The Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Chioma Otti has stated that the task before the State is not only enormous but challenging and negative position while extending a hand of friendship to all Abians to work with him to achieve the great desire which all Abians can be proud of.
“I must be frank to inform you that we have a very difficult and challenging road ahead of us. Abia State is starting, not from zero, but from an enormously negative position. While we were busy battling with the devastating effects of insincere and corrupt leadership, the rest of the world, and even many parts of Nigeria, would appear to have left us behind. We have a treasury that has been criminally ravaged to the extent that we have an alleged N50 billion in unpaid salaries, gratuities, and pensions. Our local and foreign debt overhang is reported to be in the region of N200 billion, in addition to other debts to contractors.”
Speaking just at his inauguration as the 5th democratically elected Governor of Abia State at the Umuahia Township on Monday, May 29, 2023, he also extended a hand of friendship to the media, and the traditional rulers to join him in salvaging the State from years of ruin.
“The media, which is the watchdog of the people, will remain pivotal to our work, and I invite the traditional and new media professionals in the State to continue to work with us for the good of the common man. Similarly, we shall work with the Ezes and traditional institutions, the churches and faith-based institutions, to build harmony and understanding in the State. We already have channels for engaging these institutions and we shall strengthen them during our tenure.”
Making a case for public-private investment, the former Bank administrator made it clear that the urban centers in the State do not measure up to their equals across the country and world and reminded Abians that it will take the partnership between government and private individuals to make it work.
“Fixing these urban centers and bringing them at par with their contemporaries around the region and beyond would take a humongous amount of time and resources. We can only save them through massive reliance on new public-private sector investments.”
On education, Dr Otti said “Our educational system, which used to be the cutting edge of our growth and development, is now in shambles as our findings show that the sector had for decades, not received the kind of quality attention it deserves. As a result, there is a paucity of quality teaching personnel, especially in very critical subject areas, the absence of standard laboratories for practical learning and experiments, and a culture of malpractice that sets our children up for a life of mediocrity, frustration, and disappointment. I promise that in the emerging dispensation, every child of Abia State must have equal opportunity for good education. Merit will be the watchword in recruitment and award of jobs. We will also be very supportive of sports and will seek to return the State to the heydays of Dick Tiger, Jerry Enyeazu, Chidi Imo, Kanu Nwankwo, Grasshoppers, and Enyimba Football Club. We aspire to use it to unite the citizens, keep them healthy and provide an avenue for entertainment, good health, and business pursuits.”
While promising to tackle the issue of insecurity from the root, Dr. Otti made it clear that no criminal element will be spared but also disclosed that unemployment causes a lot of criminality.
“One of the greatest challenges facing the State is ensuring that there is guaranteed security of lives and property. The worsening state of insecurity in the State will be addressed from its root. Consequential criminals slide into crime when there are no other available means of livelihood. We intend to address this group through the provision of various opportunities that I will be outlining shortly. However, I know that there are hardcore criminals, who have been used by their godfathers to terrorize the citizens and keep them firmly on the saddle to continue to impoverish the state. My simple warning to them is that they must leave the state from today. I must warn all of them and their patrons that starting from today, it is no longer business as usual. I promise you that Abia State will not be big enough to contain you and me, at the same time. I declare that I will use the full force of the law to apprehend and punish all those who are intent on threatening law and order in the State.”
