Reading John Okiyi Kalu’s aka Nwandugbom or JOK revisionism with the title “Between Peter Mba and Alex Otti: When Experience Makes A Difference” which contained several lies ,concocted figures and evil thoughts did once again throw one into deep thoughts about the evil master minds that dished out lies and painted glorious pictures of the State while it was being looted under the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu infamous regime. For the untutored, John Okiyi Kalu was the Chief Propagandist of the Ikpeazu regime as the Commissioner of Information of that infamous era. One thought that came to my mind on reading that trash was to ignore it as it was not worth the paper on which it was written but it is often said that lies repeated severally often acquires the semblance of truth. It is this axiom that informs this rejoinder. The summary of JOK assumptions in the said article was that the Enugu State 2024 Budget proposals which he watched on TV according to him has turned Enugu State into an Eldorado. He limped from there to do a hatchet job of dishing out fictitious figures about Abia State public expenditure as well as a feeble attempt at a comparative analysis of the six month old administration with past administrations in Enugu State. He went further to cast aspersions on the personality of Dr. Alex Otti. The main kernel of the distasteful write up was to denigrate and insult the Government of Abia State as well as the personality of His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti. The curious thing about John Okiyi’s half-baked and ignorant treatise is that he did not mention any of the past government of Abia State in his comparison with Enugu State or the personalities involved. Again, JOK displayed crass ignorance about Public Policy Analysis basic principles when he failed to understand that objective research data is usually the basis of such comparative analysis he set out to do and not information that is derived from Budget proposals that one watched on Television Sets. Research efforts based on verifiable Budget Performance is usually the basis of such comparative analysis in Public Policy Analysis. How well a government has done or is doing is derived from verifiable facts and figures and not imaginary and concocted figures. Again, his escapist tendency to compare previous Enugu State Governments with the Present one in Abia would have made more sense if he did such comparison with their past counterparts in Abia including the one he served as the Propaganda Chief. JOK comparisons has no tail or head. It was a concocted tale of an evil mastermind whose mission was to bring into disrepute the popular performing Governor of Abia State or at worst bring confusion and bickering between the people and Government of the two sister States of Enugu and Abia State who have for long enjoyed very peaceful and cordial relationships irrespective of partisan differences. It must be stated however that both the Governor and people of Abia State have deep respect for their Enugu State counterpart and there has always existed a very cordial relationship between the two sister states and their Governors. I can equally assert that nothing will break this cordial relationship. Not even the evil thoughts and machinations of characters like the said John Okiyi Kalu. Be that as it may, it is good to put Dr. Alex Otti’s ascendancy and performance in office in its proper context. Dr. Otti’s inauguration into office on May 2023 could be metamorphically be likened to Chinua Achebe’s tragic hero “Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart” who started out in life with nothing due to the character failure of his father “Unoka” who was a drunkard and a lazy man whom Achebe would describe thus “in his days, he was a lazy and an improvident man and quite incapable of thinking about tomorrow”. Achebe further categorized Unoka thus “if any money came his way as it seldom did, he immediately bought gourds of palm wine, called round neighbors and made merry. Unoka was of course a debtor and owed every neighbor some money, from a few cowries to quite substantial amounts. That was years ago when he was poor and his wife and children had barely enough to eat. People laughed at him because he was a loafer and they swore never to loan him any money because he never seldom paid back”. The net effect of Unoka’s physical and mental altitude was that his family was plunged into poverty and people laughed at them and his son Okonkwo started life from ground zero. It its exactly this Achebe fabled scenario in “Things Fall Apart” that played out in Abia’s recent political history. A State that is rich in human and material resources was plunged into debt and abject poverty and made a laughing stock due to the mental and physical laziness of its rulers. The tragic thing about the Abia situation is that it is the jesters and evil master minds like John Okiyi Kalu and Eze Chikamnayo who dished out lies and painted glorious picture of achievements as the information commissioners while the state was being looted. However, it is often the case that every day is for the thief and one day is for the owner of the house. In Abia the day of reckoning was 22nd April when Dr. Alex Otti, their chief nemesis was announced as the winner of the Governorship Election. Dr Alex Otti like his literary metaphor “Okonkwo” inherited nothing on assumption of office. Rather what he inherited were humongous debt and a government whose activities had long been grounded by the mental and physical laziness of his predecessors. In fact as at May 29th 2023 when Dr Otti was inaugurated into office, all the government offices in Abia State were under locks and keys as a result of the strike action embarked upon by public sector workers on account of salary arears amounting to over N70B that was owed to them. Most of the physical infrastructure of the state were all at various stages of decay and dilapidation. Most state contractors had pulled out of sites on account of debts owed to them. His Excellency Dr Alex Otti started from ground zero and it is against this background that any objective assessment of his six-month-old regime can be based rather than a nebulous comparism with the budgetary estimate of a sister government