BY AHMED AKANBI
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says the state will never return to the era of irresponsibility, declaring Abia free from the siege of bad leadership as he flagged off his re-election campaign.
Otti spoke Saturday at Umuahia Township Stadium where the capital city was brought to standstill as thousands of Labour Party supporters from 17 local government areas thronged the venue with dance troupes and support groups in carnival-like atmosphere.
The governor, according to a statement by National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Ken Eluma Asogwa, on Sunday, said after years of man-made hardship inflicted on Abians and his failed rescue attempts in 2015 and 2019, siege on state was broken in 2023.
”We ended the era of political profiteers. We defied intimidation to liberate Abia and break Abia from the era of siege. Never shall we go back to era of irresponsibility. Nothing will make us go back to Egypt,” he declared.
Recalling ordeals endured by Abians, particularly those whose properties were demolished over political affiliations, Otti said never again will anyone’s fence be pulled down for political choices.
He pledged to sustain gains of 2023 liberation through enduring institutional safeguards to protect reforms and prevent relapse into the past.
”The only battle worth fighting is one geared towards leaving Abia better than I met it. We need the next four years to institutionalise transparency and ensure the last vestiges of mediocrity are totally eradicated,” he said.
He unveiled the manifesto for the next term as ‘The new Abia: From rescue to consolidation’, containing step-by-step plans to consolidate successes of the past three and half years.
Highlighting his achievements, Otti said the administration completed about 400 road projects covering over 1,000 kilometres across the state, from Port Harcourt Road in Aba to Oboha, Ohanku and Arochukwu Roads.
Otti said the government transformed primary healthcare, employed over 9,000 teachers, built smart schools across enclaves, and invested billions in revitalising Abia State University, Uturu, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.
According to him, administration also revived ailing industries in Aba, supported SMEs growth and made significant investments in agriculture for food sufficiency, restoring dignity of Abians.
In show of political tolerance, Otti extended best wishes to candidates of other parties, directing state functionaries to make public facilities available to any party that pays requisite fees and observes regulations.
He urged supporters to campaign on issues, policies and performance records, warning against political brigandage and electoral misconduct, and appealed for Labour Party votes all the way in 2027.