Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said his administration’s achievements in the last three years represent only the foundation of its development agenda, assuring that the next four and a half years will focus on consolidating the gains and entrenching irreversible reforms.
Governor Otti who gave the assurance on Sunday, at the South-East Conference of Dominion City Global in Aba, said his administration was determined to deepen ongoing reforms and deliver sustainable development outcomes that would improve the lives of residents.
The Governor described the achievements recorded so far by his administration as a dress rehearsal noting that he had only laid the groundwork for more far-reaching changes.
He added that the next phase of governance would be devoted to consolidating the progress made.
“What has happened here is what I call a dress rehearsal, to let people know that they haven’t seen anything yet. What we have built in the last three years is just the foundation.
“So, the next four and a half years, we will use them to consolidate. And when I say consolidation, I mean consolidation, changes that are irreversible”, Governor Otti said.
The Governor explained that his administration was more interested in implementing practical policies and projects capable of transforming the state than making promises that could not be fulfilled.
On the electricity sector, he disclosed that the government had taken the remaining eight local government areas out of the regulatory arrangement of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s electricity market and achieve more reliable power supply.
According to Governor Otti the move would enable the state to strengthen its electricity regulatory framework, improve generation and distribution capacity and facilitate the distribution of excess electricity to other parts of Abia.
The Governor also highlighted the importance of effective communication in governance, explaining that the introduction of a monthly media chat was intended to keep residents informed about government policies, activities and achievements.
He said the engagement provided an opportunity for the government to communicate directly with the people, address concerns and guard against misinformation and urged residents to follow the monthly media chats and other official communication channels.
On inclusiveness and fairness, Governor Otti maintained that his administration operated without discrimination based on state of origin, insisting that everyone living in Abia was regarded as an Abian and entitled to equal treatment.
He added that appointments into government were based on merit rather than religious affiliation or other considerations.
The Governor also challenged Christians to demonstrate their faith through practical actions, citing the biblical principle that faith without works is dead.
He said meaningful development requires commitment, hard work and personal responsibility, rather than expectations of miracles without corresponding efforts.
Governor Otti congratulated the leadership of Dominion City Global on the conference and the construction of its facility in Aba, commending the church for its commitment to advancing the work of God.
He clarified that his financial contribution towards the project would be a personal donation and not drawn from government funds.
Earlier, the President of Dominion City Church, Pastor David Ogbueli, commended Otti for what he described as servant leadership and purposeful governance, saying the administration’s performance had made Abia a reference point in discussions about Nigeria’s development.
Ogbueli urged the Governor to sustain his efforts, stressing that societies could only make progress when good leadership and positive contributions were recognised and encouraged.
“If you want society to work, condemn what is bad and those that do it, praise what is good and those that do it”,he said.
The cleric argued that recognising and rewarding good performance would motivate individuals in positions of responsibility to do more, adding that effective leadership required service, attentive listening and consistent communication with the people.
The cleric also cited improvements in infrastructure, electricity and the business environment as evidence of Abia’s changing development trajectory, and expressed hope that other states would emulate the Abia’s progress.
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