Otti reaffirms commitment to quality service 

…as traditional rulers dismiss 2027 opposition threat

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his commitment to building durable infrastructure and offering quality service to the people of the State, saying leadership is about stewardship.

The governor spoke on Sunday when he played host to Abia Royal Fathers, under the banner of Traditional Rulers Friends of His Excellency, a group of some traditional rulers drawn from different parts of the State, who embraced his vision of an “Abia First” that works for all and began the journey of its realisation with him in 2014.

“We all started this journey together in 2014. We know what we have been through, there is no point going through the whole story again, but all is well that ends well. We really thank God that in 2023, the story changed. We also thank God that we stayed the cause, resilient and consistent”, Governor Otti stated.

The governor recalled that with the ugly experiences and temptations they encountered on the journey, they could have given up, as many people advised that they shouldn’t continue.

“But, if we didn’t continue, today would not have happened,” the governor noted, as he thanked the royal fathers for their support, steadfastness and dedication, even when they were victimised, with some having their kingdoms divided, while some were suspended or dethroned and one of them lost his life in the process.

Governor Otti disclosed that he normally meets with the traditional rulers on December 31, of every year, but because of numerous activities on December 31 ,2025, they could not meet and had to look for a suitable date.

Re-echoing his stance on service and stewardship-driven governance, the governor said, “Ideally, this is a government that came to serve the people and that is what governance should be about. Once governance moves away from stewardship to lordship, because that’s what we see in some places, then anything can happen.

“I can assure you that this Government will continue to be about stewardship to our people. It looked tough, because a lot of things were left undone; when you have pension arrears, gratuity arrears, salary arrears and you need to take them out before you even start anything.

“It is that prioritisation that made us remain here. We are still here in my private residence, because I didn’t think it was a priority to begin to rebuild dilapidated Government House in Umuahia.

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“When we found a wiggle room, we started rebuilding both the residence and the office, and it’s gone far. soon I’m sure they will complete it. It is going to be a befitting modern sophisticated building that anybody will be happy to live in.”

Speaking further on his service to the people he said, “Anything we are building here, we are building to last. That is why you will not see low quality jobs anywhere, whether they are roads or schools, hospitals or anything at all, it’s either we are doing it or we are not doing it. If we are doing it, we must do it right.

“We’ve just done two years and seven months. So, we still have a long way to go.  Given all the support we continue to get from our people, we are poised to do more.

The number one citizen of the State, who noted that it is not possible to please everybody, because of divergent interests, said that what is important is that the greater percentage of the people are pleased with what you are doing.

“Of course like his Royal Majesty said, everybody cannot be pleased, because people have different interests. But like I said in Church today, when you have 90 to 95% of the people happy, then you can assume that everybody is happy”,  he added.

His Royal Majesty, Eze Nelson Nmerengwa, leader of the delegation and His Royal Highness Eze Franklin Nwosu, the first Deputy Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, speaking on behalf of the royal fathers, applauded Governor Otti for his visible and impactful achievements across the State.

They told the governor that his performance had surpassed their expectations and made them proud by doing the things he promised to do for the people.

They stated that Abia had become the number one reference point of good governance in Nigeria today, unlike before when States like Akwa-Ibom and Lagos State were the reference points.

They enjoined the governor to ignore the ranting of the opposition in the State, asserting that the governor’s second term is already a done deal.

They said that they are only worried about who would succeed the governor in 2031 so that Abia will not be dragged back to the era of under development and unprogressive governance.

“We are looking beyond 2027. What we are talking about and our worry is not about your reelection, it is already done. But our worry is who will take over from you and continue from where you stopped, so that when you have finished your tenure, the State will not be crippled again.

“We are proud of you, very proud of you,” Eze Nmerangwa stated.

He commended the governor for the quality and calibre of men and women he has chosen to work with him to deliver the dividends of democracy to Abians, acknowledging that the Governor has a knack for quality and excellence.

The royal fathers said that they came to reaffirm and reassure Governor Otti of their solidarity, as it were when they embraced his vision and started the journey of liberating Abia State with him in 2014, declaring that, no circumstance can change their decision because they love him and he loves them.

They prayed for the governor, pronouncing God’s blessings upon his life, family, cabinet members and the entire State.

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