The coming to office of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti is to the opposition the biggest shock they never thought could come to them. Sitting comfortably in the undeserved position they occupied for over two decades, it never occurred to the now ‘oppositioned’ PDP that any can rise up to challenge their perceived boundless power and authority. It wasn’t uncommon to find them back then refer to others as “the opposition” that must be silenced at all cost even in the face of genuine criticism and call for good governance. It never mattered how untoward and unpopular their actions were and its negative impact on the people who makeup the electorate that presumably got them into high public offices in the state. All rights were trampled under feet, all voices of decent and reason were scoffed at by the arrogance of holding the keys to the corridors of power and the courts of judgement; believing that no one could question their actions so long as it favours a few in power and their accolytes who were recruited to sing praises day and night even in the face of obvious failures and retrogression in the affairs of God’s own state. Then came Dr. Alex Chioma Otti through the popular mandate – and as he came, he sounded the gong, announcing that the old ways of doing things that favoured a tiny few representing a clique was gone and gone for ever! This was the first shock to the ‘now’ opposition, that was in position before now. What audacity they exclaimed…but it was happening before their very eyes. The streets of Aba and Umuahia and indeed the whole of Abia would be cleaned up and leading the charge frontally was the new kid on the block himself, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
The opposition flew off the hinges when they saw our man of the moment Dr. Alex Otti mount the clean up vehicle in Aba a few days after taking his oath of office, to begin the process of recovery for one of our major cities to the delight of residents of Enyimba city who for so long yearned for a governor who is willing and able to fold his sleeves and take matters in hand while others follow his lead. Indeed a new dawn had come in Chioma Abia. While still reeling from that shock, another stunner hit them – the immediate commencement of the total recovery and reconstruction of Port Harcourt road in same Aba, the commercial hubb of Abia. The opposition in the twilight of its days in power thought the commencement of this project impossible branding a site survey carried out by then governor-elect Alex Otti and civil engineers of construction giant Julius Berger grandstanding and deception. But they were wrong again and now are very angry when they actually should capitulate and hide in shame. The opposition ought to commend these giant strides of governor Otti, acknowledging that he is succeeding in doing that which they utterly failed to accomplish despite being in power for so long with almost limitless resources at their disposal.
The pace and quality of work at Portharcourt road Aba is simply amazing putting it modestly and it gladdens the heart to know that this can be attained in our time under the purposefull leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti. But not so for the opposition ably led by disillusioned and disarrayed PDP because they have become well schooled in navigating the wrong direction, making enemies of those who say no to their evil and callous ways. Not yet tired of making up stories and telling blatant lies, agents of the opposition engage the media space to ventilate in the feeblest attempt at picking holes and to deceive the unsuspecting audience into believing that the now emerging new Abia is a hoax but Abians who bore the brunt of misgovernance for over two decades can tell the difference between daylight and darkness. That governor Otti embarked on a drive to recover the state from the grip of criminal elements who made a home and settled into the Lokpa axis of the state along the Enugu-Portharcourt Federal highway under the watch of the previous administration now the opposition, was a master stroke because nothing could be done under an atmosphere controlled by hoodlums who abduct, truamatise and kill travellers at will only allowing the fortunate ones to go after huge ransoms are paid.
The launch of the Operation Crush Joint Security Task force tackled the menace of insecurity swiftly restoring sanity to Umuneochi and other parts of the state. I wonder what the opposition has to say about this? They just might brand this significant victory another hoax! That civil servants are now paid salaries regularly on a specific date is no hoax, that the current administration has committed 1.5billion Naira monthly to clear the backlog of salary arrears accumulated under the previous administration now the opposition is no hoax – civil servants have attested to this truth. That the current government has embarked on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of over ninety road projects, some concluded while others are ongoing across the three senatorial zones of the state is no hoax. The opposition some how and maybe for the reason of myopia, may not have noticed it but Abians can testify to this reality. That General hospitals and primary healthcare centres have undergone and are undergoing retrofitting and rehabilitation across the senatorial zones of the state is definitely no hoax but the opposition thinks it so sadly.
But Abians and all people of goodwill can tell the difference with our people able to access better health facilities now than they did when the opposition held sway. Free medical services enjoyed by thousands at the inception of this administration and the recent medical missions embarked upon by Nigerian physicians based in North America to Abia state inspired and supported by Governor Alex Chioma Otti is no hoax though the opposition argues it so. Beneficiaries and Abians know better though. The restoration of accreditation under the watch of Governor Alex Otti, for the state owned tertiary health institution – ABSUTH – which was withdrawn by the governing medical authorities under the watch of the past administration owing to ineptitude and non-challance can not be a hoax but to the opposition it is. Public school system hitherto left by the opposition when in power to decay is receiving attention under the watch of governor Alex Otti. School premises converted to private commercial use have been recovered while classroom blocks and learning facilities are being improved upon in a bid to reawaken the confidence of Abians in the public school structure bequeted to us from the colonial era.
To the opposition, these are all lies cooked up to deceive the people. The training of three hundred Abia youths in modern farming techniques at CSS farms located in far away Nassarawa state fully sponsored by the government of Dr. Alex Otti is a reality. Beneficiaries will also receive grants from government to commence farming operations with a pledge to buy off their farm produce at premium rates is no hoax as the now ‘green with envy’ opposition would want us to think. We have come to know better with the coming of Gov. Otti. The recent launch of the one billion naira cooperative support scheme which will in its first batch disburse revolving loans to Ten thousand individual beneficiaries in a scheme targeted to benefit the Nano, micro, Small and medium scale businesses in Abia is definitely no hoax but the opposition PDP will close its eyes to this giant stride in empowering operators in the MSME sector which is the engine room of the local economy. Uniquely, the governor at the launch of the cooperative support scheme noted that as much as seventy percent of beneficiaries in the first batch will be women, highlighting his focus on empowering the womenfolk because of their critical position in society.
Beneficiaries are also real people requiring minimal help to support their small business ventures but the opposition will argue on radio, television and online media that this is also a hoax – that no such launch took place! That Abia has become the number destination for individuals, body corporates, representatives of foreign governments amongst others seeking investment opportunities in the state is no ‘make believe Hollywood or Nollywood action drama’ as the opposition would want us to think. That Abia has become attractive to investors because Dr. Alex Otti was elected into office is not in doubt. Being quite conscious of his focus on a development plan for Abia state, Governor Otti has declared that all that his government has achieved so far are mere dress rehearsals. So much damage was done by the opposition when in power leading to widespread rot and damage which his administration has been preoccupied with cleaning up.
His government is about to ‘step on the pedal’ to further accelerate speed in the direction of his already layed out plans for Abia development. Time and space may fail me in reeling out all the accomplishments of the current government under the charge of Dr. Alex Otti within the first year in office of his four year mandate. But one thing is sure and clear to all including the opposition led by a dishevelled PDP though they will never admit it – Gov. Alex Otti is now on cruise control in his giant strides of development for Abia and this is no hoax! Help at last has come to Abia and the opposition is reeling and dazed by all that Governor Otti and his team have achieved. If it is already this good after one year, we can allow our imagination to run wild with expectations on what Abia will look like after fours and even eight years under the trusted hands of Dr. Alex Otti: Chioma Abia. A new dawn is here and to God we give all the Glory.