We are determined to make Abia a model State, says Otti

…commends STARLINE CEO for not giving up on the State

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has restated his determination to make Abia, a model State that does not discriminate against people based on where they come from, maintaining his stance that so long as you live, work and pay your taxes in Abia, you are from Abia.

Governor Otti stated this at the wedding ceremony of Clement Owunna Jr, son of Clement Owunna, chef executive officer of STARLINE Nigeria Limited, a manufacturing firm, based in Aba, the commercial hub of the State.

Governor Otti commended Owunna for not giving up on Aba, even when there were compelling reasons to do so.

He disclosed that it was people like the STAR LINE CEO, who believed that Aba and Abia could be rebuilt that made him give up his well-paying banking Group Managing Director (GMD) job to lead the struggle to liberate Abia.

“You know, in the old structure where they say you are from Imo, you are from Anambra, among others, in that structure, he (Clement Owunna) believed in Abia.

“I said to myself, so, I have stayed here and become a successful Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, but by the time you retire, there would be no home to go to. So, I sacrificed that job and started struggling for almost ten years, and today, we are here,” the Governor stated.

He encouraged people to prayerfully stick to and work on their dreams, saying that if it does not happen today, it will happen tomorrow or next.

He described his achievements in the last 19 months as dress rehearsal, assuring that greater things are coming. “What you see in Abia State in the last 19 months is actually what I will call dress rehearsal. You ain’t seen anything yet. I’m not boasting, I know what this State can do.

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“The first thing we abolished is State of origin. If you stay here, if you live here then you are from here”, the Governor asserted.

He explained that when he said he was going to appoint John Udeagbala, as the Mayor of Aba North that people doubted him, noting that Udeagbala transformed Aba North Local Government Headquarters in just a year.

He said the same thing happened recently when he appointed Edo-born Benson Ojeikere, as the Head of Service of the State; where some people said he’s from Edo, hence, should not be appointed.

Governor Otti, said that he conducted an examination and oral interviews for the prospective candidates and Ojeikere came top and was appointed.

“The other day, I appointed somebody as the Head of Service of the State; some people say he is from Edo; I don’t know about that. He came here in 1999 and he has been here. He didn’t come on his own volition. God brought him here, through Youth Service, and he distinguished himself and he was retained in the Civil Service… And somebody wants to tell me that he’s not from Abia State”‘, he stated.

“What we are building here is a model State. No matter what anyone says, we are focused and determined. If you come to Aba in the next one year, you would probably not recognize Aba.

“Cose here is an abandoned project, called Enyimba Hotel. You would probably see a Radisson Blu sitting on it. And then you see a conference centre by the side and you will see another leisure park opposite it. This is our place, we must fix it”, the Governor declared.

He thanked the people for being supportive of his administration and assured them that he would never tamper with the State’s resources, but would use them to fix the State.