BREAKING: Obasanjo Lauds Otti’s Transformation of Abia, Calls for Continuity in 2027
Nigeria’s former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has embarked on campaign for revalidation of the mandate of Governor Alex Otti come 2027, saying that Abia people should not let him go after his current tenure.
He launched his personal campaign for Otti’s re-election, weekend, when he inaugurated a 46.36km highway linking Umuahia to the northern part of Abia, reconstructed by the Abia Governor after years of abandonment by past administrations.
In his characteristic audacity Obasanjo said: “When the time comes for elections, my advice to the people of Abia State is, don’t qchange a winning horse”.
He reminded Abia people that they had been having leaders that didn’t make impact before the coming of Otti hence they must bear in mind that one good turn deserves another.
“One thing you must know is that good leaders don’t flock and when you get a good leader, like you have got in Dr. Alex Otti, you must maximise good use of him,” the former President told Abia people.
The former President, who is a frequent visitor to Abia, especially the northern part of the state, testified to the hitherto unimaginable condition of the 46.36 – kilometre Umuahia – Uzuakoli – Akara- Alayi – Abiriba highway.
“This road you are all talking about, I traveled on it to Abiriba. It was hellish,” he said, adding that when he was told that the now reconstructed road “will get me from Umuahia to Abiriba in 35 minutes, I said this man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker”.
The foremost Nigerian statesman profusely praised Otti, who had emerged from then unpopular Labour Party to become Abia’s governor in 2023 and has proved that political party doesn’t determine the performance of an elected leader.
“I am a witness to what you (Otti) are doing and urge you to keep doing what you are doing. If you look hard and wide, you will see that this governor does not lack a good team,” he said.
Obasanjo recalled the condition of Abia before the emergence of Otti and how he has positively impacted on governance within a short period, noting that the Abia turnaround is a big lesson for Nigeria.
“This is a proof that whatever bad situation we are seeing today (in Nigeria), can be made good tomorrow (with good leadership),” Obasanjo stated.
“You (Gov. Otti) are a man of your word, a goal getter, a performer. You are a man who says no to what is bad and yes to what is good. You are an example of a leader,” he added.
Using Governor Otti as poster boy for quality leadership and good governance, Obasanjo charged Nigerians to overlook political party affiliations when electing political office holders.
“All we need to do is to make sure that at every level, we must have the right leaders with the right team to work with.
“For me, a political party is just a platform. What matters is the quality of the man and the quality of Alex Otti is a good quality,” he said.
Governor Otti in his address said that he has come with a different approach to governance in Abia underlined by high quality projects as exemplified by the reconstructed section one and two of the Umuahia – Abriba highway.
“Today’s commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony to our resolve to doing things differently as a government. This administration has zero tolerance for shoddy jobs or the kick back culture that enables them,” he said.
Otti noted the completion of the road project has not only “shortened travel time for drivers and commuters coming into Umuahia to communities within Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato and Umuahia North”, but also reduced risks of accidents and insecurity.
“Anyone living and doing business along this axis can now travel safely from Umuahia and other urban centres within and outside the state at any time of the day or night unafraid of harassment by criminal elements who took advantage of the bad state of the road in the past to wreak havoc on innocent travelers,” he stated.
The Abia governor explained that “by rebuilding strategic public infrastructure such as this, we are actively eliminating the barriers that stunted the productivity of our people for decades. Never again will farmers suffer unavoidable loses”.
He announced the renaming of the road to “Joe Irukwu Way” in honour of the late Nigeria’s insurance guru and former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Professor Joe Irukwu, who is from Item on that axis.
Prominent personalities from within and outside Abia, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Senator Chris Adighije, former Transport Minister, Chibuike Amaechi, among others, were on hand to witness how Otti is transforming Abia.
