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Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has been commended for the developmental initiatives and infrastructural development across the state. A group with the name CountryFirst Movement issued the commendation in a statement over the weekend, saying that Otti’s exceptional governance model was not only commendable but worthy of emulation by states of the federation. In the statement signed on behalf of the group by its spokesperson, Prof. Jerry Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia jnr, the group said that it has watched the accountability and performance-driven leadership of Governor Otti since he took over in office on May 29, 2023. It added that the governor has been implementing reforms across key sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare, education, security, and economic development. The stakeholders said the governor’s achievements are rooted in vision, reforms, and service delivery. They also stated that the leadership is characterised by professionalism, data‑driven decision‐making, and transparency. “We are not surprised because he is a banker of repute turned politician. He has brought Private‐sector discipline to the public square,” the group said. It added: “We observed that his covenant clearly is aimed at serving all Abians, not just a few people. “We discovered that from the outset, he had declared emergencies in key sectors—Roads, Health, Sanitation, and Security, which marked a clear departure from the business-as-usual mode. On infrastructure, the group said over 140 roads have so far been constructed or rehabilitated across Abia State, “and these include rural ring roads that connect previously isolated communities. “The expansion of the Ossah Road in Umuahia into a six‑lane boulevard (now Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard) and major works in Aba attest to the ambition of this exceptional Leader.” According to the group, the governor understands that commerce depends on reliable electricity and that he has targeted improved power supply and addressed infrastructure bottlenecks in the sector. “These efforts have shown a shift from fragmented works to strategic infrastructure with economic and social impact. “Our benchmark now is not just the Kilometres built but the economic and social impact they deliver,” the group said. The statement also noted that the Otti administration has placed a clear emphasis on health and education as foundations for long‑term growth. “The State has launched “Project Ekwueme” to upgrade primary Health Care Centres across the 184 wards of the state and refurbish tertiary facilities, including the State Teaching Hospital, to Education and Recruitment where thousands of teaching staff have been brought on board, and very profound school infrastructure improvements are ongoing. “Payment of pension has also been one of the key issues we found to be top on the agenda of this government with the payment of long neglected salary arrears, thus restoring dignity to workers and retirees,” the group further said. The statement added that Otti’s administration has recognised that Abia’s strength lies in entrepreneurship, industry (especially around Aba), and a favourable business climate, thus, the administration has made the state investment ready. The statement indicated that the government of Otti has made Abia “a model of good governance and responsible leadership.” The group added: “Dr. Alex Otti’s performance is transforming Abia into a standard for excellence in public service. The governor’s achievements reflect what visionary, people-focused governance can deliver.” ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
