Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti has said that his administration is making concerted efforts to ensure that glory of Aba as a commercial hub would be restored.
Governor Otti who stated this during a Town Hall meeting organized for the constituents of Abia South Senatorial District at the Aba South Council headquarters, vowed that Aba would not collapse under his watch.
He highlighted the efforts made by his administration over the past twelve months to restore Aba’s status as a commercial hub.
The Governor criticized the previous administrations for their poor leadership, which he said had led to Aba’s stagnation and underdevelopment.
“Aba cannot collapse under our watch.
“I have said it time and time without number that one of the reasons I offered myself and made the sacrifice to come and run for governorship, was because of Aba.
“At the time ten years ago when I resigned my role in the banking industry for someone that was presiding over a thriving bank to resign and come into the uncertain territory of politics to come and fight.
“One of the reasons I took that decision was because of Aba”,Otti disclosed.
Governor Otti, who said he was born and raised in Aba, expressed his desire to give back to the city and ensure its socioeconomic growth.
He described Aba as a town that people respected because of the numerous opportunities that abound for people that had nothing and aspired to make it in their ventures.
“All you need to succeed in Aba was hard work, sincerity and energy, God given skills and then we sat and watched several decades later while Aba disappeared.
“Now we are saying that we must bring Aba back’
“All what you see today is dress rehearsal, we are just starting.
“We have a lot of programs and we are rolling them out one after the other, by the time we are done you will not recognised it again”, he said.
The Governor commended the Transition Committee (TC) Chairmen in the zone for their positive reports and promised to address their demands appropriately.
He encouraged Abia residents to share any progressive ideas with the government to help deliver the benefits of democracy in the state.
In their separate addresses, the House of Representatives Member representing Obingwa, Ugwunagbo and Osisioma Federal Constituency, Chief Munachim Alozie and the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Mr Emmanuel Emereuwa, commended the Governor for his visionary leadership style adding that it has changed the narrative of Aba in national discourse through his rebuilding agenda.
In his speech, the National Vice Chairman of Labour Party(Southeast), Mr Ceekay Igara, said that Labour Party promotes ideologies that encourage growth and development in the state.
Igara said that the party was open to welcome anyone interested in joining the party and supporting the present administration to take Abia to greater heights.
The event featured presentation of scorecards for the past six months by the TC Chairmen of Aba South, Aba North, Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Obingwa, and Ugwunagbo Local Government Areas.
