How has Abia State Governor Alex Otti been grappling with the challenges of governance? Assistant Editor Emmanuel BADEJO examines how he is fulfilling his campaign promises across the sectors.
Governor Alex Otti, banker-turned politician, has raised the bar of governance in Abia State, by implementing developmental projects.
In less than two weeks, Governor Alex Otti’s administration in Abia State will be four months. The governor’s coming to the political arena in ‘God’s Own State’, elicited wide ecstasy and acceptance across the state. The 2023 governorship election was not the first time that Otti gave the race a shot. He had begun the journey to the government house in 2015. So, many Abians were elated, because they saw a man that came prepared for the number job in the state.
Abia pre-Otti’s administration
Although Abia is an oil producing state, prior to the emergence of Otti, the state had been tamed with high levels of unemployment; poverty was visibly written all over the state. Thus, many had described Abia as a failed economy.
In one of his essays on Abia, Chidi Amuta, a former university don and publicist, had so decried the incompetence exhibited by past political leadership of the state, that he prescribed that the state should be auctioned to whosoever would want to buy and turn it around for profitability.
Before the governorship election, Amuta, in his published article, ‘The moment to rescue Abia State has come,’ pointed out that “Abia is easily the most indebted state in the federation with a debt portfolio of over N189.9billion.”
According to him, “To citizens of the state, a tradition of irresponsible and insensitive governance may have become all too familiar and normal. The records speak for themselves. From the administration of Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu to that of Theodore Orji and the immediate past Okezie Ikpeazu, the story of Abia has been one long night of deceit, unbridled corruption and epic incompetence.”
The situation got so bad that to work in the state’s civil service is akin to slavery and to live in the state is tantamount to living in purgatory as there is absence of everything that makes life liveable. The unpleasant situation affected virtually all sectors of the state’s economy.
Otti’s promises
As soon as Otti got the ticket of the Labour Party (LP), he immediately set his campaign in motion. During his campaign before the election, Otti had told Abians that he would reverse the ugly scenario. He repeatedly promised that as a knowledgeable economist, he knew where and how to generate the much-needed funds for the socio-economic development of Abia.
It was his mantra to recall that the state’s current debt profile of N150 billion rose from N35.5 billion in 2015, when Governor Okezie Ikpeazu came into the office, insisting that the debt burden has remained so till date.
He also reminded Abians that the state’s five million people live in poverty, saying that 51 percent of the population is unemployed, because all sectors of the state’s economy, especially, infrastructure that facilitates businesses, and development and make life worth living, are decaying.
He insisted that reversing the scenario called for emergence of a knowledgeable economist like him to take charge as governor, stressing that governorship election in Abia was critical to rescue the state from those that have held it down in the past years.
“I know how and where to get the money to run the state, and invest same wisely and profitably, pay regular salaries, as well as pensions. I shall turn the security vote into an investment fund from which I would give loans to genuine entrepreneurs,” he said.
How he began
Few months into his government, how far has Otti gone to deliver on his campaign promises? Indeed, Abias and political watchers have described as unprecedented, the gradual and steady positive changes that are taking place in the state.
The Governor, in a haste to put the state on the path of recovery, declared a state of emergency in all the critical sectors of the state economy. He introduced a new dynamic to leadership while laying a solid foundation to recover the state from the mess it was plunged into over the years.
Otti had in his inaugural address declared a state of emergency on the clearing of heaps of waste that littered the streets of Umuahia, the state capital and Aba, the commercial city. To achieve this, the governor immediately set up a Taskforce for the emergency cleanup of both cities.
The Taskforce had made a lot of progress in evacuating tons of refuse that had hitherto taken over many streets in the state. While men slept, the task force team headed by Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke, were working. The two cities are today cleaner and more conducive for people.
The governor also declared a state of emergency on education, health and security and earmarked appropriate funding to match the commitment. He knows that the present and future of Abia depend on the quality and scope of education provided by the state. Given this, 17 schools across the 17 LGAs of the state have been marked for reconstruction and renovation.
“Education for us is the future and it is our goal to see that every child gets the opportunity to be taught and mentored to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the 21st century economy which favours mostly the skilled and properly educated.
“We will intentionally prepare our children to be skilled participants in the global village, where science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are used as productive tools for work and play”, he assured.
Health
Otti took over the reign of government, when health workers were on strike. Before declaring a state of emergency in the health sector, the governor appealed to the striking doctors to call off their strike and gave them his word that it would be an anathema for any health worker in the state to be refused their legitimate entitlements under his watch.
The government commenced free medical services across selected general hospitals in the state last July and this, according to the governor, would continue until the end of the year. This exercise covers free medical checks and examinations, provision of drugs and medicated glasses for eye patients at no cost, subsidized surgery and a variety of other medical services as part of efforts to give the population, especially the indigent, an opportunity to access quality care for themselves and their families.
Since the exercise commenced, thousands of people across all demographics, pregnant women, nursing mothers, newborn babies, infants under the age of five and several other groups with varying medical conditions have all benefited and thousands more will still be reached in the weeks and months ahead.
Security
Following the declaration of emergence in the sector, Otti flouted “Operation Crush” to redefine security architecture in the state. Among others, it is on record that the prolonged cases of kidnapping at Lokponta in Umunneochi LGA, have been contained. Operation Crush is a joint task force comprising various security formations to swiftly address threats and make Abia unsafe for criminals and their cohorts. “I made it a priority to work with major stakeholders across frontiers to set up a robust system for tracking and smoking out criminals from their hideouts. By committing significant resources to set up the taskforce, we are boldly telling residents and investors in the state that we are determined and ready to keep them safe”, the governor stated.
