariaria area and other regional water schemes including that of Umuahia would soon be flagged-off.

    The Governor added that all efforts are geared towards making available pipe borne water to every household in the State as was the case in the past and announced that the Water project at the Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu is ninety percent completed and would be made to supply water in other parts of Arochukwu.

  • Otti promises automatic employment for outstanding NYSC members in Abia

    Otti promises automatic employment for outstanding NYSC members in Abia

    Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured members of the 2026 Batch A, Stream 1 of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) of automatic employment into the state civil service if they distinguish themselves during the service year.

    The governor gave the assurance at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area, during the swearing-in ceremony of 1,820 corps members deployed to the state.

    Otti urged the corps members to maximise the opportunities offered by the scheme, warning that failure to do so would amount to shortchanging their personal and professional growth. He encouraged them to contribute meaningfully to the holistic development of Abia during their service year.

    He also advised the corps members to discard fear and uncertainty about their postings to any part of the state, assuring them of a conducive environment to live and serve.

    Reiterating the core objective of the NYSC scheme—to expose young Nigerians to the country’s vast opportunities through national service—Otti highlighted the state government’s ongoing human capital development initiatives in ICT, entrepreneurship, and agriculture.

    He encouraged the corps members to take advantage of these programmes as preparation for life after service.

    “You will be shortchanging yourself if you fail to make the most of the opportunities that the National Youth Service Programme offers.

    “The true essence of the programme is to expose you to the great promise that Nigeria holds by using the vehicle of service.

    “So, wherever you find yourself, all that is expected of you is to serve with devotion and a genuine sense of patriotism.

    “So, wherever you find yourself, all that is expected of you is to serve with devotion and a genuine sense of patriotism.

    “It does not matter where you are posted — School, Medical Facility, Judiciary, or an Administrative Office, we only have one job at any of these places, which is to perform your duties with diligence and contribute robustly to the holistic development of our dear State.

    “The ball is clearly in your court, so I will encourage you to work diligently to leave a lasting impression on the minds and hearts of the people you are going to encounter, starting from this orientation camp and when eventually you are posted to your places of primary assignment”, the Governor charged.

    He revealed that Abia maintains a tradition of offering automatic employment to outstanding corps members who distinguish themselves during service, using the current Head of Service, Mr Benson Ojiehkere (who was given automatic employment into the state civil service), even though he hails from Edo State.

    “One philosophy that sets us apart in Abia is that we are only interested in your capacity to add value and function effectively in the stations where you are deployed, not where your grandparents come from”, he said.

    The Governor also commended the NYSC hierarchy in the state, especially the State Coordinator, Mrs Gladys Adama, for their commitment to the welfare and safety of Corps Members and pledged the state government’s continued support for the scheme.

    Governor Otti further announced plans to commence the second phase of rehabilitation works at the orientation camp, including completion of internal roads, fencing, pavilion works, and the rehabilitation of the parade ground, among others.

    The Governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making the service year worthwhile for corps members and expressed that many of them will stay back at the end of the service year to build successful careers and businesses in the state.

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    In her address earlier, the NYSC State Coordinator, Barr Mrs Gladys Adama, while congratulating them on their academic achievements, emphasised the importance of the orientation course in providing essential skills and values for their service year.

    Adama disclosed that a total of 1,820 Corps Members, comprising 804 males and 1,016 females, have been registered for the batch A Stream 1 scheme and advised them to remain focused and participate throughout the orientation exercise.

    The NYSC State Coordinator thanked the Governor for his support, which includes rehabilitation of the NYSC camp, installation of solar-powered street lights, augmented feeding, and an increase in the State allowance for Corps Members.

    She, however, highlighted several challenges for the Governor’s attention, including the need to complete phase 2 of the camp rehabilitation, among others.

    The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, who also serves as the Chairman of the NYSC Governing Board, in his remarks, congratulated the Corps Members on their graduation and urged them to take the orientation course seriously, as it is the foundation for their service year.

    Ananaba encouraged the Corps Members to excel in their Community Development Services, noting that the State Government rewards outstanding contributions.

    He thanked the Governor for supporting the NYSC and increasing Corps Members’ allowances.

    Highpoints of the swearing-in ceremony were the administration of the oath of allegiance on the 2026 Batch A Stream 1 Corps Members by the Chief Justice of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, represented by Justice Chizaram Anyim.

  • Otti assures early delivery of Abia ultra-modern bus terminal

    Otti assures early delivery of Abia ultra-modern bus terminal

    Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, has expressed his hopes that the ongoing construction of the Umuahia Central Bus terminal would be delivered at a record time.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the inspection of the ongoing work at the bus terminal, Otti explained the reason behind his decision to embark on the mega project, saying that it was better to centralise transport terminals, instead of having motor parks scattered across different parts of the state.

