Eric Ugbor

One of the characteristics of party politics is the strength for political parties to outwit each other in order to endear themselves in the heart of the masses. To achieve this, opposition parties continually beam their searchlight on the ruling party in order to excavate points for criticism. The essence therefore, is to whittle down the image of that ruling party while soaring it’s own goodwill in preparation for subsequent elections. 

In Abia state, the story is different. The rain of encomuims showered on the Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti by staunch political leaders from other party divides becomes a clear testimony that the Alex Otti’s led administration in Abia state has diminished if not completely eroded that famous characteristic feature of political party “wit” game. 

 Governor Alex Otti’s formula in solving that political arithmetic was based on the fundamental principle of the people which metamorphosed into concrete realities evidenced in the avalanche of the developmental projects executed in all sectors scattered across all nooks and crannies of the state barely two years into his first tenure in office. 

 Governor Alex Otti’s achievements in office is such that even the physically challenged despite the impairment could feel the positive impact of his administration. The visibly impaired notices that the cab driving him along the streets of Aba can now move without the usual disturbing gallops and potholes. Though he could not see but he felt the impact of good roads. 

The dumb couldn’t hold his tears because of his inability to proclaim what his eyes have seen across Abia state. He could only show his gratitude through sign languages as he points to the street lights scattered all over Aba and Umuahia and points at the pictures of Dr. Alex Otti touching his chest showing signs of gratitude. 

 The deaf, though he could not not listen to the commentaries on radio and television on Dr. Alex Ottis litany of projects wrote on paper. ” l never knew l could live to see a new Abia” Who would not speak when the physically challenged even felt the impact of a New Abia driven under a visionary leader who understands the needs and pains of his people.

 Little wonder on the plethora of encomuims from all politcal divides endorsing Dr. Alex Otti for a second term in office even when he is yet to complete half of his first tenure. What a Governor with the midas touch. Abia has never had it like this since the inception of the present political dispensation in 1999. 

 Dr. Alex Otti has shut the mouth of the opposition with his marvellous developmental delivery across the state and many politicians of other political divides have undeniable found him as a toast and a beautiful bride and cannot hide their opinion than to give him an express second term victory. 

 For the respected Senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone of the state, His Excellency, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, he said ” For Governor Alex Otti, there is no stumbling block for his second term in office ” Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Aba South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, elected under the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has said that he sees no stumbling block to Governor Otti’s second term in office considering the good works of the Governor across the State. 

 Senator Abaribe popularly called Nma-Agha Ndigbo (The Sword of the lgbos) stated this on Sunday, January, 5th, when he alongside his wife paid Governor Otti Christmas and New Year visit. Speaking to the press after meeting with the Governor, Senator Abaribe said, “Even though my party is APGA and his party is Labour, we feel that we have gone beyond party, and we are now at the point of Governance. 

“So, I came to encourage him, he’s done so well and we wanted to make sure that we continue to inspire him to do much more for the people of Abia. Speaking further on Governor Otti’s performance, Senator Abaribe said, “Let me say this, I come from Aba; he has done tremendously well in Infrastructure, the whole infrastructure in Aba. I have driven around, I have seen everything. All I want to do is to continue to encourage him to continue in the path that he has chosen. We also agreed that we are going to come around to commission some of the projects that he has done in and around my Senatorial Zone”.

 “I think Second Tenure is still very far away but I do not see any stumbling block on the way if we go by what he has done at this point”, Senator Abaribe declared. . Also Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Hallmark Bank and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commended Governor Alex Otti, OFR, for his visible achievements in the State, saying that Abians and Nigerians are very impressed with his performance so far within the period in office. 

 The financial expert, opinion leader, and influential politician from Ukwa East Local Government Area in Abia South political zone of the State gave the commendation on Sunday, 5th January, while speaking to newsmen shortly after a closed-door meeting with Governor Otti. Chief Wabara said that his relationship with Governor Alex Otti, OFR, predates politics as they have known themselves right from the banking industry; he said that he came to felicitate with the Governor and his family for the yuletide season. 

 In his words, “First and foremost, let me say that we had a very good relationship in the banking industry. He was a former Chief Executive of a bank like myself, so we have built that relationship. “Since I’m resident in Lagos and I came home for the Christmas and New Year, it is usually necessary and important that I come and pay him a courtesy visit and also tell him that the people of Abia and the people of Nigeria are very impressed so far with his performance as the Executive Governor of Abia State”. 

 Chief Wabara who described Governor Otti as a very Effective Chief Executive right from the time he has known him, said that he has done well in areas of infrastructural development across the State, security, education, etc. The APC chieftain said that although Governor Otti’s focus for now is finishing his first term and will not want to talk about second term, said that his jobs are already speaking for him and that he’s not in doubt that the people will support him for a second term. 

 “Even if you are to ask His Excellency about second term, he will say that, for now, he wants to finish his first term. Like I said, his job so far speaks for itself and I have no doubt that for the second term people will support him”, Sir Wabara declared. Another All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate in the 2023 general elections, Chief Daniel Chimezie Okeke, Ph.D, has also told Governor Alex Otti, OFR, to get ready for a second term in office, stressing that the second term election would be stress-free because there would be no contest against him. 