Road infrastructure
Many important roads in the state were in terrible shape before Otti’s administration came on board. Hence, the governor had said he was entering into a social contract with Abians to revamp and make these roads accessible. To ensure quick delivery, the governor had engaged reputable construction companies, such as Craneburg, FCC, and MCC to handle the road projects. It is common knowledge that the governor has delivered Emelogu Road in Aba, ABSUTH Road Junction, Shalom Road Aba and Obehie Road. Work has commenced, and at different levels of completion, on over ten roads across the state including the abandoned Umuimo Road, Owerri Road, and College Road, among others.
Few days ago, the Governor commissioned three new roads in Aba, promising that his administration will continue to open up the state’s commercial nerve centre for private investors across the world.
Speaking during the inauguration of Cemetery Market Road Phase 1 in Aba, Otti said his plan for Aba is very clear, adding his administration is making the best decisions and investing money where it will have a multiplier effect on the economic and social life of residents.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Engr. Ifeanyi Okorie of Rock Result Group said these road contracts awarded in early July have brought huge relief to commuters on this axis, assuring that the newly constructed road would last for the next 50 years.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Oti, urged beneficiaries of the roads to reciprocate the government’s gesture by taking responsibility for keeping the roads free from refuse and drainage blockages, adding that giving adequate attention to road infrastructure is paramount to the administration.
The governor was received by a crowd made up of traders, traditional rulers, leaders of the transport unions and party faithful in the state.
Impressed with road projects that were delivered within the first three month of his government, the Minister of Works, David Umuahi, commended Otti for improved development in the state in just a few months that he has been in office.
Umahi, who was in Abia recently to inspect ongoing federal projects in the state, said Abia residents and indeed the South-East are blessed to have Governor Otti as his handwork is already showing.
“Let me thank you for a lot of improvement that you have done in the state just few months now. We have been seeing what you’ve been doing because you’ve been around, you understand the pains of your people.
“And so I commend you and also congratulate Abia people because they are going to see quite progress,” Umahi said during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti, while assuring that Otti will make Abia and the South-East proud.
Umahi, who named many of the roads that have been scheduled to be worked upon, solicited Otti’s cooperation in delivering the projects.
Governor Otti thanked the Minister for visiting Abia and expressed his government’s readiness to partner with the Federal Government to fix the federal roads in the state.
He decried the stress people go through to get to Aba from Port Harcourt and vice versa, saying that a journey of 30 minutes now takes people not less than three hours to complete.
According to the Governor, this has dealt a deadly blow to the markets in Aba. He informed the Minister that he had already engaged a construction company, CCECC, to do some palliative works on the road and get one of the lanes working.
The Governor told the works minister that he would also like to engage with him on the Umuahia-Bende-Abriba-Ohafia, all the way to Arochukwu, Federal road, which was first awarded by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) when former President Muhammadu Buhari was the Chairman of PTF, under General Sani Abacha, and was abandoned and later re-awarded in 2011 by erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan and also abandoned.
“If I’m able to find money, I would like to do the road and whenever he is able to, he will reimburse us. We believe that we should support the Federal Government in delivering dividends of democracy to our people,” Governor Otti remarked.
Umahi was joined in the visit by Senator Onyekachi Nweobonyi, Deputy Chairman Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Engr. B. U. Obioha, South-East Director Federal Highway, among others.
Ease of doing business
Governor Otti recently gave his nod for the state to enter into discussion with a Hungarian company, Ortoprofil, to set up a manufacturing plant in the state. Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko, in a statement made this known recently.
According to him, this was the outcome of a meeting between senior officials of the Abia State Government, led by the Governor and top officials of the Hungarian Government, led by Mr. Gabor Kruss, Deputy Ambassador Embassy of Hungary, Nigeria, at the weekend.
Uko said Ortoprofil, a Hungarian medical Service Provider with its own affiliate manufacturing custom-made, high quality limb prostheses expressed interest to collaborate and partner with the Abia State Government, ranging from energy, health, education, agriculture, sports, provision of portable drinking water among others.
The CPS added that after presentations by Ambassador Kruss and Judith Beres, Economic Counselor Embassy of Hungary, Nigeria, the Abia Government team, which included commissioners for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu; Education, Prof Uche Eme-Uche; and Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, deliberated on the different options after which decision was made to go with Ortoprofil.
“The first time we met, we talked about cooperation in the area of healthcare development. I know that you spent over a million dollars retrofitting St. Charles Hospital in Anambra. We will be very interested in that kind of cooperation.
“The Ortoprofil manufacturing plant has been approved. The details will be worked out. I will direct the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry to liaise with the Commissioner for Lands, so that we can provide the half hectare of land for them anywhere they choose,” Governor Otti was quoted as saying, while voicing his seal of approval. He continued, “That would be some form of partnership. We would provide the land without asking for payment for it; that will be our contribution. From what is stated here, they have 1.5 million dollars to invest. I’m actually looking at a company that will produce prosthetics for upper and lower limbs. I believe they can also produce a whole lot of things including shoes or raw materials.
“For us there are two important things, the production that is happening here and creation of jobs for our people. The production increases our GDP and hopefully our Internally Generated Revenue.”
Governor Otti said the government would also be looking at opportunities in the area of education.
According to him, “The area of scholarship is also something we want to take advantage of. We have a lot of our young people with various initiatives, they are inventors and very innovative in thinking even if they didn’t go to proper school. We will encourage them to go to school. They are better inventors when they go to school.”
