Abia State, Tuesday, celebrated her 32nd Anniversary in grand style with the Governor Alex Otti performing the official launch of the Abia state Orientation Agency which has Pastor Dike Nwankwo as the Director General.
The event, held at the International Conference Center Umuahia, to mark the grand finale of the week long activity for the 32nd Anniversary of the creation of Abia State with the theme; “Hitting The Reset Button”, also featured an anniversary lecture by former Minister of Education Dr Oby Ezekwesili and was attended by distinguished personalities including the wife of the Governor, Lady Priscilia Otti, Deputy Governor, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu,Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, members of the state Exco among other galaxy of personalities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Otti enjoined Abian’s to join the present administration to engender a new Abia devoid of bribery and corruption and other negative tendencies that constitute a clog in the wheel of progress towards the journey for a prosperous state.
The Governor noted that the launch of Abia Orientation Agency and the choice of former Minister for Education,Dr Oby Ezekwesili as guest speaker points to the determination of the present administration to build a new government architecture that responds to the needs of the people.
He urged the state Orientation Agency to use it’s tool of public orientation to educate the people on the policies and programs of the present adminstration as well as champion value reorientation among the people.
Otti while pointing out that his administration is built on faith and confidence by the Abia people added that alot needs to be put in place to achieve the outcome which the state desires.
“Good roads, quality healthcare standards education, adequate security in our communities and other social services are desired by everyone in every v communty however you will agree with me that none of these will materialize if the citizens do not pay their taxes promptly and correctly”.
“No society can achieve development unless it aligns with the outcome it seeks.Demands of societal transformation desired by the people will not materialize where individuals do not pay taxes.
“Abia will remain what it was unless we resolve to lay standards”,Otti noted.
The Governor emphasized that his administration has laid initiatives to return the state to the part of socio economic growth and development.
He therefore urged the Abia State Orientation Agency to lead the charge in enlightening the people on their duties for a new and prosperous Abia and congratulated Abians both home and in the diaspora on the 32nd anniversary of the state creation.
In a virtual lecture, a former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili while speaking on the theme of the event, said alot needs to be done to develop and move Abia state from it’s backward state to where it ought to be among the committee of states.
Ezekwesili pointed out that Abia with a GDP of about 25 Billion US dollars has no business being among states with low Gross Domestic Product (GDP), infrastructural Deficits, Unemployment and others challenges bedeviling the state.
She called on Governor Otti to reset the state from it’s old ways of doing things by creating the right institutional framework, confront public sector inefficiency, engender economic policies,enhance productivity, reform tax collection and public procurement system as well as adopt technology to promote government business.
The former Education Minister,noted that Governor Alex Otti has the leadership skills to launch Abia into a modern state where trade, Commerce, security, infrastructural development, ease of doing business and economic rejuvenation would be the order of the day.
She added that with the right policies and manpower, Abia has the potential to be among the economic world powers is it presses the reset button as well as invest in areas it has comparative advantage like China.
Ezekwesili therefore urged Governor Otti to collaborate with other South East Governors for the reenactment of the South East Development Act as well as harmonize and harness the potentials of Abia in the new vision.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Kenneth Kalu in a vote of thanks while noting that Abians desire a new society that works for all, stressed the need for all to “join the adminstration of Governor Alex Otti in resetting the new Abia of our dreams”.
