Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described Governor Alex Otti as a performer and an exemplary leader who has positively impacted the lives of his people.
Obasanjo stated this on Friday, at the Unity Church Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area, venue for the commissioning of the 46.36km Umuahia – Uzuakoli – Akara – Alayi – Abiriba Highway, reconstructed by Gov. Otti.
He recalled how terrible the road had been, especially the last time he visited Abiriba, describing Gov. Otti as a miracle worker.
“You (Gov. Otti) are a man of your word, a goal getter, a performer. You are a man who says no to what is bad, and yes to what is good. You are an example of a good leader.
“You (Abia people) said you have had leaders before, but one thing you must know is that good leaders don’t flock, and when you get a good leader, like you have got in Dr. Alex Otti, you must maximise the good use of him.
“This road you are all talking about, I traveled on it to Abiriba. It was hellish, and when I was told that the road you have done will get me from Umuahia to Abiriba in 35 minutes, I said this man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker,” the ex-president said.
This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists in Umuahia, the state capital.
While commending Gov. Otti’s efforts in giving Abia a facelift, Obasanjo said that what the governor is doing in Abia now, is proof that whatever bad situation being witnessed in the country today, can become good tomorrow.
“I am a witness to what you are doing and urge you to keep doing what you are doing. If you look hard and wide, you will see that this governor does not lack a good team.
“Of course, this is proof that whatever bad situation we are seeing today, can be made good tomorrow.
“All we need to do is to make sure that at every level, we must have the right leaders with the right team to work with.
“For me, a political party is just a platform. What matters is the quality of the man, and the quality of Alex Otti is good.
“Well, when the time comes for elections, my advice to the people of Abia State is, don’t change a winning horse,” he added.
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Governor Alex Otti said the commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony of his resolve to do things differently, noting that the completion of the road project will, among other things, shorten travel time for motorists.
“Today’s commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony to our resolve to do things differently as a government. This administration has zero tolerance for shoddy jobs or the kick-back culture that enables them.
“By completing this project, we have not just shortened travel time for drivers and commuters coming into Umuahia to communities within Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato, and Umuahia North.
“We have also cut down the risks of accidents, security threats, and transport costs for scores of thousands of individuals and families.
“Anyone living and doing business along this axis can now travel safely from Umuahia and other urban centres within and outside the state at any time of the day or night, unafraid of harassment by criminal elements who took advantage of the bad state of the road in the past to wreak havoc on innocent travelers,” the governor said.
Gov. Otti further said the completion of the road guarantees speedy and safe transportation of agro-produce from various communities to the urban centres and will further cut the cost of food items while empowering farmers economically.
He added that the road will unleash the wholesale economic potentials of the area by making farming attractive to a new generation of young people, support job creation, and give reduce poverty in many communities.
The governor announced the renaming of the road to Joe Irukwu Way in honour of the former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, late Prof. Joe Irukwu, who is from that axis.