    The governor, who disclosed that his administration was simply replicating what was obtainable in most civilised countries, said, “It is nothing new; it has been done elsewhere. When you go to the UK, Paddington Terminal ensures convergence of the railway and other means of transportation.

    “And of course you have a shopping plaza, cinema, hotel, everything is there.

    “So, we thought we should concentrate all those transport terminals in this place instead of having different terminals at different places in the town,” Otti stated.

    The governor, who appreciated the quality and level of progress of the work done by the contractor, expressed the hope that, by the end of January, the project, if not completed, would be close to completion.

    “The work is going on very well, the consultants are very, very up to the task. I’m happy with the progress of the work. I’m glad with the level of progress and with the quality of work.

    “Hopefully, before the end of this month, they will have gone far. But what I see here gives me the impression that by the end of the month, if they haven’t completed it, they would be very close to completing it.

    “But, even if they need more time, I’ll give them more time because it’s better done right the first time,” Otti stated.

    He disclosed that the Aba Central Bus Terminal would soon begin immediately after the completion of the Umuahia terminal.

    Also speaking, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, said that the essence of building the bus terminal was to centralise all motor parks in Umuahia, the state capital.

     “We just wanted to centralise all transport activities, and that was why His Excellency, in his wisdom, decided to build a central bus terminal to stand as a one-stop transport hub for all commuters, passengers, and travellers.

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    “Whatever mode of transport you want to use to travel, once you come into the central bus terminal, you’ll be able to get it.

    “We planned on citing the railway station there. Then, you have the bus station and all the parks.

    “All the parks in Umuahia will be brought in here. We are going to have a centralised park system in Umuahia and Aba.

    “You know, we are also building the same in Aba, which will be completed hopefully by May,” Ukaegbu stated.

    Otti also inspected the ongoing road project works around Cooperatives, Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende road, among others.

    At the Ahiaeke-Okwuta-Bende road, Craneburg representative, Engineer Yousef Tawk, received Governor Otti and explained the details of the work done so far, as the governor engaged him meaningfully, with both of them agreeing on what should be done to ensure a long-lasting solution to a part of the road that has a valley by the side.

    Otti urged the contractor to target completing the road project before the rainy season sets in.

    Otti equally used the opportunity to interact with passengers and members of the crew of the Abia Electric Buses, which have been offering free service to Abians and visitors since it was launched last December, to ensure that things are working well, as he directed during the launch.

  • PDP factional BoT Chairman woos Otti to join party for re-election bid

    PDP factional BoT Chairman woos Otti to join party for re-election bid

    The factional Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed optimism that Abia State Governor Alex Otti will defect to the party to contest for a second term in 2027.

    Otti is the only Labour Party (LP) governor in the country.

    Addressing reporters in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Wabara described Otti as a “major asset” to any political platform.

    The PDP BoT chairman stated that the party would readily field Otti as its governorship candidate should he decide to defect from LP.

    He noted that the growing interest in Otti emanated from various political parties to his impressive performance in office, particularly highlighting the governor’s recent launch of a 25-year Abia Development Plan as a visionary roadmap for a “New and Greater Abia”.

    Wabara applauded Otti’s achievements across sectors, including road infrastructure, specifically the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road in Aba, as well as healthcare, education, industry, and security.

    The former Senate President also hailed the Abia governor for his administration’s procurement of electric buses for urban mass transit scheme, saying it would ease economic hardships for residents.

    “As an elder statesman and stakeholder in Abia politics, I have a moral duty to acknowledge good governance, irrespective of party affiliation,” Wabara said.

    According to him, Abia residents are now eager to visit home due to visible transformations Otti has carried out across the sectors.

    He stressed that good governance should transcend partisan politics and reiterated that he had been vindicated for earlier applauding Otti’s handling of the Port Harcourt Road project, despite criticism from some quarters.

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    Wabara urged the governor to seriously consider joining the PDP, citing an “instigated leadership tussle” in the Labour Party and arguing that the PDP’s national spread and capacity would provide a stronger platform to counter any antics from the ruling party in 2027.

    The PDP BoT chairman claimed that the Southeast has remained a traditional PDP stronghold and that Otti’s defection would bolster the party’s prospects in the zone.

    He also announced ongoing efforts by PDP elders to rebrand the party under the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee (NWC) and make it more attractive ahead of 2027.

