The coming to office of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as governor of Abia state marks for the first time in the history of Abia a time when the will of the majority came to stand through the popular vote. This collective will was not subverted through brazen day light robbery as was the case in the past to bring to bear the wishes of a few ‘kingmakers’ and ‘stakeholders’.
It wasn’t too long ago when Abia electorate couldn’t count on the electoral process to reflect their wishes at the polls, dashing hopes for a change in the status quo. The victory of Gov. Otti was indeed a dream- come- true for Abians because that which they yearned for had manifested and spontaneous ecstasy and joy followed; a reawakened belief in the emergence of a better tomorrow.
Further more, the ruling by the judiciary at various levels affirming the victory of Dr. Alex Otti entrenched democratic values and principles upholding the maxim that this ‘is a government of the people, by the people’ and not by a few whose interest had always been selfish, subjugating the popular vote!
In marking the first 366 days in office, Gov. Otti has proved naysayers wrong in his drive for the rapid development of the state across all sectors making it the most land-marked first year in office of any state chief executive in the history of Abia.
From the commissioning of completed road projects in Aba and Umuahia, the flag off of transportation terminals’ construction still in Aba and Umuahia, town hall meetings across the three senatorial zones and the performance reports from the ministries, department and agencies, the first one year in the life of the administration of Governor Otti is indeed eventful and full of applause.
Abians have evolved a sense of ownership and pride in governance because of the deepening of democratic principles arising from the expression of their will which brought Governor Otti to office through a process judged to be free and credible.
Thus Abia has become a reference in Nigeria’s’ pursuit of lasting democratic values and ideals because it is one state in which the wish of the people stood out for all to see. Though the old guard made an attempt to thwart this collective call for change which Abians firmly expressed through the ballot, men and women of good conscience stood against these forces which sought to maintain the negative narrative perpetually.
His excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has maintained that he is in office to serve and work for the people of Abia state; not attached to the apron strings of any God father to dictate how the resources of Abia will be distributed because he understands the weight of the popular mandate he received from the people in the face of democratic values and principles.
It is therefore no surprise that in marking his first year in office, his government made it a priority to commission already done projects and to immediately embark on new ones, maintaining his priority on ensuring that Abians are served the dividends of democracy. No long speeches and dolling out of unnecessary awards but a declaration of the report card on attainments by his administration both at the centre and at the local government.
The mayors which the governor appointed not long after inauguration, taking a cue from Dr. Alex Otti, have ramped up their development strides and within one year in the life of the administration and less than one year of being appointed, have equally performed creditably well with visible projects done to improve the lot of the people within the local government councils.
Therefore Abians who reside in both urban cities and rural communities in local governments have come to accept their mayors as men and women who have imbibed the vision and democratic values of the governor; though not elected, they know that they are obligated to work for the upliftment of the people.
Assuring that funds allocated to the local governments will be channelled to the local governments, Governor Alex Otti has kept his word as this was testified to by the mayors at the town hall meetings to mark the first year in the life of the administration. Projects are mapped out, approved and funds are released by the state government for execution and it’s been from one project to the next, leading to visible improvements from what it was before now, to a new lease of life at the local governments level in Abia.
Local councils representing that government which is closest to the people particularly those at the grassroots, have now come to fulfil their constitutional role under the current administration in Abia like never before. With the governor stating that he will personally visit the seventeen local governments areas of the state in his next state wide tour. He added that beyond what the mayors are already doing, his governments’ focus in terms of projects and human capital development as a matter of priority will extend to the local governments from his second year in office.
Already three hundred Abia youths drawn from across the seventeen local governments have been sponsored by the state government to undergo training in Modern Mechanised Agriculture Methods at the CSS farms located in Nassarawa state. Beneficiaries in turn will also be equipped to train at least four other persons from their various local governments as they have returned.
The government of Dr. Alex Otti have pledged to provide the trainees with grants to startup their own businesses and also a ready market to buy their produce. These actions in a long list, portray a government that is intentional, strategic and focused on providing sustainable dividends of democracy and youth empowerment with long term tangible benefits.
No doubt Abians have come to believe again in democracy with the coming of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as governor in God’s own State and he has pledged to make Abia number one across all sectors in the country and beyond. This he is focused on achieving.
The governor and his team at the cabinet level and the local government councils are working in tandem to ensure that Abians will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy through the emergence of a new Abia for all who are Abians and who reside in Abia.
The governor says he is in office to serve all irrespective of political party affiliation or philosophy and this is quite evident in his attainments within his first year in office across the zones in Abia through an open door policy; willing to receive all of goodwill, including those of different political persuasions.
Little wonder Abia with Dr. Alex Otti as governor is trending everywhere and has become the cynosure of all eyes. Those at home and in the diaspora are now proud to be associated with their home state and several among them have lent support as a way of encouraging the positive and giant strides of the state chief executive.
Indeed, the expectation from Abians are high and understandably so, because of the rot associated with the past misrule and lost opportunities. In response, Governor Otti says ‘Weep no more Abians, help has come’, which is exactly the choice the people have made and this choice standing to their delight.
After a little over one year, the people are glad they made this right choice and would gladly do so for Dr. Alex Chioma Otti again and again.
A new Abia is here bearing tangible democratic dividends for the people.
–Freepressnews