By Charles Ogugbuaja, Ph.D.
On his visit to Enugu State on Saturday, January 4, 2025, to inaugurate some projects executed by the Mbah Administration, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, spotted the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, complimenting his admirable and dexterous achievements in his less than two years in office, crisscrossing the 17 local government councils.
Specifically, President Tinubu, considered the inroads (ongoing and completed projects) made by Governor Otti, in the following areas, roads revolution and infrastructure; aviation sector, cascading in the Abia Airport project in Nsulu; Agriculture; education, healthcare; increase in GDP, leading to growth in economy; sports, security, renewable energy; Information Communication Technology; Aba City Project; among other ambitious projects.
The president summed his thoughts up by acknowledging that a governor could come from another political party not essentially in the All Progressives Congress (APC), to perform in office for the betterment of the whole, Nigeria, just as Governor Otti who is pitching his political tent in the Labour Party (LP), had proved.
President Tinubu, venting his thoughts said, and I quote: "I don't care which party you come from; you are my friend. Alex Otti of Abia State is also doing very well. It is not about the differences in languages and place of birth.
"No one of us has control of the mother tongue. God created us, and you can find yourself in Enugu, Onitsha or Lagos. We are all members of one huge family called Nigeria, but we live in different rooms in the same house.
"We must build this house to satisfy our immediate and future needs," unquote.
Espousing one after the other, the areas Governor Otti, has touched lives, include rural and urban infrastructure. The Aba City Project is readily in mind. The dualization of Osa Road; the face-lift of the Umuahia - Uzuakoli Road; rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Road; the reconstruction of the 11.5kilometer Ntigha -Nbawsi- Umuala Road; and the Ohafia - Arochukwu Road. The Zero Pot-hole project in the Umuahia city has given a smooth ride on the roads.
In the Aviation sector, the Abia Airport project construction work has just been flagged off, and preliminary activities started.
In Agriculture sector, readily in mind is the Agriculture Support Scheme targeting the local farmers and food security, scaling up irrigation system and paying attention in subsistence farming as a source of economic driver.
In the education sector, from records in the public domain, the Otti administration has constructed about 500 new classrooms, and rehabilitated no fewer than 200 blocks spread across the 17 local government councils. This has led to the upscaling of enrollment status of pupils by 15 per cent, translating to about 85 per cent of children having access to education.
In the healthcare, the upgrading and rehabilitation of about 200 hospitals and healthcare facilities have accounted for the reduction in infant mortality by 12 per cent and increase in maternal mortality rate.
Records have shown that there is 10 per cent increase in economy, and eight per cent decrease in poverty rate. As a result, the enabling environment created by the state government has translated to inflow on billions of naira investments, cascading in the generation of about 10,000 new jobs. Aba, as a commercial hub, under Governor Otti, has recorded increased industrialization activities and growth in the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises by over 20 per cent. The city's trade name, the Japan of Africa, is blossoming with the production of garments, bags and shoes among others.
The Governor Otti's renewable energy policy has given room for power supply to 15 per cent, even in solar powered facilities, witnessing added 50mw and 10 per cent reduction in reliance to energy consumption.
In sports, the Governor Otti's policy has given life to Abia Warriors, Abia Angels and Abia Comets. He donated a 32- seater bus to Abia Warriors.
Security has also, received a boost as the floating of the Operation Crush Initiative has significantly reduced crime at flash point areas.
The ICT innovation under the governor, has led to the availability of marketable skills and job creation and self -reliance for the youths.
No doubt, Governor Otti, has left no person in doubt, including President Tinubu that with a square peg put in the square hole, good governance, real delivery of dividend of democracy, is guaranteed.
*Dr. Ogugbuaja, is a public commentator.
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