Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Chima Anyaso, has commended the Governor of Abia State, Alex Chioma Otti, for what he described as transformative leadership, insisting that any leadership failing to deliver good governance should be regarded as “criminality.”
Anyaso spoke on Wednesday at the Umunna Leaders of Thought Colloquium held in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area. The event, themed “Good Governance as a World Legacy,” attracted key stakeholders who examined leadership and development in the state.
In his remarks, Anyaso drew a clear line between what he termed the current administration’s developmental strides and what he described as years of stagnation.
“Anything that is short of good governance is criminality,” he declared. “Whether you are a Local Government Chairman, a member of the House of Assembly, a Senator, or even a President, once you fail to deliver good governance to the people, you are not living up to your responsibility.”
He maintained that Abia is experiencing a shift toward accountability, infrastructural renewal, and transparent governance under Otti’s leadership, noting that the administration has restored public confidence in government.
The philanthropist also echoed sentiments expressed by other speakers at the colloquium, contrasting what they described as past cosmetic renovations with the present government’s comprehensive reconstruction and systemic reforms.
According to him, the volume of projects executed and ongoing under the current administration speaks for itself, adding that cataloguing them all would take considerable time.
Anyaso further reflected on his personal relationship with the governor, revealing that during Otti’s tenure as Managing Director of Diamond Bank, the governor took a step that positively altered his business trajectory. He, however, reserved details of the experience for a future occasion.
Participants at the colloquium concluded that the governance model being implemented in Abia aligns with the theme of building a lasting legacy through responsible and impactful leadership.
