If the ideology of southeasterners which says, “the morning shows the day” is anything to go by, then Abia State is in good times.
Alex Otti, the incumbent governor of Abia State, hails from Umuru Umuehim in Isialangwa South Local Government Area and was born on February 18, 1965.
Otti clocks 60 years this month, holding high his head in glory navigating through many career trajectories, such as being an economist, banker, investor, philanthropist, and politician.
Before attaining the height of being the governor of Abia State, Otti was a banker in his former where he rose to the apex of his career as the chief executive officer and group managing director of Diamond Bank Plc.
Nnaemeka Achebe, the Igwe the Obi of Onitsha, who was then the chairman of the board of directors of Diamond Bank described Otti’s time as the GMD/CEO of the bank as the brightest years of Diamond Bank.
The man best described as a committed leader by Ukoha Njoku, the chief press officer to the Abia State governor, was sworn in on May 29, 2023 as the fifth democratically-elected governor.
“He came prepared and knowing what he wants to do in the state, and is committed to doing it, and doing them,” Njoku said.
Njoku further explained that in the last 24 years, since Abia inherited some landmark projects from the late Sam Mbakwe era, nothing tangible was done until Otti stepped in.
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“Most of the strategic roads which serve as fabrication corridors to the state were not accessible. These roads were not only impassable, but heavy trees were standing in the middle of those roads.
No vehicle could pass there, besides, there was this myth that Julius Berger, a construction giant could not work in Abia because the state did not have the resources to get their services.
However, Otti has broken that jinx, Julius Belger is almost completing the 6.5-kilometer Port Harcourt Road which is being expanded from two dual lanes to three lanes per carriage,” he explained.
In a space of 20 months, Otti has transformed Abia across sectors. The history-maker, as he is best known, on February 26, 2024 launched the Barth Nnaji-led Geometric Group’s 141 Mega Watts thermal power plant which was switched on by Kassim Shettima, the vice president.
The governor has also partnered with Radisson Blue to revitalise the Enyimba Hotel a five-star hotel project abandoned for over 40 years, precisely 1983.
“More than 40 years ago, the hostel stopped functioning and was completely abandoned, but the narrative is changed today, courtesy of Alex Otti,” he noted.
The education sector is not left behind either, before Otti came on board, public schools were completely dead and sold out to individuals.
Public schools such as Wilcox Memorial Comprehensive Secondary School, Girls High School, and Technical Secondary School, among others, were sold out.
“Currently 221 schools are being renovated, and the educational sector is receiving a lot of boost because the governor wants to transform the public schools to be much better than private ones.
“The governor is also building 20 smart schools in the 17 local governments,” Njoku said.
In addition, he said; “Workers in Abia State Polytechnic, University, ABSU Teaching Hospital and the secondary education management board were being owned between six months to 36 months salaries, amounting to N18 billion, before the tenure of Otti.
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However, the governor decided to look into it and decided to spread the payment over 12 months and he is paying N1.5 billion every month. Hence, lecturers in Abia Poly are receiving three months’ salaries monthly.”
Besides, the $800 million integrated power plant is the only IPP licensed to generate and distribute electricity in Nigeria. He has also given the much-needed attention to the health sector.
While declaring open the renovated Abia State General Hospital, Amachara in September 2023 the people’s governor reiterated his government’s commitment to making quality healthcare delivery affordable and accessible, and he has also declared open the renovated Abia State Specialist Hospital, the Diagnostic Centre, and the Eye Clinic in Umuahia.
To ensure workers’ salaries and all entitlements are promptly paid, he promised to pay government staff by the 28th of each month and has kept to his promise.
Otti’s academic trajectory took him through Ngwa High School, Aba, and Secondary Technical School, Okpuala Ngwa, both in Abia State, where he finished as the best student in his set during the school certificate examinations.
He proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt for his higher education and graduated with a first-class degree in economics in 1988.
He is married to his heartthrob, Priscilla Otti and they have three children.
Otti’s love for his people and commitment to a life of integrity can best be seen in how he is transforming ‘God’s Own State’ to becoming Nigeria’s Japan.
For those who visited Abia State years ago, going back on a visit to the state in 2025, it is obvious that such a person will be shocked at how the state has been turned into of a massive construction site.
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