 The Influential politician and business mogul whose business interests span the hospitality industry and other sectors is presently the Chairman and CEO of Sweet Spirit Hotels and Suites Port Harcourt, Express Concerns Limited, Danag Limited, Database Cables and Electronics, etc made the statement on Monday, 6th January, in his palatial residence in Ututu Arochukwu LGA, in front of his kinsmen, friends and associates when Governor Otti paid him a new year visit. 

 “I wasn’t proud to be an Abia man before, but now I can raise my two shoulders high to say that I am from Abia State because of what you have done and what you are still doing in Abia”, Dr. Okeke boldly asserted. He said that the Governor has done tremendously well in the health sector of the State and commended him for the ongoing renovation of 200 primary healthcare Centers across the State, which he said 3 of the healthcare centers are in Ututu Clan. 

He explained that from his experience in sponsoring free medical outreaches, the renovation of the healthcare centers will greatly improve access to healthcare in many communities where people die because of minor ailments that primary healthcare centers can take care of. Speaking to newsmen from the depth of his heart, the APC Chieftain whose philanthropic activities extend beyond the Ututu clan to other parts of the State and Nigeria said, “Apart from the health industry that he is working on, he is also doing a lot on road infrastructure. The Arochukwu-Ohafia Road, that has been a death trap for so many years is ongoing. The road leads to my community and we are happy to associate with the Governor. 

 “Apart from health, apart from road infrastructure, education is there. He is also trying to revive the education sector by way of rebuilding some schools and even fencing some schools to ensure that schools are secured in our locality. My community is also a beneficiary. He even made mention that he is going to also involve and re-employ some teachers that are already retired, that are interested and those that are not good he can train and retrain them. This is what administration is all about. “I am an APC member but I can tell you that the Governor is doing the right thing. The Governor is a man of integrity. 

“The Governor is doing well for Abia State. Abia State now can be called God’s Own State. Before now, we can’t say Abia is God’s Own State. And, where I reside, I can tell anybody around me that I am from Abia State; before, I couldn’t do that. So, I am proud to associate with the Governor. “I have told him, whether he likes it or not, he will come back for second tenure. His second tenure would be stress-free. We are going to have an stress-free election where nobody would even compete. 

The last one was stressful; the second one would not be stressful for him because everybody, every Abian, well-meaning Abians, want him to continue the good he is doing. “Even the President of the country commended him, so why can’t I commend him when I’m seeing the good works he is doing? So I’m proud to associate with him. “The security issue that we used to have is no longer there, I can tell you that the number of people that visited Abia this year is more than the number of people that have been visiting Abia the previous years. Even people from other States came to Abia; they were operating from Abia to other States. Chief Dr. Okeke called on all Abians to support the Governor saying that he is doing well and means well for everybody. He remarked, “Before now, we were not proud to say we are from Abia State, but today, the story has changed. We are proud of what you are doing, and we are now proud Abians.” 

 Similarly, an Abian and an Abuja based medical Doctor Dr. Okoro Obicheihe who resided in Aba before relocation quoted the Bible, stating, “We now know the difference because, before, we were blind, but now we can see.” She urged the governor to maintain his pace and continue prioritizing development. She said ” l can’t believe my eyes, we lived at Portharcourt road in Aba and my parents died when the past administration demolished our building in assurance of constructing the road but finished both first and second tenure leaving my family in misery and my parents died during the period as they were forced to relocate to the village and l left for Abuja”.

She said ” so an Abia Governor can reconstruct Portharcourt road, l want see Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, l will give him a hug and a present he won’t forget in his life. l know he is the Governor but he has made eternal memorial in my life, that of my family and entire Abia residents ” For Onyechere Enyidiya, a stalwart of the People’s Democratic party, who resides along Ikot-Ekpene road in Aba, he said ” my brother, you can’t hide the truth My party failed Abians and Dr Alex Otti has restored their hope in Governance. See Ikot-Ekpene road and other roads constructed in Aba by this present Government all with street lights and in the night you won’t believe that you are in Aba”. 

 He said ” this has nothing to do with party affiliations but every Governor who has ruled this state in the past should appreciate Dr. Otti for doing what they failed to do and for me opposition and party politics is over, all we know in Abia today is that God has remembered us and we pray for our Governor to continue in his infrastructural development strides to give Abians a new life, the only party we have in Abia state today is Dr. Alex Chioma Otti ” 

 Collaborating on the Otti’s strides in Abia, a Businessman and Stakeholder who resides at ever deplorable Ohanku Road in Aba, Hon. Cyracius Ohamaeze said ” any one who comes to Ohanku road in Aba and says anything against Dr. Alex Otti would be stoned to death” According to him” 

Governor Alex Chioma Otti has saved the people of Ohanku road and Aba from over forty years of misery as a result of bad roads and infrastructural decay. Ohanku road was first built by the Late Governor of old lmo state Dr. Sam. Mbakwe and over forty years the road had remained impassable and deplorable forcing many residents out of the area and caused untold hardship to the people of the state”.

He said ” We are eternally grateful to the Governor for fulfilling a promise made and failed by all his predecessors and our duty is to support him and ensure his re-election stress free in 2027 and God will bless him for all the wonderful works he is in all sectors across the state” The story is the same across all over the state as Governor Alex Otti has demonstrated a capacity of good leadership delivery and has shut the mouth of the opposition in the state with giant developmental strides that will remain a memorial for posterity in the state