Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has commended Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for his developmental strides across the state,describing his performance as impressive and impactful especially in key areas such as road infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
Fayose, who was in Abia, toured several project sites in Umuahia and Aba, including rehabilitated roads, Smart Schools, and Community Health Centers.
Speaking to Journalists after the tour, the former Governor lauded the zeal and commitment of the Otti-led administration to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Ihave physically gone round, because the governor insisted that I must see, because he wants a sincere opinion. And that put me to the point that I was at the state capital, Umuahia where I saw things for myself.
“The Governor is doing well for the ordinary Abian, improving the quality of life and bringing them close to civility, so I am more than impressed with what I saw”, Fayose stated.
He praised the Governor’s efforts in the Health Sector, adding, “I was also able to see some of the community maternity health care centres.
“All sectors, we have seen, and it is quite impressive. I am not really for flattery but in two years, I can say a pass mark to a government that has shown so much zeal”.
Fayose who also inspected several roads projects in Aba, including the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road, which has now been reconstructed into a dual carriageway said, “I have seen more than eight roads in Aba.
“This is Port Harcourt Road, which I was made to understand for 37 years has been unhabitable. With a dual carriageway like this in a commercial city like Aba, it is quite commendable”, he said.
The Former Ekiti Governor who was particularly impressed by the innovative education projects, especially the Smart School concept said, “The most heartwarming, the one I love the most is the smyart School. I was able to sit down and take in this concept and am equally going to share it with my governor.
“Building a school by walls is the easiest things to do but making it smart in terms of knowledge for the children is the icing on the cake. The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has done well. He has done very well with the reform”, Fayose noted.
Asked if there were specific areas Governor Otti should focus on in the coming years, Fayose said he was not in a position to dictate, but stressed the importance of sustaining current momentum.
“I am not from here. I cannot be specific in areas where I want him to do more work. But I have seen your education life, I can project what your future will be like.
“With the opportunity of being at the expanded Exco and the interactive session today, the Governor has given the leadership back to the people around him and in his discourse from what I have seen, they have made up their mind to prioritise the people of Abia and they are committed to it.
“I have told the Governor, that the buck will stop at this table. Starting is not a big deal for anybody but finishing, so I want him to stay strong and finish well”, Fayose said.
On the prospects of political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, Fayose distanced himself from any coalition talks involving his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Labour Party.
“I don’t know about that. Sincerely, I am not part of any coalition. I am a former governor. I am a statesman. I do what I feel is right, not the dictates of a society or not the dictates of a political party”,he said.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, declaring, “I will not join any party apart from PDP. Whether PDP will die or not, I will remain in PDP . At 65, it is honourable for me to remain.
While I condemn nobody for moving, for me, Ayo Fayose, I will remain in PDP”, Fayose affirmed.
He called on politicians to focus on service rather than election scheming, adding that 2027 is too far to project is strategize .
“The dreams ahead are still in the hands of God. We are politicians. It is our style to begin to insinuate, to begin to strategise. But the best strategy is to serve the people, whether it is one tenure or two tenures, it is good to serve them”, he said
When asked about his role in the PDP’s efforts to return to power, Fayose responded, “Whatever I am doing, I cannot tell you and I am not an executive of the party. Whatever opinion I have, I will make it public to the leadership of the party”.
He called on Abians to sustain their support for the Governor to continue in his mandate of the giving the people dividends of democracy.
“There is a great man in Abia State. He is a fantastic character. I’ve known him for a while, Otti has moved on and he’s still giving the best.
“He is committed to work. He needs the support of Abians to continue to do good works. And what I am saying here is that I recommend Otti to Abians because of his good works”, Fayose said.
One of the healthcare centers in Ekeoba, Umuahia North LGA
