May 29, 2025, marked the second anniversary of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, as the Governor of Abia State.
To mark the anniversary, a variety of programs and events were lined up to precede and usher in the D-Day.
To declare that Abia State was agog for days in the run down to the May 29 Anniversary, would be an absolute understatement.
Without exaggeration, Abia State citizens, had never been filled with such formidable euphoric feelings and pride, since the advent of the democratic dispensation in 1998/1999, in marking the anniversaries of the return to democracy, following decades of military incursions and interregnum in the political space of Nigeria’s civil affairs and governance.
The agonies and deeply etched regrets that characterized such anniversaries in the past 24 years in Abia State, quickly evaporated and gave way to atmospheres of marathon-like celebrations and boundless expressions of pride as Ndi Abia, more especially, in the commerce hub City of Aba (Enyimba City).
Unlike in the past political administrations and dispensations, there were a plenitude of reasons to celebrate, in a very special mood and manner, 2025 edition of the anniversary of democratic transition, that ushered in a transformational agenda in governance in 2023, when Alex Otti, dismantled the past and anemic administration and mounted the saddle of leadership in Abia State.
The tag of A New Abia as Otti’s administration is known, is for real. A rejuvenated new spirit, is infusing a new life, vigor and vibrancy into the Abia State political landscape.
Here are the hallmarks of the outstanding characteristics and populist effervescent expressions that marked the Second Anniversary of Inauguration in the office of Alex Otti, as the Governor of Abia State.
*Contagious Ecstasy*
Blossom-some contagious spirit of ecstatic feelings were unprecedented and overwhelming. Unlike in the past administrations that were renowned for spreading the spirit of gloom and despondency, the contrast was evident, and served as a testament of the New Abia vision, under Otti’s leadership.
Frankly, Abians need to be congratulated and celebrated for the renascent spirit of Ecstasy that is the hallmark of Alex Otti’s administration and leadership in Abia State.
*Affirmations of Good-Governance*
Ndi Abia, recently discovered renewed belief and values and faith in Good-Governance, as practical realities, and no more mere theoretical precepts or abstract concepts or principles. In the past administrations, Good-Governance remained a mirage, and a promissory note, that lacked fulfillment. Abians were scammed and duped of Good-Governance in the past, in objective or realistic terms.
Thus, any reference or mention of Good-Governance by past administrations, evoked faint and scanty hope among the Abia populace. In a nut shell, under the past administrations, Good-Governance equated to holding dud or bounced cheque. Past administrations scorned the idea of Good-Governance and destroyed any iota of belief in the principles or tenets of Good-Governance. In the past, Abia State polity, without exaggerating, was a barren political entity and political enterprise, in the context of Good-Governance, measured in terms of globally acceptable benchmarks of Good-Governance.
The good news: in the present administration and dispensation of Otti, affirmations of Good-Governance have found widespread acceptance and recognition among the Abia population, as the cornerstone of Otti’s leadership.
*Increasing Confidence in Qualitative Leadership*
The high bubbling confidence levels in qualitative leadership in Abia society, is at unprecedented peak, at the moment. A purposeful, visionary and transformative governance agenda, under the watch of Otti, is at the roots, and the major cause of the rising tides in confidence levels of Abians in Government, as an institution for public good. Within two years in office, the barometer of public opinion, in terms of confidence in qualitative leadership, across the spectra of political and non- partisan political stakeholders, is unprecedented in Abia State. Unbiased and objective Analysts, Commentators, Pundits, and Watchers of political affairs, drawn from outside the mainstream of Abia polity, have expressed high levels of confidence in the leadership abilities and managerial
acumen of Otti and his team. The high levels of confidence and endorsement trailing Otti’s administration, is a testament of the rising profile and stature of Abia State, locally and internationally. Local and international investors, have embarked on an upsurge of regular pilgrimage to Abia State, to explore and exploit the investment opportunities and potentialities, closely associated with the grid of qualitative leadership, the hallmark of Abia State, currently.
*Robust Infrastructure Architecture*
Once upon a time, lagging behind, once upon a time, hopelessly abandoned and devastated, once upon a time, known as the Siberia, because of the poor conditions of abysmal paucity of infrastructure, Abia State, in a twinkle, like the proverbial Phoenix, has risen from the ashes of desolation and gloomy conditions of infrastructural decay and decomposition, to a state of resurgence and vitality.
Revamping of the infrastructural architecture of Abia State, is on a fast track, as a priority of Otti’s administration and leadership.
A critical aspect of the resurgence is underscored by the purpose driven policy to instutionalize provision of state-of- the-art facilities and infrastructure, as the launch pad and foundation for the quantum leap of Abia State, in the economic sector and economic prosperity.
At the core of the New Abia mantra, provision of a robust network of infrastructure, is key. The era of rhetoric, in the provision of desired infrastructure for Abia society, is now, behind. The ugly spectre of infrastructure decay, is a thing of the past. The haunting ghosts of abandoned projects, littered across the landscape of Abia State polity, are finally exorcized.
A New Abia Template, and A New Abia, is gaining momentum, increasingly and rapidly.
*2027 Political Alchemy and Agenda*
By all indications, the much anticipated 2027 elections, and the re-election of Alex Otti, is forgone conclusion. The re-election of Otti, is assured, for obvious reasons. These include: 2027 re-election of Otti, has become a collective political agenda of Ndi Abia and Abia electorate but no longer an individual or personal concern or agenda of Alex Otti.
The redoubtable records of two years in office and another round of stellar records of performance, completely SEALS, Otti’s re-election in 2027.
If Otti, remains in the Labour Party or Otti, for political exigency, migrates to another party platform, nothing would have changed significantly, in the context of Otti’s re-election in 2027.
As long as Otti, sustained his spectacular records of great performance, or as long as the extant electoral laws, remain in place, Otti’s place in the Abia State Government House, Umuahia, and Otti’s re-election, in 2027, are already certified.
Abians are united and unanimous, and resolved in sustaining and retaining a performing Governor, in office in 2027, paving the road to 2031 elections.
In the terminology of Politico-Marketing concept or principle, quality products, gain and command niche positions. Abians have identified and recognized Otti, as a niche performer.
The issue of vacancy in the Abia State Government House, Umuahia, in 2027, is null and void.
In 2031, the real focus of political discourse or debates, shall center on the successor of Alex Otti.
A worthy successor, who shall sustain the tempo and momentum of visionary and transformative governance.
May God continue to uphold Abia State (God’s Own State).
ShaFT@Polemics.
