Some months ago, former governor of Abia state and now a serving senator of the Federal Republic, Orji Uzor Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu and Mascot Kalu, younger brother to Orji Uzor Kalu, threatened to sack the present governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, come 2027.
The noise was so loud that, party faithful of the All Progressives Congress (APC) boasted of concluded plans to mobilize Abia voters to vote out Gov. Otti in the 2027 general election. Some residents and committed supporters of Chioma Nde Abia began to feel a little disturbed for their hard-working and ebullient man of the moment.
Gov. Otti is not perfect, and indeed nobody is. He is not a saint or an angel, he has not achieved all that’s needed to be achieved in the state. But, nobody can remove the fact that he has taken Abia state away from the rot of the past years .
No doubt, Gov. Otti has set a standard that may be difficult for his successor in 2031 to attain. The next man or woman to occupy that office will face serious challenges of performance. He or she must be ingenious, creative and heavenly approved to satisfy the people of Abia.
In Abia, the South East region, Nigeria and overseas today, the conversation or narrative about Abia state has changed. The conversation and political discussions wherever you go today in Abia border on the excellent performance of Governor Otti which dominate because of his overwhelming achievements.
The massive developmental projects accomplished within the space of three years are legendary. Yet, the other on-going projects in all corners of the state are impressive and masterpieces.
It is a thing of pride for every Abia citizen sitting among other citizens of Nigeria where there are discussions centering on state governments’ performances and Abia state is rated very highly above all others.
The talk about the fiscal discipline introduced by Gov. Alex Otti since assuming office in 2023 is a chalk up. He has brought in organization and discipline into the management of finances in all government offices in the state.
It was in that regard that, few days ago, the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission, RMFAC, Chairman, Dr. Muhammed Bello Shehu and his team recognized and honoured Gov. Otti with a visit in Abia to congratulate him on his prudence and management skills over government resources.
Gov. Otti’s commitment guarantees that every worker and pensioner are paid their salaries, allowances and pensions monthly. This is something that should be commended. This wasn’t the practice prior to his resumption of office in 2023. Abia civil servants were owed for years until Gov. Otti came on board, wiped away the arrears and instituted compulsory payment of state civil servants every month.
For years now, BudgIT, a renowned anti-graft agency specialized in monitoring state finances, expenditures, budget analysis, etc. has ranked Abia state first in total expenditure growth, first in capital expenditure growth and first in personnel expenditure growth.
Abia state was also rated best among the five states of the South East in the 2025 Primary Healthcare and was awarded a $500,000 grant. This was only possible because a man who understands that governance is a serious business occupies the number one political office in the state.
There’s commendable improvement in the state health institutions. Some General Hospitals in the state are undergoing reconstruction while others are already refurbished and equipped. A General Hospital in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state was recently remodelled and renamed after late Comrade Chima Ubani, the late rights activist who was pivotal to the birth of the democracy we have today.
Ubani died in a questionable motor accident along Potiskum -Maiduguri road in September, 2005 and hailed from Obete-Uboma in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State.
In Abia of today, under Gov. Alex Otti many roads have been rehabilitated and more are on the line for rehabilitation. For instance, in most of the towns and cities in Abia state, the roads built by this administration are standard, maintained regularly and kept clean. The roads linking Umuakwu Nsulu from Umuala through Ohuhu Ikeala Nsulu to Nchara, Oloko and Obohia are in good shape. These communities share boundaries with Akwa Ibom state.
There are street and traffic lights along major roads in Umuahia and Aba. All these were absent prior to the coming of Gov. Otti in 2023.
Gov. Otti is investing in the power sector. It is just a matter of time for the whole state to start benefitting fully. He realized that the enormous indicative of an industrialization hub, are the factories business, trading, and employment opportunities. He summarized that constant power supply in the state will be of immense benefit.
The state government is currently working with Geometric Power Aba Limited, Nigeria’s Independent System Operator and the Niger Delta Power Holding ,
I’mCompany and other interest groups to improve the power supply in the state.
A gigantic and standard bus terminal, compared to that of an airport is standing and functioning in Umuahia. It is named after Prof. Nnenna Oti, former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology, Owerri. A friend who visited me in Umuahia on his way to Aba, joked about the terminal thus, “Otti don guy una, the man will convert this place to airport in his second term.”
This bus terminal has assisted in decongesting the known rowdy Isi-gate and its surroundings in Umuahia caused by traders, hawkers and transporters.
Many are still wondering how this became a reality in Abia. But it is. Tax payers’ money is being used judiciously to the advantage of the people and state. Travellers to and fro Umuahia, no longer pass through any kind of hassles or harassment from touts. Passengers are cordially recognized and treated with dignity by first, the state government and then, the various transportation companies.
There’s decency and organisation in the state. The usual heap of refuse, obstructive parking of vehicles along the streets, traders’ intrusions into the walkways, that were synonymous to Aba and Umuahia in the days of T A Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu have all disappeared. Abia in today’s Nigeria is one of the most organized and cleanest.
All these and many more have only signified that, the present governor, Alex Otti is prepared to deliver Abia from the ruins of yester-years and take her to an enviable position in the Nigeria socio-economic development chart.
When Gov. Otti’s political opponents in the state struggled with their voices in demanding for a change come 2027, Abia voters only sat back, compared the last administrations and this present government under Gov Otti and concluded to make a LOUDER political statement in 2027.
No doubt, the Orji Kalus, Benjamin Kalus and all others interested in seeing Governor Otti defeated in the 2027 election have realized it is going to be a Herculean task to defeat Chioma Nde Abia because citizens of Abia are solidly behind this God Sent.
The opponents ganged up for a few days, made small political noises and faded away into their nests to pursue their personal interests. In fact, presently they are all courting Gov. Alex Otti for support to achieve their political dream.
When they ran their mouths for days and saw the handwriting on the wall, they retreated into their private abodes realizing that, Abia 1999 -2023 isn’t Abia of today. Meanwhile, they are not even sure of winning their own elections. These men and women of yesterday discovered that, the wools covering the eyes of Abia citizens have since been yanked off, “eyes don open” like we say.
Abians are now prepared to stand up to defend and protect the current massive development in their state. And, the man making it possible. It is a religious opium, spiritual commitment and political responsibility for them to return Gov. Alex Otti back to power till 2031.
