The Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty Eze Linus Nto Mbah, has called on Abians in the diaspora to support Governor Alex Otti’s re-election bid come 2027.
Eze Mbah made the appeal in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, during a reception held in his honour by the Old Bende Progressive Union, Atlanta Chapter.
The revered monarch who recalled that the Old Bende Progressive Union recently held a meeting in Aba, after which they visited Governor Otti at his country home and unanimously endorsed him for a second term also urged members of the Atlanta chapter, and other Abians in the diaspora to follow suit.
“If you have not come back to Abia for a long time, please come back and see the infrastructural development piloted by Governor Alex Otti, OFR, Chioma Ndị Abia.
“His achievements within two years in office are unprecedented. We don’t have potholes again in Aba and Umuahia towns, and he has taken the developmental projects to rural areas.
“I plead with you to give His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, support to make up the eight-year tenure of office as the Governor.
“If you come to Abia State today, you will know that it is a new state. Governor Otti is building a new Abia. What he needs is your support and your prayers. He needs the support of Abians wherever they are”, he stated.
Eze Mbah, who is also the Eze Udo of Ataigboukwu Kingdom in Umuzomgbo-Ihechiowa, Arochukwu Local Government Area, enumerated some of the Governor’s key achievements to include the ongoing construction of the Abia Airport, the Abia Medical City in Owerrinta, the retrofitting of 200 primary healthcare centres, renovation of public schools, enforcement of compulsory basic education, and the recruitment of over 9,000 teachers into the state’s education system.
He also highlighted the reconstruction and completion of key roads such as the Port Harcourt Road in Aba and the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road, alongside ongoing works on the Abiriba–Ohafia Road, Ohafia–Arochukwu Road, Abam–Ndiokereke–Arochukwu Road, and the iconic Omenuko Bridge, which is nearing completion.
According to the traditional ruler, all these strides have been accomplished without borrowing a dime, a feat he described as “remarkable in today’s governance”.
He further stated that Governor Otti has restored the dignity of traditional rulers in the state, with Abia royal fathers now receiving the highest monthly stipends in the entire South East region.
While commending the leadership of the Old Bende Progressive Union in Atlanta for the warm reception, Eze Mbah invited Abians in the diaspora to return home, witness the transformation for themselves and explore opportunities for investment in the state.
In his remarks, the President of the Abia State Indigenes Association in the USA (Atlanta Chapter), Chief Emmanuel Ananaba, praised the Union for hosting Eze Mbah and assured that Abians living in the United States are fully behind Governor Otti’s second-term ambition.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the Old Bende Progressive Union, Atlanta Chapter, the President, Chief Christie Obioma, and High Chief Nelson, expressed their admiration for Governor Otti’s leadership.
They noted that the Governor’s performance, as reported in the media and confirmed by Eze Mbah’s testimony, had earned their full support.
The duo pledged to mobilise their members and communities to support Governor Otti’s re-election, having seen his projects and policies positively impact the lives of people across both urban and rural areas in Abia State.
