Forged and birthed by military midwives from the old Imo, the coming to being of Abia as a state under The federal Republic of Nigeria on the 27th August 1991 came to fullfil the collective desires of many who for long groaned under the old order which gave rise to murmurs subtly expressing discontent and disillusionment.
Many on this side of the divide before the creation of Abia clomoured for a fair spread of development as it had favoured the Owerri province more than the Aba and old Bende axis.
Joy and extacy greeted the coming of the new born state and the expectation was for the rapid development of this much beloved baby.
Military governors and administrators held sway in Abia from creation to the commencement of the fourth republic in 1999. It would be noteworthy to mention that this period was briefly interrupted by the aborted third republic which brought in Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as a civilian governor.
Not much development was witnessed in Abia during this period though some could argue that the iconic Abia Tower was built by Dr. Ogbonnaya onu. Beyond that not much is on the score card as further hallmarks of development.
Then came Orji Kalu as first civilian governor in the fourth republic under the flag of the PDP. OUK’s immediate efforts focused on road reconstruction and rehabilitation particularly in Aba and Umuahia. Though initially welcomed by citizens and residents alike, owing to poor quality, the roads done did not stand the test of time. They were thus jocularly referred to as ‘Dubai roads’!
Subsequent administration’s have come and gone but the development trajectory has been downward. In the past twenty four years in the life of the fourth republic has lasted, absolutely nothing tangible gladdens the heart of citizens, residents and even visitors to the state in terms of development across all sectors.
This state of things was obvious to all of good conscience – even the blind could see and feel it!
The 2023 elections was thus an opportunity for citizens of Abia to change the status quo and bring about a breath of fresh air; ushering in the much desired progress for the state.
Dr. Alex Chioma Otti presented a departure from the old negative norm and the electorate unequivocally threw it’s support behind then Labour party guber candidate. Votes were cast enmass and the victory was immediate and clear despite the best of efforts of ‘professional election riggers’ who for so long had subverted the wish and dreams of the people.
Enter His Excellency Dr Alex Chima Otti- fourth executive governor of Abia state in the fourth republic.
At his inauguration on the 29th of May 2023 in Umuahia, Dr. Alex Otti promised in his inaugural address to do away with negativity and backwardness which became a hallmark of the state in over two decades to the extent that almost everything untoward in the country was associated with Abia. Even visitors wouldn’t pass through “God’s own state” not to talk of investors coming to ‘sow in our land’.
The governor hit the ground running when he gave matching orders to the state waste management agency for heaps of refuse left unattended which hitherto defaced the cities of Aba and Umuahia to be cleared. Dr. Otti led from the front by participating in the exercise in Aba to the delight and applause of city residents who thronged out to see the governor actively involved in the charting of a new course of direction for the state.
Today Abia wears a new look particularly the cities of Aba and Umuahia with consistent,regular evacuation of refuse bins from designated collection points. No more overflowing bins and dumping of refuse on street corners and road corridor’s a situation which was a norm under the old order. Even naysayers and detractors can attest to the fact that things have changed under governor Alex Otti in waste management in Abia.
Both local and international experts and investors in modern waste management methods have started putting forward proposals to the government for partnership in this sector. And Dr. Alex Otti has promised more goodies to come from this crucial sector of the states economy.
Before the coming to office of the present administration in Abia, it was the lot of civil servants and pensioners to go many months without receiving thier wages, allowances and pensions. Abia civil servants including medical doctors and health workers were on strike at the close of the last administration but labour leaders in the state honoured the appeal by then governor elect Dr. Alex Otti to call of the industrial action promising to ensure that salaries were not owed under his watch and that backlogs were cleared in time.
True to his promise, the governor has maintained a one hundred percent record in this regard with confirmation from workers in the state that salaries have been paid for the months of April, May, June and July. Equally, pensioners have not been left out and this has been done while verification of workers in the state is ongoing.
The governor while promising to clear the backlog of salaries and pensions, explained that being a first class economist, he understands that a local economy will benefit immensely from the high velocity of money but without money in the hands of workers this benefit will not acrue to Abia thus his commitment to always be on time with payment of salaries and pensions.
This milestone achievement under the watch of His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti represents a paradigm shift. A shift many longed for, voted for and is indeed coming into fruition 32 long years after the creation of Abia. And this is under the watch of a man holding the legitimate mandate of the people overwhelmingly and democratically expressed at the poles on the 18th of May 2023.
Constituting his cabinet of commissioners and special advisers, Dr. Alex Otti paid keen attention in selecting technocrats from across board away from the practice before now when cabinet appointments was perceived solely as ‘settlement for the loyal party boys’ who carried out the bidding of their masters. These appointments by Governor Otti mirrors putting square pipes in square holes away from having misfits in exalted office without commensurate competence and expected service delivery. Another significant hit on the reset button by his excellency aimed at rejigging the system for a transformational change of the ‘mass mind’ in Abia.
Security got a boost in the state with the launch of a new initiative encapsulated in the phrase “operation crush”, an interagency push with fresh equipment to suppress criminal activities in Abia with the resounding warning by the governor to criminal elements to either reform their ways or leave the state because the heat was about to be turned on them. This new initiative incorporates community security groups and traditional rullers across the state in the bid to tackle and reduce crime to it’s absolute minimum thereby making the state conducive for residents thereby increasing the attractiveness of the state to visitors and investors.
The digitising of revenue collection into a treasury single account represents a reset from the old order often controlled by touts and political jobbers to the detriment of Abia treasury. This old order in revenue and rates collection was almost totally bereft of official control and benefited a few so called ‘revenue contractors’ operating without terms of reference and accountability.
Already the mind set in the state is experiencing a reset in line with the vision of the governor of Abia His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti as the administration approaches its first one hundred days in office. Abians now have a renewed sense of belief in the value government and governance can bring to their lives and have pledged to do their part in support of the policies of governor Otti to Rebuild Abia for the benefit of today’s generation and generations yet to be born.
Indeed at the end of the day, it will be said that a man came through Abia as Governor and the fortunes of the state changed for the best and for all time. That man will no doubt be His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti – OFR.
By Chukwuemeka Elvis, Public Affairs Analyst