Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says the South East Governors are working collectively irrespective of political affiliations to address regional challenges to foster development and economic revitalization in the South East zone.
Governor Otti disclosed this on Friday, when he met with the delegation of Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, led by the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe.
The Governor who emphasized the imperative of setting aside political differences to prioritize governance and address pressing issues facing the Southeast region, pointed out that no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of insecurity.
He noted that regional security challenges require a unified approach by the Governors to curb youth restiveness and provide employment opportunities for people of the zone and highlighted ongoing efforts by the Governors to address regional issues through regular meetings and discussions.
“Anyhow you look at it, we must deal with security as a region if not as a country. What feeds insecurity to a large extent is unemployment and poverty.
“It also feeds banditry and insurrection and we need to do everything possible to ensure that our people have something to do“, Gov Otti pointed out.
Addressing economic concerns in the Zone, Governor Otti emphasized the need to create a conducive environment to attract investments and businesses back to the region.
He stressed the importance of government intervention to stimulate economic growth and job creation in the South East region and added that Governors of the region must take deliberate decisions to safeguard the economy by creating jobs.
“We know that investors are rational. If you don’t make your environment conducive to attract investments, they will not come. I know at the minimum, 20 to 25 businesses in Abia before now that just relocated at some point and closed shop.
“There must be investments that the states would have to make without looking at the profit. Sometimes, they tell you that government has no business in business, it’s a lie.
“Government has business in business. Government must step in at some point and take deliberate decisions to safeguard the economy by creating jobs.
“Government needs to come in and support the private sector to create jobs, if not for anything at all to ensure that insecurity is reduced to the bearest minimum”.
Governor Otti highlighted ongoing initiatives in Abia State aimed at revitalizing key economic hubs like Aba and Umuahia to attract investments and spur development, adding that his administration has a clear plan to fix the state.
The Governor who noted that Aba has the capacity to develop the entire South East region when properly harnessed disclosed that power supply is the major enabler required to spur development in Aba and the entire South East region.
He revealed that the 141 Megawatt Geometric Power Plant in Aba, set for commissioning next week, would provide uninterrupted power supply to Aba and its environs pointing out that his government has entered into discussions with the investors on how to provide 24 hours power supply to all parts of the State.
The Governor pledged continued engagement with the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and assured that he would take into account the concerns raised during the meeting as part of their ongoing efforts to promote unity, development, and prosperity in the Southeast region.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe said the aim of the body which came into existence three years ago is for peace building and reconciliation in South East.
Igwe Achebe, who stated that the visit to Governor Otti wss the first physical meeting the body was holding, disclosed that the group has engaged with some Governors in the zone virtually.
He said that they are committed to projecting peace, mutual respect, love and wellbeing of Ndi Igbo and commended Governor Otti for his achievements, describing him as a standard for Igbo leaders.
He called on the South East Governors to come together to bring about integration of South East region and stressed the need for Ndi Igbo to build a nation within a nation for economic prosperity.
In their separate speeches, the Chairman, South East Traditional Rulers Council Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu; the Chairman, Center for Values and Leadership, Professor Pat Utomi; the Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia Archdiocese, Most Rev Chibuzo Opoko; and Dr. Uju Agomoh among other members, said that the body expects the Southeast Governors Forum to champion the integration of the region irrespective of Party affiliation.
They used the forum to draw the attention of Governor Otti to the plight of Ndigbo resident in Lagos as a result of incessant demolition of their properties and called on the South East Governors Forum to come together to make the region an economic hub to enable the Igbo business Community all over the world bring their investments home.
Other members of the body who were present during the meeting include, the Anglican Archbishop of Owerri Province, Apostle David Onuoha and a biomedical Scientist of the Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi state, Mrs. Pauline Iyke- Ogbo.
