By Nzeuzor Jane and Maduadugwo Jane Port Harcourt.
As Abia State marks its 34th anniversary of creation, residents of Rivers State have showered encomiums on Governor Alex Otti for what they describe as his bold and transformative leadership that has repositioned Abia as one of the fastest-rising states in the Southeast.
Speaking in Port Harcourt, several Rivers indigenes said Abia State under Governor Otti has witnessed a visible turnaround, especially in areas of environmental sanitation, civil service reforms, infrastructure renewal, and financial transparency.
Mr. Chinedu Ibe, a business owner in Diobu, noted that Abia, which was once derided as a “dumping ground” due to its perennial waste management problems, has now taken a new look under the Otti administration.
“Anybody who visited Aba before and now will agree with me that Abia has truly changed. Governor Otti has cleaned up the streets, introduced new waste disposal systems, and restored dignity to the environment. Meanwhile, here in Rivers, a state once called the ‘Garden City,’ our streets are littered with refuse. Abia is now setting the pace for others to follow,” he said.
Another respondent, Mrs. Joy Amadi, a civil servant based in Port Harcourt, commended Governor Otti’s ongoing civil service verification exercise which, she said, has exposed thousands of ghost workers.
“The Abia governor has taken the bull by the horn. For years, ghost workers have drained the state’s resources, but with his reforms, money is now being saved and redirected to development. Even other governors are learning from him. That’s the kind of leadership Nigeria needs,” she stated.
Similarly, a youth leader, Mr. Stanley George, praised the governor for improving infrastructure and bringing back confidence in governance. He highlighted ongoing road projects in Aba and Umuahia, as well as Otti’s efforts to attract investors to Abia.
“You can see that businesses are returning to Aba because the roads are better, and the environment is cleaner. He is also encouraging local production and supporting small businesses. The truth is that Governor Otti is writing a new story for Abia State,” he said.
Observers also pointed to his fiscal discipline and transparency as hallmarks of good governance. Governor Otti has been applauded for publishing detailed reports of the state’s income and expenditure, a practice that many Nigerians say should be adopted nationwide.
As Abia turns 34, many Rivers residents believe the state has become a shining example of what visionary leadership can achieve in a short time.
Mr. Augustine Worlu, a retired teacher in Port Harcourt, summed it up:
“Today, Abia is no longer mocked as a dirty and disorganized state. It is now admired for order, cleanliness, and progress. Governor Otti has shown that good governance is possible. We in Rivers can only hope our leaders will emulate his courage and determination.”
With Abia’s anniversary celebrations ongoing, the words from neighboring Rivers State are clear: Governor Alex Otti’s leadership is being felt beyond Abia’s borders, and his reforms are gradually setting a benchmark for governance in Nigeria.
