Saturday Southerner 

Another View 

This is not about politics. It is not for campaign purposes. It is also not about hyping the governor of Abia state, His Excellency, Gov. Alex Chioma Otti. Not any of the above, rather, this is about stating the obvious.

It is a common song in the mouths of the people in Abia, the South East region and the country as a whole about the quality performances of Gov. Alex Otti in Abia state since the inception of his administration in 2023.

Several surveys, polls, audits, scorecards, assessments by national and international agencies have recognized Gov. Alex Otti of Abia state as a leader doing beautifully well in governance and improving the standard of abandoned and decayed infrastructure in the state.

Under the Otti-led leadership, the state has risen as one of the best-performing states in the country. This is a confirmation of a national assessment released by Phillips Consulting in 2026, with a composite score of 0.55, placing Abia as second best in the country after Jigawa state, in every department of governance.

Phillips Consulting is not road side institution but a very reputable consulting firm. For Abia to occupy an enviable position in their rating is something cheering and the government of Abia state led by His Excellency, Gov. Alex Chioma Otti must be congratulated and encouraged to do more for the people.

The assessment report revealed a major improvement in the infrastructural development of the state. The report proved that the state has departed from the rot of the locust years between 1999 – 2023, when ex-governors Orju Uzor Kalu, TA Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu governed the state.

Umuahia and Aba, the capital and commercial cities respectively in Abia were a junk prior to the coming of Gov. Alex Otti. There were chaos, disorganization and destruction of infrastructure.

Abia, today is proudly talked about by indigenes of the state because of the enormous developmental projects achieved in the state in the last three years and four months.

Abians are happy. They never dreamt that such infrastructural projects could be achieved within such a short time and many more are scheduled to be inaugurated any moment soon. The state government under the leadership of Gov. Otti is determined to ensure the rehabilitation of roads in the state remains unprecedented.

Similarly, Abia was ranked 7th best governed state in Nigeria while ranked 925th in the world according to the Global Cities Index of 2026.

The ranking recognized Aba, the commercial city as the fourth highest ranked in the South East. For a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit, manufacturing base, leather and garment factories, and strong culture of commerce, the inclusion of Aba in the global index confirms the growing relevance of the city.

With continued financial discipline in government spending, good governance, infrastructural projects, transportation, urban development, security, environmental sanitation, Aba, popularly referred to as Enyimba City, has the potentials to improve in future global city rankings.

It is gratifying to note that Aba ranks ahead of Port-Harcourt, Benin-City, Kaduna, Abeokuta, Ilorin and others in development according to the Global Cities Index survey of 2026.

Abia roads are wearing good looks. All the local governments in the state have some of their major roads uplifted to make transportation of persons, goods and services easy.

An example is the popular Omenuko bridge in Abam, Arochukwu. The bridge was broken down for many years which inhibited movements of persons and goods. But Gov. Otti built a completely modern bridge for easy passage of the people of Arochukwu and environs and the general public.

Abia today can be described as one of the cleanest states in Nigeria. The heaps of refuse and uncleared drainages that previously dotted many parts of our cities have long disappeared since the arrival of the Game-Changer in Abia.

Abia can no longer be relegated to the background as it was in the past in matters of infrastructural development, financial discipline, salary payments, business opportunities, etc.

During the celebration of Teachers Day, on Monday, October 05, 2026, Alex Otti made a donation of #1 billion to teachers in Abia state. The N1 billion donation was tagged “Teachers’ Appreciation Allowance.” This is in recognition of the wonderful commitment, dedication and steadfastness of teachers in the discharge of their duties.

Some other packages also accompanied the TAA. To the Abia teachers, Gov. Otti promised that hardworking teachers recognized will henceforth embark on foreign training to expose and enable them interact with their colleagues in other countries, learn new techniques and practices in the teaching profession.

There was also promise by the governor to acquire smart devices for the teachers in the state to support their research. These digital tools will enable the teachers function efficiently and effectively in the classroom. The devices would assist the teachers to be up to date as far as information and teaching are concerned.

Isi-Gate, for those who knew Umuahia before the coming of Gov. Otti’s administration in 2023, used to be another Oshodi in Lagos of old, a confusion zone. A gathering of touts, miscreants, pick-pockets, criminals that caused havoc and made the place notorious. There were very uncontrollable street hawkers, traders and transporters messing up the environment. But all that are gone as it is now a totally different scenario today.

There is a modern bus terminal for easy transportation in and around Umuahia to operate from. Roads are demarcated with walkways created, traffic lights to assist the road managers control traffic for the benefit of all.

Abia’s success story has brought distinguished men and women, business moguls and professionals from other parts of the country and outside to the state. And they have not stopped pouring in to witness the change of Abia climbing the ladder and discuss with the state government about investment.

In Umuahia and Aba, there’s decency. People no longer park indiscriminately on the roads without minding the consequences. There are street and traffic lights at strategic places to control traffic. Vehicle owners in the state now abide by the rules knowing that, there are traffic managers ready to enforce the law irrespective of one’s position in the society.

The usual shop owners who extended their wares to the road have stopped the practice. All traders are made to remain in their shops or go to designated areas to display their wares. The environmental managers are up and doing to keep to the environmental rules in the state.

The other South East states should emulate, concentrate and develop their states like Gov. Otti is doing in Abia and stop playing the politics of destroying persons. In the last couple of months Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state has concentrated more in pulling Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, down.

Gov. Soludo has progressed in error with this campaign of calumny against the person of Mr. Peter Obi. Any Igbo can campaign for their choice for the presidency without necessarily attacking another. It is their right but it’s undesirable when they attack, abuse and push out lies to decimate others and in this particular instance, Mr. Peter Obi whose only sin is his determination to become Nigeria’s President.

Gov. Otti must remain focused to accomplish his good works through the remaining months of his first tenure to when he resumes for a second term.

He has to remain focused, consistent and persistent on the wonderful achievements that have made people to admire and talk about him glowingly everywhere.

There is no doubt, we have an ongoing governance revolution in Abia state. Gov. Alex Otti must not allow his high rating and popularity to drop. He must ensure that he remains a leader that other emerging leaders visit to learn from on the correct trajectory in governance.

Gov. Otti must build for himself an enviable position which would make people not just in Nigeria but Africa, and the world over to come to Abia state to see, and consult him on matters of leadership.