The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), says Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, will leave a legacy in governance that will be difficult to match.
The highly revered Yoruba leader spoke when he visited Governor Otti in his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia on Friday, December 29, 2023.
The Ooni was in Abia, where he attended a civic reception in honor of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, organized by his Bende community.
The event also witnessed the unveiling of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an idea of Hon. Kalu, as part of the activities marking the grand civic reception, thanksgiving, and homecoming of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House, held on Friday at Bende Local Government Headquarters.
Oba Ogunwusi, while fielding questions from the media during the visit, attested to the competence, character, and capacity of Governor Otti to deliver on his current assignment in Abia.
He said, “For me, it’s a red-letter day because I know who he (Governor Otti) is. It is not a relationship of now. I know his competence; I know his capacity and what he has delivered in the private sector. So we should rally around him and celebrate him because what he will deliver for the people of Abia will be very difficult to match.
“I have asked him privately, Your Excellency, there is something beyond winning, please share your legacies with me. What do you want the Abia people to know you for? He is somebody I became close to when he left banking and when he wasn’t a Governor and we shared thoughts and ideas. But I’m very fulfilled because he came prepared for the job. I am much more than convinced that he will deliver the dividends of democracy for the Abia people and by extension the Igbos and Nigeria as a country.
“He has the capacity; he has the competence, a very broad brain with ideas and things he wants to implement. So for me, I am here to pick his brain. Your Excellency, beyond winning, beyond celebration, what do you have on the table for the people? For the past two hours, we have been engaging one another, and I am very convinced that he is the same Dr. Alex Otti of yesteryears. In fact, much better, a finer wine to deliver dividends of Democracy for the Abia people.”
The Ooni urged for prayers for Governor Otti, for sound health and long life to deliver his plans for the State, saying the Governor has a great plan for the state and knows what he is doing.
“He came prepared, so we should continue to support him. Forget that I came from the Southwest, he has been a brother. I call him my own Governor. I told a lot of people from the East, and even the traditional rulers today, you can call him your son, but he is my Governor. I want to watch him succeed and that’s why I’m here.
“I have been looking forward to this and today, I am fulfilled. Irrespective of politics, irrespective of party, he is out there to be successful and by the very special grace of God, he will be successful. He will deliver great things for Abians,” the foremost Yoruba king said emphatically.
The Ooni’s visit coincided with the visit of some other high-profile visitors to the Governor, among whom was the former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.
Nwahiwe Chinonyerem Cleverson
Information Officer,
Government House Press
December 30, 2023.
