The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is not only guilty of failure; they are actively hostile to development because it exposes their systemic rot. Their bitterness towards Governor Alex Otti stems from political trauma and guilt, triggered each time a bulldozer moves, a salary is paid, or a road is inaugurated without any kickbacks. This response addresses the misguided claims made by Elder Abraham Amah and Obinna Oriaku regarding the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).
The lies propagated by the PDP regarding the World Bank-assisted Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) are desperate fabrications crafted by individuals who looted and dismantled our state during their tenure. In this New Abia, built on truth and progress, their propaganda will inevitably be suffocated by facts and tangible results.
Setting the Record Straight on RAAMP
RAAMP is a federal initiative funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency (AFD), requiring counterpart funding from participating states. The PDP’s claims about initiating this project are deceptive. Over eight years, not a single road was awarded, constructed, or procured. The road designs presented for the Abia RAAMP Project were technically deficient and structurally unsound. The PDP administration couldn’t identify the errors in the design specifications.
Furthermore, the PDP government failed to release the necessary counterpart funds, leaving the project paralyzed. Their administration lacked the political will, technical expertise, and financial discipline to transform RAAMP from paperwork into reality. What they called “progress” was merely a scheme for contract racketeering and misleading photo opportunities.
The Alex Otti Difference: From Dormancy to Delivery
Upon taking office, Governor Alex Otti approved and disbursed over ₦600 million in counterpart funding, reviving a project that had been stagnant under the PDP. Under the Dr. Alex Otti Administration, RAAMP awarded its first significant contract: 19.1 kilometers of rural roads in Obingwa and Isialangwa South LGAs, valued at over ₦2.6 billion. This contract is currently in execution, with more on the way, following revised and World Bank-approved designs facilitated by the Otti administration.
In stark contrast to the substandard road designs, the new designs implemented by this government are structurally sound, climate-resilient, and fully compliant with World Bank standards. This reflects a governance model where vision meets competence, replacing propaganda with effective management.
The PDP’s claim of four project coordinators within a single year is false. Under Governor Alex Otti, only two individuals have held the position. One was a PDP-imposed figurehead, Dr. Babington, who lacked engineering credentials, which was a major criterion for a Project Coordinator as requested by RAAMP in their terms of reference. He was properly replaced by Engr. Chinemerem, who, after a while, voluntarily resigned for personal reasons. However, the selection of a new project coordinator is now ongoing, following due process. There has been no illegality or crisis—only clean, technical, and rule-based governance.
The Role of Mrs. Ngozi Felix: A Respected European Union Development Expert
It is absurd that the PDP, which siphoned billions through bogus appointments, questions the involvement of Mrs. Ngozi Felix, the Honourable Commissioner—a globally respected development expert. Mrs. Felix is not a local politician; she is a certified professional with over 20 years of multilateral project experience, having worked with the European Union and international development organizations across Africa.
Her commitment to compliance, value for money, and transparency is why RAAMP is now operational in Abia. She has played a pivotal role in ensuring that projects are executed for meaningful impact, restoring international confidence in Abia—a state once blacklisted under the PDP for gross mismanagement of donor resources.
RARA Bill: Ensuring Sustainability for RAAMP
In a significant step towards sustainability, the Dr. Alex Otti Administration has successfully passed the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RARA) Bill into law. This legislation is designed to ensure the long-term viability of RAAMP, providing a framework for continuous funding and support, thereby safeguarding the project from future political interference and ensuring that it remains focused on delivering real benefits to our rural communities.
Strategic Engagement and Donor Confidence
Under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, Abia State has been repositioned as a preferred destination for development partnerships and investments. Through strategic engagement and policy alignment, the Otti administration has created a transparent, accountable, and investor-friendly environment that has restored donor confidence in the state. By streamlining processes and strengthening institutional frameworks, Governor Otti has successfully attracted a growing number of multilateral institutions and donor agencies—ranging from the World Bank and AfDB to bilateral partners—who now see Abia as a viable hub for impactful, scalable development interventions.
Diplomatic Engagements: Strengthening Partnerships for Development
In addition to the progress within RAAMP, Abia State has welcomed numerous diplomatic visits from the Chinese Ambassador, Israeli Ambassador, Vietnamese Ambassador, Netherlands Ambassador, German Ambassador, and the British High Commissioner. Many other Ambassadors from various countries have shown deep interest in visiting Abia. These visits have fostered tremendous partnerships, support, and developmental programs aimed at enhancing the state’s growth and infrastructure.
Some of Dr. Alex Otti’s Achievements
Under His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, Abia has emerged as the poster state for donor confidence and development financing. In less than a year, we have seen:
– ✅ RAAMP transition from design stagnation to active project execution.
– ✅ The World Bank’s SFTAS successor program listing Abia for performance-based financing.
– ✅ The State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) unlocking over $20 million in pipeline funding.
– ✅ UNDP establishing Abia’s first-ever SDG Data Lab and partnering on e-governance and service delivery reforms.
– ✅ The European Union and GIZ resuming activities in Abia after years of inactivity.
– ✅ Major global stakeholders like the Mastercard Foundation and AFDB engaging in discussions on economic transformation.
– ✅ Over ₦20 billion worth of rural, health, and infrastructure projects initiated or unlocked through effective donor engagement.
– ✅ Signing of MOU and partnership between IOM and the Abia State Government.
– ✅ Abia State recently selected to benefit 15 Million Dollars grant facility for the Global Partnership for Education Fund.
Conclusion
This is not just a battle over road projects; it is a clash of governance visions: one rooted in deceit and decay, the other anchored in competence and service to the people. The propaganda machines of yesterday’s men may scream louder, but they cannot erase the truth that Abia has turned a historic corner. Under Governor Alex Otti, governance is no longer a tool for personal enrichment; it is a covenant of accountability with the people.
Let the PDP continue to shout from the sidelines, clinging to faded glories and forged legacies. The train of progress has left the station, and it will not stop for those who once buried this state in darkness. In this new era, performance is the only propaganda that matters—and on that score, the Dr. Alex Otti Administration is miles ahead.
