The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 General Elections, Mr Peter Obi, in a recent television interview, said in clear terms that he is not desperate to be the President of Nigeria but determined to see the millions of out of school children get back to school and seeing Nigeria move on the path of growth and working for all Nigerians.Reading through the published report reminded me about Gov.

Alex Otti’s response to a similar question in one of his campaign outings ahead of the 2023 General Elections, when he was reacting to the insinuation by the then ruling-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) about being “desperate” to govern Abia.And, like Obi, his response was that he was not desperate to become Abia Governor but only driven by an irresistible urge to end the 24 years of bad governance in the state, characterised by the huge infrastructure deficit, irregular and non-payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, non-functional health facilities, a dysfunctional educational system and a rapidly growing poverty index.

According to him, those were the concerns that drove his ambition to become Abia Governor. Little wonder, therefore, why he hit the ground running as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission pronounced him the winner of the governorship poll. And he has left no one in doubt that he came prepared and willing to frontally confront the enormous hydra-headed challenges bequeathed to him by the uninspiring, lousy administration of PDP and Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.

Systematically, he has been attending to those critical sectors that propel socio-economic growth and development in any society which were neglected and left to rot for the PDP’s two decades plus in Abia. Without any exaggeration, the governor has so far proved his sincerity of purpose and commitment, considering the sustained rehabilitation, reconstruction and outright construction of failed roads that hitherto impeded smooth movement of people and goods within and around the state, to the renovation and retrofitting of the major hospitals in the state, notably the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, General Hospital, Amachara, Specialist Hospital, Umuahia and currently moving to upgrading and equipping 200 health centres in all the 184 Wards in the state.Presently, there are ongoing reforms in the education sector, including structural and curriculum upgrade.

There is also a retraining programme for 2000 teachers taking place in phases. The essence is to equip them so they can impart the right knowledge to the students and prepare them adequately for the contemporary competitive world.

On road infrastructure, Governor Otti has at the last count fixed 108 strategic roads, evenly distributed across the three senatorial districts of the state. And, while some of the roads were rehabilitated via direct labour by the Ministry of Works, many were either awarded for outright reconstruction or construction by renowned construction companies, including the almighty, globally recognised construction giant, Julius Berger Plc. Driving into Umuahia today from the Abia Tower on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway through the former Ossah Road, now rechristened Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, leaves one with a wonderful and exciting experience common with the welcoming and refreshing ambience of an arrival into a capital city.

Thanks to the well-paved, beautifully laid out, reconstructed and expanded dual carriageway, with pedestrian walkways on either side and streetlights on the long stretch median that terminates at Michael Okpara Roundabout.

Already, enormous construction work is currently ongoing on the Port Harcourt Road in Aba, a strategic road that used to be a beehive of industrial and commercial activities, connecting the popular Asannetu SpareParts Market.

It was scandalously abandoned by the previous three PDP-led administrations to “dilapidate” and become “unmotorable” throughout their tenures. The present administration’s zero pothole policy, being implemented by the ministry, has helped to give roads in Umuahia, the state capital, and commercial city of Aba, an elaborate facelift. And for the first time in the history of Abia, a government has initiated and intentionally embarked on a light-up programme in the two major cities of Umuahia and Aba.

The intention, aside from enhancing the security of lives and property, is to promote the aesthetic beauty of the towns.But, above all of those positives from the LP government, one major campaign promise that readily endeared Otti to the Abia electorate was his consistent pledge to clear the humongous salary and pension arrears accummulated by Ikpeazu’s government.

I recall that he would follow up his promise by jocularly telling his audience, “Do not ask me how I intend to do it. This is my trade secret”.While the salary arrears stretched between three and 33 months for some ministries, agencies and parastatals of government, pension payment was in arrears of about 45 months.And no sooner was he inaugurated as the State Governor than he began to put the necessary machinery in place to actualise his promise.

Aside from the political gain, the former bank chief believes that a prostrate economy, such as Abia’s, can be reflated when workers are paid their wages as and when due to meet their daily demands. So, with great determination and forthrightness (as some would say, like joke, like joke), Gov. Otti squarely and summarily tackled and liquidated the arrears of salaries owed to civil servants, eliminating the phantom dichotomy between the core and uncore ministries – an obnoxious policy created by an insensitive administration to cause unnecessary friction and unhealthy administrative bottleneck that illogically permitted the payment of one and neglecting the other.