    Taking a broader view on national issues, Wabara called for unity to ensure that Nigeria does not become a one-party state.

    The PDP stalwart hailed the House of Representatives for approving mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

    Expressing confidence in the PDP’s resurgence, the former Senate President declared the party’s “gloomy days are over” and predicted that defectors would soon return, while forecasting an inevitable implosion in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Wabara woos Otti to join PDP for 2027 re-election bid

    Wabara woos Otti to join PDP for 2027 re-election bid

    Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara, has expressed confidence that Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, will defect from the Labour Party to the PDP to seek a second term in 2027.

    Wabara, who spoke with journalists in Umuahia, described Otti as a major asset to any political platform, noting that the PDP would readily present him as its governorship candidate should he join the party.

    He attributed the growing interest in the governor across party lines to his performance in office, particularly the recent launch of a 25-year Abia Development Plan, which he described as a visionary blueprint for a new and greater Abia.

    The former Senate President praised Otti’s achievements in road infrastructure, citing the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road in Aba, as well as strides in healthcare, education, industry, and security. He also commended the procurement of electric buses for the state’s urban mass transit scheme, saying the initiative would ease economic hardship for residents.

    “As an elder statesman and stakeholder in Abia politics, I have a moral duty to acknowledge good governance irrespective of party affiliation,” Wabara said, adding that many Abians are now eager to return home due to visible improvements across the state.

    He stressed that good governance should rise above partisan considerations and said he had been vindicated for earlier commending Otti’s handling of the Port Harcourt Road project, despite criticisms from some quarters.

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    Wabara urged the governor to seriously consider joining the PDP, citing what he described as an instigated leadership tussle within the Labour Party. He argued that the PDP’s national spread and organisational capacity would offer a stronger platform to counter the ruling party in 2027.

    According to him, the South-East remains a traditional stronghold of the PDP, and Otti’s defection would further strengthen the party’s prospects in the zone.

    Wabara also disclosed that PDP elders were working to reposition and rebrand the party under the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee to make it more attractive to progressives ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    On national issues, he called for unity against attempts to turn Nigeria into a one-party state and commended the House of Representatives for approving mandatory electronic transmission of election results.

    Expressing optimism about the party’s future, Wabara said the PDP’s “gloomy days are over,” predicted the return of defectors, and forecast an eventual implosion within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Otti approves automatic employment for 50 outstanding TechRise graduates in Abia

    Otti approves automatic employment for 50 outstanding TechRise graduates in Abia

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved automatic employment for 50 outstanding graduates of the TechRise Cohort 2 programme into relevant Ministries, Departments, and agencies of the state civil service.

    Governor Otti announced the decision at the graduation ceremony of 849 young people who recently completed a three-month intensive training in 21st-century cutting-edge digital skills. He noted that automatic employment is subject to the beneficiaries possessing the required documentation to function within the civil service.

    “I am glad that the Head of Service is here. What this means is that I have lifted the embargo to employ 50 of them. Once that exercise is completed, the embargo comes back. The documentation can be brought to me on Monday for the 50 beneficiaries,” the governor said.

    He disclosed that a total of 1,359 persons have successfully completed the TechRise programme in the past 12 months, adding that they would form the critical manpower needed to drive the state’s digital transformation agenda.

    Governor Otti explained that the TechRise initiative was designed to create an elite corps of competent IT solution providers who would deploy their skills and understanding of the technology ecosystem to advance the state’s development goals.

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    “As you may be aware, we are repositioning the service delivery architecture in the state to run more efficiently on the digital infrastructure superhighway. The aim is to rely less on physical paper, provide round-the-clock services, and ultimately improve turnaround time,” he said.

    The governor further revealed that his administration is investing heavily in broadband expansion across the state, noting that the Umuahia dedicated internet access and wide area network programme has been completed and is fully operational in all government establishments in the capital city.

    He said the progress being recorded in the Abia tech ecosystem reinforces his belief that leadership is about inspiring people to believe in the validity of their dreams. He also cited the recent flag-off of the Abia State DUCT Infrastructure Development Project in Aba as part of efforts to make every community in the state economically functional.

    “Everything we do is connected to our overarching governance objective of making Abia a home of bountiful reward for all hardworking individuals. Whether in roads, education, urban sanitation, security, or other areas, the goal remains the same: to make Abia the best and truly number one,” Otti said.

    The governor directed the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to provide transportation support for all graduands to their respective local government headquarters. He also approved ₦50,000 each as a Christmas package for the 849 graduands, while prize-winning graduands were awarded ₦100,000 each.

