Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

eAbia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has said that, his successor in 2031 will be better than himself, adding he was laying a solid foundation for the development of the state.

Governor Otti stated this during the grande reception service organised in his honour by the Assemblies of God Church, Okaiuga – Nkwoegwu, Umuahia North LGA.

The governor said that he was just starting, and the time for the aggressive development of Abia State was then, adding that the curse that had held the State down has been broken.

“We have just started. We are not three years yet. So, you can imagine what will happen by the time we are done in 2031.

“So, you know there is a time and a season for everything. So, what we have started is the time for the aggressive development of Abia State.

“The news I have for Abia people is that we have broken that curse that held us down and whoever is going to succeed me will be better than me.

” So, when people think we are going to go back to them, they must be dreaming, we’ve moved,” Gov. Otti said.

Governor Otti said that, he believed in Psalms chapter 62 verse 11, which declared that, “God has spoken once, twice, have I heard this? That power belongs to God.

“So, you can do everything you want to do but, if it wasn’t God’s time, it will not work and when it’s God’s time, even if you are sleeping, God will wake you up,” he said.

.On their request for provision of a bus for evangelism and land for prayer camp, governor Otti confirmed to them that they would receive a hummer bus this week, courtesy of Prince, Dr. Arthur Eze, one of their guests.

He also directed the Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Ph.D, to meet with the Church leadership and work out modalities for securing a land for them as requested.

The State Chief Executive, who appreciated Churches in the State for the support given to his administration, thanked Assemblies of God Church for the reception organised for him.

Earlier in his speech, the District Superintendent, Assemblies of God Church, Jerusalem District, Rev. Dr Kenneth Ogbudu described the reception ceremony as a significant moment of history, and appreciation.

He said that Dr Alex Otti is a transformational leader, whose emergence has redefined governance in Abia State. He noted that, many administrations have come and gone but Governor Otti’s tenure represents a clear and commendable departure from the past.

“For the first time in our State’s history, governance is driven by competence, transparency, accountability, visible impact, and more promises and verifiable results.

“Under your (Gov. Otti’s) leadership, Abia State has witnessed a bold and deliberate restoration of public infrastructure – roads abandoned for decades have been reconstructed and reopened, “Connecting communities, easing transportation, stimulating commerce, and restoring the dignity of both urban and rural environments” Rev. Ogbudu said.

Rev. Ogbudu went further to note that the renewal of critical road networks across Aba and beyond by Governor Otti has revived economic activities and repositioned Abia State as a credible destination for investment.

He also said that beyond infrastructure, the administration has introduced “a new culture of fiscal discipline and prudent resource management.

“”Salaries and pensions are now paid with regularity and respect, restoring hope and dignity to the workers and retirees who were once forgotten. “For the first time since the creation of Abia State, public funds are being managed with transparency, accountability and confidence.

“Your excellency has also demonstrated uncommon courage in institutional reforms, cleaning up public systems, strengthening governance structures, and insisting that public office must serve the people rather than personal interests,” Rev. Ogbudu maintained.

The servant of God used the opportunity to request the Governor to provide them with a Hummer bus to support evangelism and the allocation of land for a prayer village for the Church.

The wife of the Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, the member representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and other members, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba Ph.D, Commissioner for Transport Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants to the Governor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Sir Chris Onwuegbu among others were present at the reception service.

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has signed ithe 2026 budget estimate of N1.016 trillion into law.

The appropriation law of One trillion, sixteen Billion, Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight Million, Seventy-Two Thousand, Six Hundred- and Fifty-One-Naira, Ninety-Nine kobo (N1,016,228,072,651.99), projected to be raised and spent in the 2026 fiscal year was presented to the state house of assembly a few weeks ago.

.Assenting to the appropriation bill, presented to him by Speaker Emmanuel Emeruwa of the Abia State House of Assembly, on Monday, December 29th, Governor Otti assured that his government would implement the budget to the letter.

Governor Otti thanked members of the State House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the appropriation bill and thanked his team for putting the document together before it was presented to the House.

“Today, we have gathered to sign the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, and that has just happened moments ago. “I want to start by thanking the team who worked very hard to produce the Appropriation Bill, and dispatched it to the House, but more thanks go to the House for expeditiously attending to the Bill, crunching the numbers, spending sleepless nights to ensure quick passage of the Bill,” gov. Otti said.

.The Governor thanked the House for their hard work, expressing joy that the State House of Assembly pays attention to details, and justifies their thoroughness in going through the budget.

“I want to thank you for the hard work, it’s interesting because I kept engaging, and I’m very glad that this House pays attention to details, not just a House that would pass a bill without asking questions. “I’m not unaware of the engagements going back and forth between the Executive team and the Legislative team, and that is what democracy should be about. “Questions should be asked, and numbers should be scrutinised. Two good heads, they say, are better than one. So, that this Bill took a little bit of time to pass is also a plus.

“It shows that some work was being done. It also puts the executive on its toes to ensure that it continues to up their game, to produce numbers that can be vouched for. “That is what we have just signed into law and trust me, the numbers did not change, at least the major numbers. The total appropriation remains ₦1.016 trillion. That was the number we churned out here after several sleepless nights,” he said.

The State Chief Executive further informed the gathering that the allocations; capital versus recurrent, remain the same, which shows the direction of the government.

“This is a government that believes that we need to empower our people legitimately. Our definition of empowerment is creating the enabling environment for our people to do their business and do their stuff and then, of course, also implementing and creating social infrastructure in terms of health, education, and environmental issues. Having our place clear, other than the roads, the bridges and the other hardcore infrastructure”, Gov. Otti maintained.

Presenting the appropriation bill earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa said that the achievements of Governor Otti are being acknowledged globally, adding that the legislative arm of the State is pleased to be part of the acceleration of projects in the 2026 fiscal year.

He said that Governor Otti has changed the narratives in the State within 30 months in office and assured the Governor of the support of the House of Assembly.

The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie and other members of the State House of Assembly, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Commissioners, Special Advisers and the Clerk of the State House of Assembly among others were present at the Budget Signing Ceremony.

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

Weeks after former governor Theodore Orji officially resigned from the People’s Democratic party (PDP), he has reportedly decamped to the All progressives Congress (APC).

This ends weeks of speculation of his possible political interests since leaving the PDP.

This recent move has been confirmed by the former senator’s aide, Mr. Ifeanyi Umere.

Senator Theodore Orji was governor of Abia state for 8 years on the platform of the PPA, later APGA and PDP. Be served as senator representing Abia central senatorial and for 2 terms on the platform of PDP.