Today, Abia civil servants, both core and uncore, as well as retirees regularly and promptly receive their monthly salaries and pensions. Gladly, this has become the new normal in God’s Own State.But more remarkable and earthshaking was the news that set the Abia Polytechnic, Aba agog on Friday.

It all started like an incredible and fictional episode in a drama series, with one, two, three bank alerts and so on until the alert hit workers cellphones left, right and centre on campus, showing the payment of three months salary arrears.

The development sparked off spontaneous jubilation among the recipients, which included both the academic and non-academic staff members of all the institutions in the state that were in arrears of their salaries.

It was simply celebration galore as many went into dancing and praise-singing in appreciation of a God-sent, sympathetic and benevolent Governor, who chose to remember a people so economically scorched and at a critical moment as now.

The payment was a fulfilment of the Governor’s recent promise to defray the accummulated N17.6 Billion salary arrears owed to staff of the state-owned tertiary institutions by the immediate past administration. According to the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, the payment will follow a 12-month armortisation plan with the first batch already disbursed to the affected institutions. “This structured payment is meant to ensure that other areas of governance do not suffer from the lack of attention due to limited financial resources.”By this development, the Dr Alex Otti- led administration has once more demonstrated its committment to the promotion and sustenance of the welfare of Abia civil servants at all times,” Kanu said.

The news of the Governor’s kind gesture spread through the length and breadth of Abia and beyond like a wild harmattan fire after a video of the polytechnic workers’ celebration took over the online media space.The story became the big talk of the town – in market places, commuter vehicles, eateries, bars and public places – as residents hailed the magnanimity of the Governor, who they happily described as “ekwu eme” (meaning a man of his words).

Again, as in other serious interventions in other critical sectors, Gov. Otti has demonstrated that his word is his bond, meaning that he can be trusted at all times to fulfill all his campaign promises, one step at a go. Interestingly, he has become the toast of Abia workers in the state-owned higher institutions, whose homes became electrified and enlivened on Friday with the joy and ecstasy that were activated by the bank alerts. Gladly, too, this is happening at a time many parents and guardians are grappling with the biting economic difficulties, amidst sleepless nights on how to cope with the imminent resumption of schools in the state after the long vacation.

With the Governor’s performance chart consistently on the rise in the 16 months of his visionary and purposeful leadership, can anyone still query why he was irreversibly and aggressively determined and uncompromising, almost at the point of desperation, to send the mediocre and non-performing PDP administration packing at a time Abia’s development trajectory was steadily on a reverse motion?And as the ovation for Friday’s miracle for Abia Poly and other tertiary educational institutions continues, the Governor’s close allies say “you ain’t seen nothing yet!” Meaning that Gov. Otti has more goodies in stock for Abia and its good people. And, if he had made so much accomplishments in physical infrastructure as well as other impactful programmes and policies without borrowing a dime, it is only left to imagination what would become of Abia by the time he accedes to augmenting the limited state resources at his disposal with a bank facility. Indeed, a new Abia is here.

To God be the glory!!!

Eagle Okoro is a Public Affairs analyst and writes from Umuahia

Godwin Okorie chronicles his transformative journey in government in a compelling and introspective piece.

Godwin Okorie, the former Aide-de-camp to the Executive Governor of Abia State, opens up about his profound experiences within the corridors of power. His article, titled “My Voyage in Abia State Government: A Journey of Growth and Learning,” offers a rare glimpse into the challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons that shaped his tenure in public service.Okorie’s narrative not only highlights the pivotal moments of his career but also underscores the personal and professional growth he achieved while serving the state.

His reflections provide an insightful look at the intricacies of governance and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines public service in Abia State.

Sequel to a painstaking selection process and interview session, my voyage into the Abia State Government as the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor came to the fore on the 29th of May, 2023 at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the venue of the official inauguration and Swearing-in ceremony of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti OFR as the 4th democratically elected Governor of Abia State.The atmosphere of joy and excitement that heralded this moment was a palpable reflection of the unquenchable thirst of the Abia people for a departure from the old order into an era filled with great hopes.

While the massive turnout of excited Abians demonstrated great confidence in the vision and capabilities of Dr. Alex Otti OFR, there was no ambiguity in the fact that redemption had indeed been ushered.It was such a moment of great pride and responsibility, offering me an opportunity to contribute to the security and overall development of our state. Little did I know that this role would become a transformative experience, shaping my perspective and skills in ways never imagined.

