In Abia We Don’t Distinguish Between Federal And State Projects – Gov. Otti, Says His Administration Is Impatient With Dishonest People

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has said that he would continue to fix broken and decayed infrastructure in the State for the benefit of the people, not minding whether they are Federal or State Projects.

Governor Otti stated this on Sunday, 2nd February, at Living Word Church Headquarters, Aba-Owerri Road, Abayi, Aba, where he went to worship unannounced as he normally does.

Reacting to the pictures and videos sent to him by someone about the renovations going on at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Bende LGA of the State, being done by his administration. Governor Otti said, “NYSC is a federal project but like we know in Abia, we really don’t distinguish between Federal and State Projects, otherwise, we would not be doing Port Harcourt Road today because it’s a federal road.

“We will not be dualizing from the boundary in Owerrinta to Umuikaa; if we wanted to distinguish between Federal and State, that’s a federal road, but we are working on it. We will not be doing Ohafia to Arochukwu Road because it’s a federal road but we are doing it”, the Governor stated amidst applause from the congregation.

Governor Otti stated that when the State Director of NYSC approached him for help, he sent a team to go and look at the place, and the team reported that the camp has 26 buildings plus a hall, all of them in a terrible state of disrepair. He disclosed that 9 major halls and a hall were identified that required serious attention. The Governor revealed that the least quoted by contractors to fix the place was about N3.6 billion and he decided to do it by direct Labour which cost the State Government about N520 Million, saving over 3 billion quoted by contractors.

“News coming out is that the 9 plus one building has been done by direct Labour, completed and instead of spending 3.6 billion, we only spent N520 Million. That is how we’ve been able to do most of the things we have done this 20 months without borrowing a kobo; we have not borrowed”, Governor Otti stated.

Dr. Otti explained that he doesn’t hate borrowing, but will only borrow when it is absolutely necessary.

Speaking further he asserted that his administration is impatient with dishonest people. In his words, “One thing that this administration brings is honesty. And, any time we encounter dishonest people, we are very impatient with them. So, if you want to be a good friend of this administration, remain honest because this administration was brought by God and God is honesty Himself.

“We also have learned, in the midst of scarcity, in the midst of economic crisis, to be very prudent. What hundred Naira May not be able to do elsewhere, it will do it here”, Governor Otti declared.

He thanked the church for their prayers and support right from the time he left his lucrative banking job for the liberation of the State which took almost ten years to materialize. He said that each time he remembered that there were genuine Abians, men, and women of God upholding him in their prayers, he was strengthened. He commended the people for not giving up, saying that what is happening in the State today would not have happened if they had given up.

In his sermon, the founder and General Overseer of the Living Word Church, brother Emma Okorie described the emergence of Governor Otti as “captivity overturned”. He recalled a time he went to Abuja to apply for a license to establish a University in Aba, and they told him that Aba was a garbage city and that they would not issue a license to establish a University in a garbage town. He told them that he was not from a garbage city and that the city they called garbage would one day become a golden city.

Bro Emma Okorie said that what he told them then is now manifesting under the leadership of Governor Otti, stressing that, the visible achievements of Dr. Otti are everywhere for all to see except those who are blind to change.

He prayed for the Governor, his entourage, and the State.

Hon. Fyne Ahuama, representing Osisioma South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and his counterpart from Osisioma North State Constituency, Hon. Iheanacho Nwaogu, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Hon. Chibueze Nwokocha, the Mayor of Osisioma, Hon. Chidi Agu, Mayor of Aba North, Hon. Timothy Iheke, the Acting Chairman of the Labour Party in Abia Hon. Emmanuel Nwaeze Oti were among Government functionaries and political leaders that joined Governor Otti in the worship.

Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
02-02-2025.