    A minute of silence was observed in honour of a TechRise trainee, Mr. Princewill Ogbonnia, who died a few days before the ceremony, as Governor Otti extended his condolences to the bereaved family.

    In separate remarks, the Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu; Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu; and Youth and Sports Development, Sir Nwaobilor Ananaba, commended Governor Otti’s unwavering commitment to youth development. They said the programme equipped participants with valuable ICT skills and urged them to continue learning and improving.

    Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, praised the initiative and the collaboration between the state and local governments, noting that the training went beyond technology to include leadership, discipline, and resilience.

    Earlier, the CEO of Learn Factory and coordinator of the TechRise programme, Mr. Chibueze Ukaegbu, applauded the governor for his dedication to ICT development in the state and encouraged the graduands to maximise the skills they acquired.

    Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Miss Chinwemeri Benjamin thanked Governor Otti for the opportunity to undergo ICT training and for the provision of laptops and other support, saying the programme would make beneficiaries economically independent.

    The event, which attracted top government officials at both state and local government levels, featured testimonials from a Cohort 1 graduate, Mr. Charles Ikechukwu, who developed an application for converting waste to wealth, and Mr. Stephen Uche Onyegbulam, whose team created an app to help stranded motorists locate nearby mechanics. The ceremony also included the presentation of certificates to the graduands.

  •  No further political ambition after being governor – Otti

     No further political ambition after being governor – Otti

    Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has reiterated his long-standing position that he will retire from active politics after completing his term as governor, insisting that he has no presidential, vice presidential, or senatorial ambitions after his governorship.

    Otti explained this at Government House in Umuahia, the state capital, while reacting to a viral video in which someone was berating him over his recent visit to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at the Sokoto Correctional Centre, alleging that he is nursing presidential or vice presidential ambitions after the end of his tenure.

    The governor, while acknowledging that divergence of opinion is part of democracy, said everyone was free to hold an opinion and that such an opinion may not be right.

    “In the first place, that is the beauty of democracy. So people should hold their opinion, and we respect people’s opinions. And that you hold a different opinion doesn’t mean you are right.

    “One of the things he talked about was my ambition after being governor.

    “And I had said it before, and I want to say it again, that by the time I’m done with governorship, I will retire.

    “So I don’t have presidential ambition, or vice-presidential ambition. I also don’t have senatorial ambition when I finish with the governorship.

    “I came on a mission, and when I deliver that mission, I will give way to younger people. He was talking of Igbo presidency, I don’t even understand what that means.

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    “So I think if his thesis is based on that assumption, the assumption has collapsed, because he won’t see me on the ballot,” the governor stated.

    According to Otti, it is important for a political office holder to know when to quit, especially when he has done what he is asked to do.

    “When you have done what you have been asked to do, you must take the exit door and give way to other people.

    “We’ve seen people here, after being governor, who went back to become Local Government Chairmen. That’s not what we are here for. We are not cut out for those kinds of things.”

    The governor, who used the opportunity to explain his reasons for visiting Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in Sokoto Correctional Centre, said, “The second point is about Nnamdi Kanu. And I don’t want to put this matter in the public space so that it doesn’t derail the discussions that we are having.

    “The truth about it is that exactly 24 months ago, I opened up discussions at the highest level on Nnamdi Kanu.

    “And going to see him is the right thing to do, because he comes from my state. In fact, he comes from this Local Government, Umuahia North, the State Capital.”

    “And there are always different ways to solve a problem. I don’t believe that the way to solve a problem is to ignore it. And I had written extensively, even about Nnamdi Kanu and ‘Operation Python Dance,’ I think in 2017 or 2018. I condemned it.

    “And I still condemn it. I cannot vouch for some of the recordings that the gentleman put in his video, where he said Nnamdi Kanu called for mutiny. I don’t know about that. But then, I do know that two wrongs do not make a right,” the governor explained.

    Otti, who insisted that he knows, that when an issue has been approached from the legal point of view, there is also another window, called ’the administrative point of view’.

    “I’m not a lawyer. And if the judiciary says the man has been sentenced to life imprisonment, that is certainly not the end. Because that’s the court of first instance, there’s still an opportunity to appeal, and then an opportunity to even go to the Supreme Court.

    “But what we are trying to do is to intervene. I’m not a supporter of the disintegration of Nigeria.

    “So my position is that it would be insensitive of me to sit here and say one of our own who has been convicted should die when we have an opportunity to discuss, negotiate, and sue for peace.

    “Even people convicted to death can be pardoned. That’s what I’m working on. It has nothing to do with non-existent presidential ambition. Everything is not politics,” the governor concluded.