A WALK WITH THE LEADER: INVALUABLE LESSONS IN PERSEVERANCE

Leaders, they say are primed for a season and purpose as recorded in the Holy Book. It is indeed my time to have a walk with one leader, whose resilience speaks across sectors perhaps not imagined by many, a leader with the deployable accuracy of an eagle and one whose appetite for results offers no respect for age, status or creed.Beyond the precision of the intellectual polymath of our state, I have been touched by a leader who embodies exceptional vision, integrity and compassion.

Privileged lessons in governance, leadership and enterprise are invaluable expository of a life of intentional strides, focused investment of time and resources such that even naysayers struggle to dismiss.When a leader’s door is wide open, wisdom on various aspects of life freely shared, a generation of fortunate disciples with lofty ideological bases is birthed for the overall good of our state.

For onlookers whose faith in the New Abia was feeble, the dawn of an inter-generational shift in leadership with unwavering commitment, accountability and innovative service to the people of Abia State is evident across several sectors of Abia State

.MY EXPERIENCE: A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE

In the words of Martin Luther King Jnr. ‘All Men can be great because all men can serve’. It is indeed an era of confirmation that greatness derived from service and enterprise is the only sure path to sustainable prosperity and all men can indeed achieve this. The exemplary value of knowledge-driven action as the only acceptable response to any given situation speaks to the zeal of His Excellency to raise the bar of development and replace sustainable progress for the good of all.

Need I say that serving under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti OFR was an absolute privilege which proved that hard work does no one no harm. This experience honed my skills in communication, problem-solving, and teamwork to a level never imagined in my career. I had the opportunity to work with a talented team, and together, we contributed to the state’s progress.

The Governor’s trust in me allowed me to take on challenging tasks, and his guidance helped me navigate complex situations.Under the Governor’s leadership, Abia State has seen significant transformations. I witnessed firsthand the impact of the policies on healthcare, infrastructure, and socio-economic development. The growth of the state has been tangible, and I feel so proud to be part of the team rolling the wheel of this progress.

The Governor’s vision for a “New Abia” is indeed a reality, and I was honoured to have contributed to this journey.A contact with the undisputable matriarch of the Alex Otti empire offered a benefit so priceless that will continue to resonate within my sub-consciousness. Gracious, intelligent and humble, qualities which put Her Excellency, Mrs Priscillia Chidinma Otti among obvious women of means yet so accommodating.

Evidence of her vast heart-prints of love and compassion repletes the length and breadth of the state through numerous charity and scholarly initiatives and this is a lesson in humility for many in their application of state powers.Great people and lovely men who elect to hold your hands through success are indeed difficult to come by, hence the contributions of several members of the cabinet, friends and acquaintances remain indelible.

PUSHING THE FRONTIERS OF KNOWLEDGE; THE PURSUIT OF MY PHD: A NEW CHAPTER.

After an incredible experience in the Abia State Government, I have decided to pursue my PhD in the United States. This decision stems from my passion for academic growth and development. I am eager to expand my knowledge, explore new research interests, and contribute to my field. Though I am moving on to a new chapter, the lessons and experiences gained while serving the Governor and the people of Abia State will remain invaluable.In his leadership style he doesn’t just inspire growth through hard work, he holds you by the hand through the path where success only is the prize. Amidst very tight schedules, multiple deadlines and disparate interests, His Excellency didn’t lose his scholarly curiosity and never failed to contribute to intellectual discourse with high-end articles. Any wonder why his adherents will seek to deepen the roots of development through scholarship and sacrifice beyond the expectation of rumour mongers.

Therein lies the motivation to engage the intellectual world through scholarship as exemplified by His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti OFR. Even his traducers do not controvert the fact that Dr. Alex is an intellectual powerhouse dating several decades ago. And like he always says ‘Godwin, read and don’t you ever stop reading because when you stop reading, you start dying’.I am indeed grateful for the opportunity to have served, learned and grown under the Governor’s leadership. His impact on my life and career has been profound and I will always cherish the memories, lessons, and experiences from my time in the Abia State Government.

Godwin Okore, Fmr. ADC to Dr Alex Otti OFR writes from Abuja.

No doubt, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, is under executive bondage that he cannot extricate himself from, hence, his recourse to ridiculing himself and office with puerile excuses for not inaugurating his brother and friend, Hon Aaron Uzodike, to represent the good people of Aba North State Constituency having been declared the winner of the last House of Assembly election in the constituency.