in a far away Enugu State. The truth of the matter is that His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti has fully overhauled and reset the governance structure in the state since his assumption of office in May 29th 2023. His promise of paying public sector workers on the 28th of every month has been kept just as well as he is gradually tackling the backlog of salary arrears of the workers. It is also good to recall that Dr Alex Otti is not only very prudent in the management of the public treasure but also has imbued government processes with a lot of transparency and openness. Perhaps one of his greatest achievements may yet be reckoned to be his recruitment pattern into the top echelon of the Public Service where he has recruited top professionals from diverse fields to manage critical sectors of the Government. Governor Otti with his able managers has so far ensured that public policies and executions are conducted in ways that ensure not only quick service delivery but also that government procurement is achieved at minimal costs. Such innovative and prudent strategy has ensured the flourishing of the once moribund Government Ministries and Parastatals. In fact, the enthronement of transparency and due process in public sector procurement has ensured that the Abia public derives maximum benefit from government procurement activities. The resetting of all government tools by the Dr. Alex Otti administration has occasioned a quantum leap in the development of Abia State. This fact can be attested by a few significant checklists. All the internal roads in the major streets of Aba and Umuahia which were at various stages of dilapidation are now undergoing rehabilitation through the direct labour policy of the state government with its policy of “Zero Tolerance For Pot Holes”. This is just the same way that major arteries and link roads have been contracted out to reputable contractors who are delivering same at agreed time schedules. As at date, no state government in Nigeria can match Abia State in the quantity and quality of roads delivered and commissioned under the administration of Dr. Alex Otti within these past six months. This is also the same way that the hospital systems are being rehabilitated and wearing new looks. It is equally important to note that the free medical services being offered to people on weekends is still ongoing and have helped to ensure that a lot more people have access to quality healthcare. The “Light Up The City Project” which has led to the lightening up of our once dark cities of Aba and Umuahia is still progressing at a good speed. It is also good to mention that there has been an aggressive rehabilitation of public sector buildings and equipment of same in other to provide conducive atmospheres for government workers to carry their duties. This is a significant feat if we recall that most government buildings were at various stages of decay before may 29th 2023 due to neglect. Again, any one driving around the major streets of Umuahia and Aba and seeing how clean they appear may not remember that just six months ago, these cities were characterized by refuse and filth that filled out all its nooks and crannies. Dr Alex Otti has also been aggressive in laying the foundation of a meaningful industrialization drive in the State. The commissioning of the Abia Innovative and Industrial Park at Owaza and putting in place structures that will enhance “Ease of Doing Business” are just some of the measures that have seen the influx of Investors into the State. Indeed, Dr. Alex Otti has engineered a renaissance in Abia which has made the State the number one investment destination centre in Nigeria. All these feats have been made possible because of the transparency and honesty which has characterized government business since Dr Alex Otti assumed duty as the Abia State Chief Servant. The Governor himself leads through personal examples of hard work, humility, Christian Chastity, diligence, honesty, sacrifice and efficient deployment of scarce state resources. However, the likes of John Okiyi Kalu and his ilk who milked the State dry are blinded by these self-evident facts. They deliberately refuse to acknowledge all these positive developments. They are blinded by their evil thoughts. They had since loosing power engaged in acts that will undermine the Dr. Otti’s led achievement through various frivolous litigations and cheap propaganda. They will fail as it has been ordained by the divine powers that liberated Abia State from their iron grip through the Leadership of His Excellency Dr Alex Otti and The Labour Party. However, the times and the wicked machinations of the dark forces that held Abia State down for several decades calls for greater vigilance amongst Abians. The liberation which Abians are currently enjoying and which came through the blood and sweat of several patriots some of whom paid the supreme price should not been taken for granted. Abians should be vigilant and learn from the admonitions of the first Israeli Prime Minster Ben Gurion when he warned the Israelites in the twilight of their declaration of the Jewish State in May 1948 thus: “as Jews and more so as Zionist, we must forgo facile optimism and barren despondency. Basic fact are our allies. The tragedy of the Jews, the desolation of the land with it, our creativity. They have brought us thus far” And I will add to this admonition by stating that the struggle to liberate Abia State from the kleptomaniacs that held her down for several years took several years to achieve. Those who looted the State are still prodding around with their ill-gotten wealth angling for opportunities to scuttle the monumental developments that is ongoing and which has been engineered by Dr Alex Otti. Abians must resist them no matter what form they raise their head. They are a desperate lot and the times calls for greater vigilance amongst our people. I will end this write-up by abbreviating a favorite refrain that was popular during the civil war and which made a lot of impression on my young mind then and it goes thus: “Onye ndi iro gbara gburugburu neche ndu ya nche mgbe nile” Umu Abia, Unu e hikwala Ura. Hon. Jones Nnanna Ike General Manager/Editor in Chief Abia Newspaper & Publishing Corporation
News

