The Abia State government has said that it would not celebrate one year in office rather it would mark it with inauguration of projects.
Okey Kanu, commissioner for Information and Culture, made this known at the Government House, Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.
He said that by May 29, 2024, the administration of Otti would be one year, adding that the governor had re-defined governance within this period under review.
The Abia Information boss noted that the old narrative of the state had changed dramatically as the impact of Otti’s administration was not only felt in the state but elsewhere.
Kanu also said that in line with the administration’s road infrastructure agenda, Governor Otti would next week commission seven roads built in Aba and Umuahia.
He also announced that the governor would the same week, equally commission the newly completed JAAC building at Ogurube layout Umuahia.
According to the Commissioner, the roads to be commissioned are; University Road, Green Avenue Road, College Road, Kent by Ehi Road and Old Court Road all in Aba while the new 6-lane Ossah Road and the dual-carriage Dozie Way recently rehabilitated in Umuahia by direct labour would also be commissioned.
“By next week as well, this government would have spent a year in office. Precisely on the 29th of May next week, it will be 366 days since His Excellency; Alex Otti took over the reins of government in the state.
“It’s been one year of impactful leadership. One year in which His Excellency and his team have redefined governance in Abia State. You will agree with me that the impact is not just felt in Abia State but across Nigeria and beyond the shores of the country.
“In our usual style, we are not going to celebrate one year. We have three more to go in the first term. We will just mark it despite the numerous achievements of the government in just one year. If you recall when we turned 100 days in office, a lot of people were expecting us to celebrate. We are not going to celebrate as such but we will mark the day. It will be a period of introspection and refocus for the government. We will use a few soft events to mark the day.
“The old narrative about Abia State about being underdeveloped, lagging behind in the comity of states and so on has changed dramatically within this period,” Kanu said.
Kanu announced that activities lined up to mark the first one year anniversary of Governor Otti in the state include: the Governor holding town hall meetings across the three Senatorial zones of the state with that of Abia North taking place on Thursday this week at the Ohafia Local Government headquarters while that of Abia Central will take place on Friday this week in Umuahia and while that of Abia South is slated for Tuesday next week at the Aba recreation Club.
The Information boss disclosed that these Town Hall meetings were part of the inclusive governance agenda of the Alex Otti administration.
He further hinted that the wife of the governor, Priscilla Otti would visit destitute homes and vulnerable people in the state on Saturday this week, while Sunday 26th would be for an anniversary Thanksgiving Service at the International Conference Centre Umuahia.
On Monday next week, the anniversary Executive Council meeting would take place while a statewide broadcast would follow on Wednesday next week being 29th May proper.
The information Commissioner used the opportunity to reiterate that the governor had directed security agencies in the state to fish out the cyclist who recently escaped with three school children belonging to one family in the state and had assured the family of timely recovery of the children unhurt, while cautioning parents against the cavalier attitude of handing children over to strangers in the state.
Responding to questions, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu disclosed that Governor Otti had directed that the road leading to the JAAC Building be expanded having injected over N1.5billion (one point five billion naira) to complete the building, while insisting that no government in history had injected funds at the local government level like the administration of Alex Otti.
Also responding to questions, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma noted that Governor Alex Otti being open-minded did not intend to turn his eye away from any project started and abandoned by previous administrations, describing the JAAC Building and a host of others as typical examples.