I have spoken to many of our mutual friends on this issue and they all say the same thing: “his hands are tied by the Governor.”Unfortunately, Emeruwa cannot expect sympathy from me because he knows that if I was in the same position as him, I would rise to do the right thing even if it would cost me the Speakership. I wept for Emeruwa when i first saw this video.Listen carefully and hear the speaker of Abia State House of Assembly and, by the grace of God, the chief lawmaker of our dear state, making excuses that a Year One Law student or even a legal illiterate like me will never make because it sounds wild and atrociously ridiculous.

He said the judgement of the Appeal Court that declared Uzodike as the rightful winner of the Aba North State constituency election did not ask him to inaugurate Aaron Uzodike, hence, he won’t perform that duty that the law expects him to perform by virtue of the public office he occupies.Mr Speaker, I feel very bad educating you on this issue because your statement ridicules our state as a place where square pegs are forced into round holes.

But my hands are tied by my conscience to still help you understand even though deep down I believe you already know these facts.1. The major document required to inaugurate a member of the house of assembly is the Certificate of Return from INEC. Not even CTC of a court order.2. Once the court directed INEC to issue the certificate of return to Aaron Uzodike, the job of the court was done. The reason is that INEC is the chief electoral body in the country and they were joined in the suit. The Office of the Speaker was not joined and, hence, the court had no business issuing direct order to that office.

The day you were accepted as member of Abia Stste House of Assembly, it was the same certificate of return from INEC that made the clerk of the house to accept you.3. As a public officer, there are certain duties you are ordinarily expected to perform hence you do not require any express court order to perform those duties. One of those duties is to inaugurate whoever INEC issues a certificate of return to as member of the house and your failure to execute that duty amounts to gross misconduct and you should have been impeached long ago if the PDP members of that house understood their role and have the expected courage to do it. What you said in this video amounts to police saying that they are waiting for a court order to specifically investigate or prevent crimes, which is part of their ordinary duties assigned by law.4.

The “Federal High Court of Appeal Abuja” judgement you mentioned in this video does not exist anywhere in the world and you lied, sir. You merely exposed your shallow understanding of the law even while “making laws” for the rest of us in Abia State.5.

For the information of those who may not know, Aaron Uzodike approached the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court on the 27th of February 2024 (more than 2 months after he was supposed to have been inaugurated as member representing Aba North) to sanction Speaker Emeruwa for contempt of court arising from his refusal to honor the judgement of the Appeal Court. The Presiding Judge advised that a contempt proceeding cannot be successfully sustained against the Speaker because the original court ruling did not specifically direct him on that since he was not a party to the election petition. Aaron was therefore advised to withdraw the contempt charge and his lawyer did that.

The “Federal High Court of Appeal” NEVER SAID SPEAKER EMERUWA CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT INAUGURATE AARON UZODIKE.

There is currently no legal impediment to the inauguration of Aaron Uzodike, hence, no need for any political settlement, as further stated by Speaker Emeruwa in that interview. 7. Mr Speaker previously cited an ex-parte order from Ukwa Division of Abia State High Court as reason for delaying the inauguration of Aaron Uzodike until we reminded him that such orders, if at all in existence, have a legal lifespan of maximum 7-14 days and, hence, must have expired.

Ultimately, we published the ruling by that same court on the 19th day of March 2024 dismissing the suit filed by Destiny Nwagwu. Yet, Mr Speaker refused, neglected and failed to perform his duty under the law.Mr Speaker, I hope you won’t feel bad with the next action I will personally take within the scope of the law to ensure that the rule of law is respected in Abia State for your sake, my sake, that of our children and children’s children? It will not be because I dislike or hate you, I surely don’t, but simply because I have to help untie your hands from the puppet master that is holding you hostage and in bondage. We have just celebrated Democracy Day because some people stood up to dictators and Emperors to demand that rule of law be respected. It is now our turn to do same in our state and I won’t shy away from doing it since you have repeatedly failed to untie your own hands or escape from the bondage of your bond masters.

While you and your colleagues are enjoying the ongoing multi-million naira retreat in Uyo and we wait to read how many billions of Abia money will be retired as “capacity building and training” in Quarter 2 of the 2024 financial report, my friends in Uyo have been mocking me regarding what is going on in that hotel but that’s not my business. Just like the allegation you made that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, IVM (Innoson motors) collected hundreds of millions of naira from Abia State Government for official cars for House members and are yet to supply.

Though I wish you had asked those who paid Innoson exactly what the deal was before you erroneously expose someone higher than you. But ya diwa, not my business!!Accept my greetings from the wilderness of Abia State but you must inaugurate Aaron Uzodike or resign as Speaker to enable someone who understands the job and has the courage to do it emerge and do the needful.

By Chief John Okiyi Kalu