From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Immediate past governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has urged his successor, Dr. Alex Otti to always give his predecessors in office credit where necessary.
Governor Otti had claimed at every fora that he met the state as governor at minus ground zero, an indication that nothing was on ground in the state when he took over office.
However, speaking at his home town, Umuobiakwa, in Obingwa Local Government Area when some of his aides came to thank him for finding them worthy to serve the state when he was governor, Ikpeazu urged Otti to give his predecessors credit as each administration in the state had contributed in so many ways to the development of the state.
Stating that the state was not created in 2023 when Otti came to power, Ikpeazụ urged successive leaders to master the art of recognizing those who laid the foundation upon which they are building something significant for the people, stressing that there will be no building without a solid foundation.
Ikpeazu said courtesy demands that when leaders come into power and inherit projects that were yet to be completed or need finishing touches, they should do the needful and equally give kudos to those who made earlier efforts on that project.
“Abia State didn’t start in 2023. A typical example is the very popular International Conference Centre, in Umuahia. That beautiful edifice was conceptualized, designed, and built by my predecessor.
“What we did was to put finishing touches on it. To give kudos to him, we named it the Ochendo International Conference Centre. That’s what leadership is all about. Every successive administration will find that very edifice useful.
“Abia did not start in 2023. Anybody coming to create an impression that there’s something that has not been seen before is dwelling within the realms of propaganda,” Ikpeazu said.
Speaking on the Port Harcourt Road recently completed by the present administration, Ikpeazu said, “The most critical thing was that the road was designed by the Ministry of Works, Abia State, under my watch.
“So, as we celebrate the achievements of this current administration in terms of finishing that road, I make bold to give credit to those who started the pioneering work on that road and those who provided funding from development partners outside Nigeria.
“Whether anybody likes it or not, to defend the project before the World Bank, pay counterpart funding, and defend it before the Senate is a good job.
“If I inherit such projects, I’ll give credit to the person who did the initial work. So, Abia must move forward and not look back anymore.”
Ikpeazụ urged his former appointees to look out for one another and be proud of the service they rendered to Abia State.
A former Commissioner for Trade and Investments who equally served as Commissioner for Information under Ikpeazu, Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, said that he would remain loyal and grateful to his former boss for giving him the opportunity to serve and the freedom to work with his skills.
“Today, we’re here to thank and appreciate a man who had confidence in us and gave us freedom to deliver. Okezie Ikpeazu didn’t just appoint me; he gave me power to deliver good governance to Abians.”
Former Chief Press Secretary to Ikpeazụ and currently, Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Enyinnaya Apollos, said that the gathering was proof of the quality of the former governor, who he said is well loved by his aides.
Describing the gathering as very necessary, Apollos said it was an act of ingratitude for someone not to express gratitude for the good he has received.