By Charles S. Uzoukwu
The great thinker and scientist, Albert Einstein, may not have been speaking to Nigerian politicians when he penned the immortal lines. But this assertion has great relevance to elected public officers, especially in this country called Nigeria. He counselled: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” This thoughtful statement triggers questions about the sincerity and integrity of our elected officials in the fulfillment of their campaign promises. But there are a few exceptions. Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, belongs to this select few.
Talking about success, a casual examination of his educational and career trajectory reveals an unbroken record of romance with success and excellence. Right from his secondary school days at the famous Ngwa High School, Abayi-Aba to the University of Port Harcourt, where he came out tops, and his sojourn in the delicate banking industry where he creditably towered above peers and rose to the zenith of his profession, before calling it quits. So he had actually never had any reason to strive for success or struggle to impress any individual or institution of his ingenuity or ability to confirm his rating as a highly effective performer, on any assignment. This same pattern of brilliant performance has been a permanent feature of his private and public engagements, without punctuation or alteration.
His emergence as the helmsman of Abia State was a hard-won victory ordained by God even as it was predicted by the Aba business community during the campaigns. They had described him as an honest and trustworthy person whom they can count on his promises. And available facts show that he has neither disappointed the traders nor his other admirers within and outside the state. The speed with which he executes projects and quality of finished work has certainly exceeded the expectations of Ndi Abia, given their experience with the two last administrations in the state. And going by his actions and utterances, the thoroughbred banker seems to be conscious of that trust, so he took nothing for granted. And takes no one for a ride. He remains focused right from inception.
Governor Otti was already a success before coming into politics. Therefore, he came with the intention to create value. And that has been a feature of his administration. That is the reason why he does not entertain distractions – whether from loyalists or detractors; the ruling party or attention-seeking critics. He works with a consuming vision, adding value to substance in his determination to transform Abia from the wreckages of its inglorious past to a technology and knowledge-driven state. He is also focused on a personal goal: Providing good governance as a rescue governor.
Such a noble commitment to proficiency could not be achieved in an atmosphere of party crisis, distractions and appeals for defection by agents of the presidency, which has consumed the mandates of 32 of Nigeria’s 36 governors and their party machinery. And still wants more. That explains why he overlooked the shenanigans of a former Chairman, whom latter events have proved was a mole, an agent of destabilisation working for the opposition. And he almost succeeded.
As a tested administrator of men and resources, an experienced crisis manager, Otti, conscious of the burden of being an only LP governor, tactfully navigated the storms created by the Fifth Columnists, which led to the exit of top LP leaders and chieftains. On that score, the technocrat also proved his mettle as a focused leader and skilled administrator, combining party leadership and governance with a perfect grip. And the results are transparent, unimpeachable and self-evident.
This contributed immensely to the peaceful and successful hosting of Labour Party’s National Convention – at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Abia State capital. The venue boasts state-of-the-art facilities and digital aids for ease of communication and logistics. There were no disruptions before, during and after the convention, or unnecessary judicial intervention to truncate the event. Official representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC), were present at the landmark occasion that witnessed confirmation of Senator (Mrs) Nenadi Usman as the party Chair, sequel to the celebrated Appeal Court pronouncement. We also elected a new National Secretary, State and Ward chairmen in the rancour-free polls.
The former party scribe, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, who had earlier resigned his appointment voluntarily to pursue recovery of his Abia Central senatorial mandate, which was questionably terminated through a controversial court ruling. However, pundits and informed members of the polity attributed this to the senator’s vocal and fearless articulation of issues on the floor at the early stages of the 10th Senate. Many argued that such fact-based contributions made the Opposition uncomfortable while the Senate leadership felt it was disrespectful. His constituents also considered the verdict unfair given that Nwokocha’s victory at the polls was indisputable. Anyway, the rest is now history.
Going forward, as political observers wonder what makes Otti tick, the words of an American writer and early father of motivational philosophy, Orison Swett Marden, on confidence resonates. It merits consideration. He describes confidence as the father of achievement, noting: “It reinforces ability, doubles energy, buttresses mental faculties, and increases power.”
In the light of the foregoing, even the governor’s worst critics and political antagonists cannot deny the fact that Otti is blessed with a large dose of confidence, and goodwill too. This is evidenced in his acts and political pronouncements. Naturally, he draws from his wealth of experience from the corporate world and professional training to galvanise the Labour Party, despite obvious multiple disputations designed to destroy the party, without being distracted in his exemplary conduct of state affairs.
His proficiency has also been unveiled in a governance style that has transformed Abia from the rubles of neglect to a modern, functioning state with evidence of structural and institutional infrastructure, including rehabilitation of abandoned city and community roads, and construction of new ones across the state. Meanwhile, work is progressing at the Abia International Airport, Nsulu; the Ukwa–Arochukwu internal rail line, and the disruptive Azumini-Imo River-Obeaku Seaport that connects the Atlantic Ocean.
During one of the Governor’s Monthly Media briefings, when a politically motivated journalist asked him for evidence of impact of his projects. Always alert and proactive, Otti rightly threw the question back to the reporter: “Do you reside in Umuahia or Abia State…?” When he answered in the affirmative, the governor confidently challenged him that it is his responsibility to start by disclosing what he has noticed in terms of physical development, or absence of it, rather than disrespectfully demanding evidence of impact on citizens.
The governor was correct in his response. Because, from the oil-producing Ukwa East and West local governments through the Aba metropolis, down to the state capital, Umuahia, and Abia North communities, there are enough evidence of impactful developmental interventions and inclusiveness. Any sincere observer or enquirer could, without exaggeration, appreciate the indisputable fact that Abia State is working. That is precisely why the action governor does not engage the services of propagandists or so-called Public Relations experts. His achievements speak for him!
In the light of the foregoing, the question then prompts: Does Governor Otti not need to campaign for a second term mandate in 2027?
The answer is an affirmative yes. Unless he chooses to do so for the purpose of fulfilling all righteousness. And for the record.
Secondly, as can be gleaned from the early exchanges of the desperate and embattled politicians at both federal and state levels, as 2027 General Election approaches, it is a struggle to convince their respective sceptical constituents of their principals’ ability to fulfill electoral pledges amid growing insecurity, poverty and hunger, unemployment and escalating inflationary rate, which continuously erodes the value and purchasing power of the naira.
Thirdly, the claims and counter-claims in the media space surround the performance ability, credibility and transparency of their governors and other elected officials. This majorly explains the unconscionable defections of governors elected on another party’s mandate with state assembly members and political appointees to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where Presidency assures them of forgiveness of their sins, which translates to security of their loots. Meanwhile, the DSS and ICPC continues to harass uncompromising opposition members.
So long as political campaigns are mainly designed to achieve the three core areas as enumerated above, one can boldly state without equivocation that the God-sent, performing governor of Abia State will be returned back-to-back on the crest of his achievement and commitment to completing ongoing projects.
*Uzoukwu. is the Secretary, Umuahia North Local Government Area
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