Gov Otti Approves Health Insurance Scheme For Civil Servants …Plans Upgrade Of ABSUTH, Amachara General Hospitals

Amarachi UzoukwuNovember 18, 2024

 

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has approved ₦500 million as counterpart funding for the roll-out of the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme for Civil Servants in the state.

 

 

The insurance scheme which would enable civil servants enjoy medical services from health service providers requires them to contribute 5% of their basic monthly salaries.

 

 

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this, Monday, at Government House Umuahia, while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco meeting presided over by the Governor.

Prince Kanu while stressing the need for civil servants to enroll in the health insurance scheme said the Governor has subsidized 2.5% of the workers’ contributions for the first three months to encourage them enrol in the scheme.

 

 

“By this development, all the state civil servants are supposed to enroll in the scheme.

 

 

“In his usual compassionate manner, his Excellency has agreed to provide 2.5% contribution for the workers needed to enroll in the scheme for the first three months.

 

 

“Usually, they (Workers) are supposed to contribute 5% from their basic salary every month but his Excellency has agreed to pay 2.5% of that instead of 5% to encourage them to enroll in this scheme.

 

 

“Thereafter, after three months, the workers will provide the contributions themselves and this will enable them to enjoy medical services from health providers.

 

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“Of course these services will enable them enjoy services which ordinarily they many not be able to pay for if they are to go these service providers directly“, Prince Kanu explained.

 

 

The Commissioner further disclosed that the Governor has approved the comprehensive upgrade and remodeling of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, to meet world-class standards.

 

Prince Kanu added that the development is in line with the present administration’s transformation agenda in the health care sector.

 

 

He announced that the Abia Specialist Hospital has also regained its accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for training of medical interns, with an increase in its training quota from 24 to 36 interns annually.

 

 

Prince Kanu described the achievement as a major milestone adding that the Federal Minister of Health has commended Governor Otti for championing such milestones in the state’s healthcare sector.

 

 

He said that the 2024 Cancer Awareness Creation Day, would be held on Tuesday November 19, and would focus on reducing the rising prevalence of cancer in Abia State.

 

 

The event, themed “The Changing Face of the Enemy: Reducing the Rising Prevalence of Cancer in Abia State”, according to the Commissioner would feature advocacy walks, lectures, free cervical and breast cancer screenings, as well as HPV vaccinations.

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Prince Kanu stated that the Abia First Lady, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, will be the keynote speaker and guest of honour adding that the advocacy walk would commence by 9:00 AM from the Government House gate to the New JAAC building at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia.

 

 

The Commissioner said that the rehabilitation of the vandalized power installations at the old and new Secretariat Ogurube Layout has been completed and would be commissioned next week by the Governor

 

 

He revealed that the groundbreaking ceremony for the USAID Mercy Corps Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Project, initially scheduled for November 20, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances noting that a new date will be announced soon.

 

 

Prince Kanu who emphasized that the road infrastructure agenda of the State government would receive a boost by the 25th of November with the flag off of the construction of Ntigha-Mbawsi-Umuala road in Isialangwa North LGA.

 

 

The Commissioner highlighted that the Ministry of Works recently completed four new road maintenance projects through direct labour, including the Late Eze Ukandu Ring Road in Isuikwuato LGA and repairs on the failed portions of the Nkwoagu Amuda Road among others.

 

 

He said that under the Light Up Abia Initiative of the state government, solar lighting installations are ongoing in more than 28 locations across the state’s three senatorial zones and added that project aims to ensure well-lit streets by the Yuletide season to enhance security and convenience for residents.

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Answering questions from newsmen on the Health Insurance Scheme, the Commissioner for Health Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya said that having commenced the contribution, employees of Abia State Government would start accessing the services in 3-months time.

 

 

He said employees of government are entitled to 4 dependants in addition to their spouses, adding that modalities are being worked out to accommodate persons in the informal sector.

 

 

The Health Commissioner also announced that Governor Otti has approved funds for the upgrade of the Amachara General Hospital to a world class hospital, pointing out that government is using an integrated approach from the primary to tertiary health care with a view to making it accessible to citizens especially the vulnerable group.

 

 

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