Odinkalu, human rights lawyer, commends Otti’s transformational leadership

Chidi Odinkalu, a distinguished legal scholar, human rights advocate, and public intellectual, has scored Alex Otti, governor of Abia State, high on transforming various sectors of the state’s economy within the past three years.
He said that he could be used as a reference point for broader governance lessons in Nigeria.

Odinkalu, former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, stated this on Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Ogurube, Umuahia, while delivering a keynote lecture, during the Abia Anniversary Lecture organised by the State Government to commemorate the third year anniversary of Governor Otti-led administration.

He said that Otti’s government had restored legitimacy to governance in the state because it emerged from what he called, a legitimate mandate, adding that the improved road infrastructure, security, electricity and healthcare services have significantly transformed the state.

The keynote speaker noted that for nearly 24 years, Abia suffered what he described as “desgobierno”, a Spanish expression, meaning “ungovernment”.
He further added that the development strides recorded in the State in the three years has gone beyond tangible infrastructural projects to reflect the restoration of dignity, hope and trust in governance.

“I want to be very clear. Projects matter, but projects will not last if the people do not have a sense of ownership. And that is why investment in the people is where it all begins.
“You cannot be perpetrating evil against your own people and at the same time, accusing Nigeria of marginalizing them,” Odinkalu stated.

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He maintained that the South-East should focus less on complaints of marginalisation but more on demonstrating capacity for effective governance.
In his remarks, Otti emphasised that good governance must be centered on restoring the dignity of humanity, urging citizens to actively participate in the democratic process in order to build a better society.

The governor commended the keynote speaker for an excellent and brilliant presentation, noting that the lecture strongly aligned with the philosophy and vision of his administration.
“Everything we do is about the dignity of man, and when we talk about the dignity of man, it includes women because some of us are very gender-sensitive,” Otti stated.

The governor also applauded one of the discussants, Eileen Shaiyen for her contributions to the development of the administration’s policy framework, revealing that she and her team carried out extensive research across Abia State as far back as 2013 to assess the condition of schools, hospitals and public institutions.
“It was on the basis of that research that we crafted our manifesto in 2015, updated it in 2019 and refined it again in 2023. She is part of the foundation of what we are doing today,” Otti stated.

He further praised Ndubuisi Ekekwe, a professor and renowned technology inventor and entrepreneur, describing him as a shining example of Abia’s human capital export, saying that he is very proud of him.

Governor Otti also expressed concern over the continuous decline in voters’ turnout during elections in Nigeria, stressing that democracy can only thrive when citizens actively engage in the electoral process.

He warned that citizens who fail to participate in governance lose the moral right to complain about bad leadership, citing the philosopher, Plato, who stated that “those who refuse to participate in politics eventually end up being ruled by fools.”

He further welcomed recommendations made during the lecture on strengthening the State Security Council by including Commissioners for Health, Basic and Secondary Education, and Tertiary Education, particularly in tackling cult-related violence and insecurity among the youths.

Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a governance structure anchored on accountability, inclusiveness, human capital development and the restoration of public confidence in government institutions.

Also, the discussants at the event, including renowned technology expert, Ndubuisi Ekekwe, who joined virtually, Bolaji Akinyemi and Eileen Shaiyen, a director at Union Bank, noted that, the ongoing reforms and developmental strides under the present administration have positioned Abia to become a credible centre of excellence and a model for other states across the country, emphasizing that, leadership selection should be anchored on competence, integrity, vision and proven capacity.

They appreciated the fact that the present administration has demonstrated a credible commitment to deepening the capacity of the people through intentional governance and strategic reforms and urged Abians to ensure that Governor Otti is reelected to sustain the ongoing transformation in the state.