A visit to Governor Alex Otti

The United Nigeria Airlines that I boarded in Abuja had a smooth landing at Owerri enroute to Umuahia, the Abia State Capital. The purpose of the visit was to formally inform the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, of my intention to join the Labour Party (LP), where he doubles as the national leader. The drive from the airport through Mbaise to Imo-Abia boundary was smooth. However, beginning from Abia end of the road, the message that a new sheriff is in town was evident without self-promotional bill boards. The road has been expanded by Governor Otti to accommodate a dual carriageway with drainage channels on both sides and street lights adorning it up to the Abia Tower along the Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway.  One could feel the ecstasy on the faces of people living along the route. I have it on good authority that the policy of the State Government is that all access roads into the State must look inviting. Besides, the six-lane dual carriageway that leads to Umuahia city centre from Abia Tower to Michael Okpara Square, reconstructed within Otti’s first six months in office, is not only a sight to behold, but also gives a sense of dignity to every Abian who yearns for transformation of Umuahia into a cosmopolitan metropolis.

From Umuahia, I proceeded to his private palatial abode at his ancestral home in Umuehim Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, built before he became governor. He temporarily runs the affairs of the State from there because of the massive constructions going on at the old decrepit Government House. I insisted on seeing things for myself and the Governor approved it expressly. A guide, Mr. Chinwendu Emelogu, from the Department of Public Buildings in the Ministry of Lands was authorized to take me round. What I saw was ambitious and awe-inspiring. The construction of a state-of-the-art Governor’s Office with architectural masterpieces had reached the second floor. The heavy equipment and machinery mobilized to the site by the construction giant, Craneburg, showed full deployment of modern technology. I discovered that the old Governor’s Lodge was demolished and, in its place, a new befitting edifice is being erected with solid basement. The contractor is not sparing any expertise. The calm-toned Lebanese who explained the details while taking us round knows his onions. Of course, the new Government House Gate is reflective of what is going inside. It is also interesting to note that the entire Government House landscape has been expanded with sand-filling of the valley areas behind it.

The appointment with the Governor was supposed to be immediately after the weekly State Executive Council meeting. It however, tarried till late night. The Governor had a delayed flight and had to still do the Exco meeting virtually from Lagos. The business of governance must go uninterrupted. Thus, when we eventually met after he came back behind schedule, he disarmingly apologized and explained what shocked me. A Governor with all the resources at his disposal waiting for a commercial aircraft? Unbelievable! Despite the economic crunch, most governors and principal officers of the National Assembly spend billions of naira on chattered private jets, with payments usually counting from engine start to shut-down. Governor Otti told me that he saves a lot of cost by going with scheduled flights, but noted that he only considers a chattered one if there is no connecting flight to his route. That is sheer prudence. I understand that he runs a lean, tech-savvy, and star-studded cabinet, appropriately motivated and equipped for modern statecraft.

I witnessed a relaxed ambience of environment, a fine sense of operational balance, and a superb organizational panache of members of staff, which spoke volumes about the work ethic of their principal. Otti has a sharp mind. He is a good listener. He is very receptive to good ideas. As someone who can be described as an “aristocrat of intellect”, Otti runs a merit-based system. The Motto of the State’s Coat of Arms, “Prosperity through enterprise” is indicative of government’s commitment to the virtues of hard work, dexterity, and productivity. Of course, a first-class honours degree in Economics in the good old days is a no mean feat. Indeed, when you visit Otti, you will understand why he resents the old Government House. He is a man of class who brings a touch of class on board.  Government cannot command the respect of investors and earn the confidence of development partners if it operates from a ramshackle structure. Moreover, the security mapping of the proposed but unfinished Government House at Ogurube Layout leaves much to be desired.

Under Otti, government is a serious business. Little things matter. The new office block of the Secretary to State Government (SSG) takes away any iota of doubt on whether Otti is doing things differently. The demolition of the adjoining boy-quarter-like offices gives the place a facelift. The stylish remodeling and rehabilitation of Michael Okpara Auditorium demonstrates elegance, manifest grace, and tasteful sophistication. When I visited the State Secretariat at Ogurube Layout, I observed that the offices have been made more functional and conductive for operations. Under the e-governance policy, the Ministry of Lands led by Chaka Chukwumerije has created a Document Digitization Bureau that works on 24-hourly shifts. It has made it possible for Otti to sign at least 3,763 certificates of occupancy to boost the Ease of Doing Business. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, has also pioneered digitization of the State’s laws, Court records, and equipping of the Courts with technology for virtual hearings and transcription. These are bold reforms.

To assuage my inquisitiveness, the guide also took me to Abia Airport site where the runway construction is moving on speedily. Our last port of call was at the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal which is ready for commissioning. The neat and well-paved roads with appropriate markings are part of Otti’s resolve to make Umuahia a modern city. The verdict therefore, is that Governor Otti came to office prepared and he deserves a second tenure.