Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has said that he will continue to support President Bola Tinubu as he takes difficult but courageous and necessary economic decisions to fix Nigeria’s economy.
He added that Tinubu made a courageous decision to remove the fuel subsidy and that it ought to have been done long ago.
Otti Sunday on Sunday, when he received a former Governor of Abia State and the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu and Sen. Chris Adighije, who once represented Abia Central Senatorial District, in his county homes, Nvosi Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The duo paid Otti a friendly visit to commend and encourage him for the good work he is doing in the state, and also used the opportunity to discuss governance issues with him.
Otti said, “When you talk about supporting President Tinubu, the President and I are very good friends and our friendship predates party politics and current positions; we agree on so many issues, and as it is natural, we know where we disagree. But, when you talk about the economy, what Mr. The president doing has always been my position for a long time.
“I urge people to go back and read my columns at the back of Thisday Newspaper, some years back, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, where I said that it was time to remove fuel subsidy when off-takers were rejecting crude shipped to them, saying that they have no need for it.
“So, it requires somebody with courage to remove that subsidy, and I am in support of it. We have behaved in an irresponsible manner for a very long time. And, when you have years of irresponsible behaviour, the correction would be tough, difficult, and painful. It is the correction that we are going through now; if we don’t lose faith, we will eventually get it right.
Taking a swipe at people talking about 2027 in 2025, Otti said, “People in 2025 are talking of 2027 you can’t even talk about 2027 because there is no guarantee that you would go beyond 2025. Who are you to begin to talk about 2027?” he questioned as he imagined the audacity of those talking about 2027, trying to play God.
“Today is certain; tomorrow is a promise. Next, tomorrow is gambling. Let us talk about today; when tomorrow comes, and we are lucky to be part of it, we can hold the discussion. Nobody is competent to talk about tomorrow except that he or she wants to play God.
The number one citizen of Abia State thanked the former Governor for the work he did in the State in the past, saying that there was no need to dwell on how things went wrong in the past while stating that, what his administration has done is to hit the reset button and started work, without looking back. He emphasized that he is using the time he has to work for the people and not to fight anybody.
“Government and Governance is a continuum, it can be broken but you must go back and recover it,” Governor Otti explained, recalling how his late mother was a strong supporter of Orji Uzor Kalu for the good works he did in road construction when was became Governor, especially in Aba, adding that it is still the same template he is using. “I can assure you, that template is not wrong. You fix the place that generates the revenue, the revenue will come, and you use it to fix other places,” he explained.
The Governor revealed how a man who lives in Aba donated N200 Million as support to the State Government because of the roads his administration is constructing and reconstructing in Aba, saying that he never believed that Udeagbala road, one of the roads reconstructed by Governor Otti’s administration could be fixed. Speaking further.
He stated that even at night, businesses are going on in Aba, unlike before. “There is no sleep in Aba now. People don’t go to bed. So, when I was talking about the velocity of money during my campaign, people thought it was a joke. Once people are awake, money is changing hands. And, any time money changes hands, people make money. That’s how the economy works, it’s not rocket science,” Gov. Otti stated.
Otti also revealed that he has directed the commissioner for works to devise a plan to light up Umuahia to Ohafia, stressing that he does not want the State’s economy to go to sleep by 6 pm along that axis. “So, we want the people there to be awake, we don’t want the economy to go to sleep by 6 pm. We want the economy to operate like Lagos and Abuja, where people hardly sleep. And, whenever they want to go to bed, they hand over to somebody else,” Otti said.
Earlier in his speech, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu said that he told Otti that he wanted to be around during his 2nd anniversary in office but could not make it as President Tinubu invited him for his 2nd anniversary celebration in Lagos, but assured the Governor that he will visit him anytime he is in the state.
Kalu, who described Otti as his friend whom he cannot play politics with, said he “flew” (rode) from Igbere to the Governor’s residence with ease, describing how smooth the road is from Igbere to Umuahia, which has now reduced the journey of 3 hours when the road was bad to less than an hour because Otti has fixed the road connecting Umuahia, Bende and Ohafia LGAs, abandoned to dilapidation for over 16 years after he (Orji Kalu) left office.
“You’re my friend for life; you are my brother for life. Whether you are running for an election or not running for election, brotherhood is brotherhood…You have done well for our state. Thank you very much.
“I want to make it clear to you: you have done well, and the State will continue to grow under your leadership,” Dr. Kalu declared.
Speaking further, Kalu said, “I want to thank the Commissioner for the work done on the road rehabilitation in Igbere. I flew (rode) on that road, and it is not the same. That is the truth. It is flying because it is driving and not stopping, and I am really happy with that road.
“I know Abians know what is good for them. They are the only people who will determine who leads their State. When the people feel good, you don’t leave your best, you go for your best.”
