Isiala Ngwa South Honours Gov. Alex Otti
The popular maxim, “A prophet is not recognized in his place” appears not to hold water for the people of Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State following the grand civic reception organized by them in honour of their illustrious son and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) following his victory at the Supreme Court.
The epoch-making occasion held at Group Practicing School, Omoba on Saturday, February 17, 2024 under the distinguished chairmanship of Chief Chidi Ajaegbu (FCA), former President of ICAN.
According to the people, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti deserves to be honoured by them for his victory at the Supreme Court as well as for having done them and the entire people of Abia State proud within a very short time in office.
The attendance was unprecedented. A galaxy of who-is-who in Abia State, top government officials, notable politicians, traditional rulers, the Clergy, the academia, market associations, farmers, motorcyclists (okada riders) and members of the ruling Labour Party (Labour Party) in the state among others graced the occasion in their numbers.
Musicians and cultural troupes were not left out. They thrilled the great crowd non-stop throughout the occasion while hawkers, hotel and beer parlour owners experienced a sudden boom in sales.
The arrival of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti set the arena agog with jubilation and canon shots as he went round greeting the people and acknowledging cheers from the crowd.
After Dr. Alex Chioma Otti and his entourage were duly seated, the occasion progressed swiftly from one stage to another.
In his opening remarks, the chairman on the occasion, Sir Chidi Ajaegbu thanked Dr. Alex Otti for honouring their invitation.
He said that Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) has distinguished himself as a visionary and performing leader stressing that he decided to identify with Dr. Alex Chioma Otti because of his pedigree and track record of excellence, which he said have proved him and others who believe in him right.
The Chief Host, Senator Darlington Nwokeocha said that they gathered to thank Dr. Alex Otti for not giving up on his quest to liberate Abia State from maladministration and backwardness.
He lauded the on-going expansion of Onuimo-Owerrinta Road among others as visible transformation projects of Dr. Alex Otti in Isiala Ngwa South and assured Abians of better and greater days ahead.
The Special Guest of Honour, Rt. Hon. Ginger Onwusibe, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency described Dr. Alex Otti as a special gift to Abia State having done so well in all sectors of the state, especially in road construction and rehabilitation, education, health among others.
In his address, Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele, the Mayor of Isiala Ngwa South local government area said that the people of Isiala Ngwa South organized the grand civic reception to appreciate Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his victory at the Supreme Court as well as his monumental achievements in the state within a very short time in office.
He described Dr. Alex Chioma Otti as a leader with higher intelligence chosen by God to fulfill the dream of the founding fathers of the state.
He disclosed that he had been with Dr. Alex Otti since 2015 when he contested for the governorship seat and won but was not sworn-in.
He said that he tried again in 2019 as well as in 2023 when God answered their prayer but the PDP went to court to challenge his victory and after all said and done, the Supreme Court affirmed him as the duly elected governor of Abia State.
He pointed out that the grand civic reception is their own way of thanking God for the confirmation of his victory as the validly-elected Governor of Abia State by the Supreme Court.
Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele appreciated Dr. Alex Chioma Otti for all his good works in Isiala Ngwa South over the years such as the tarring of their major road all the way from Isieketa to Nbawsi, even when he has not become the Governor of Abia State adding that there is light on that road and the entire village now.
He also extolled him for the award of contract for the rehabilitation of Okpuala Ngwa Hospital among others and promised to replicate his remarkable achievements in road construction and rehabilitation, education and poverty alleviation programmes in Isiala Ngwa South local government area.
According to him, he has graded over 10 rural roads since December last year and still grading, especially in Ovungwu and Nvosi.
Dr. Elelenta Nwambuisi Elele disclosed that education is a top priority in his agenda and promised to transform the sorry state of the educational system in Isiala Ngwa South and make the learning environment conducive for both the pupils and students.
He assured that by the time he is through with renovation of many primary schools in the local government area that the pupils can neither sit on the floor again nor their roofs leak during rainy season.
Responding Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) first of all craved the indulgence of the people to stand up and observe a minute silence in honour of his professional colleague and friend, the late Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, his wife and their son who died last week in plane crash.
Thereafter, he thanked the people of Isiala Ngwa South for the honour done him and their continued support for his administration and assured them of his service-oriented administration.
He said that he is not used to accepting such events and thanked the people of Isiala Ngwa South for coming together to celebrate him adding that what matters most to him is the enormous task ahead.
Dr. Alex Otti said that agricultural initiative of his administration would be able to sustain the nation adding that CSS Farms and Bulgarian government have all indicated interest to invest on the agricultural sector of the state.
He disclosed that the expansion of the 19.1km Itu Ngwa, Mgboko Amariri, Amaise, Ahiaba Ubi, Umuelechi, Omoba Road into six lanes would kick off by April this year.
According to him, the project is done in conjunction with the World Bank adding that the advertisement would be in the papers of the following day while the bidding process would be open for one month and latest by April construction would start.
He stated that the whole idea behind the on-going expansion of Onuimo-Owerrinta, Umuene, Omoba Road as well as Okpara Square and others is to open up communities for greater development.
He explained that his Labour Party (LP) government is running an inclusive, focused and open door government where everybody is given a sense of belonging unlike in the past.
The chairman, Planning Committee, Ubani Dannie (Manger) said that Dr. Alex Otti has done well in so many areas of the state and urged him to do more. He told the people to remain steadfast in his administration adding that the party has come to stay.
The Mayor of Aba North local government area, Ide John C. Udeagbala commended the people of Isiala Ngwa South for recognizing good governance by honouring Dr. Alex Otti with a grand civic reception.
Ide John Udeagbala congratulated Dr. Alex Otti on his victory at the Supreme Court adding that he would now settle down for more work in the state.
He stated that by appreciating a man who has done so well in the state within a very short time in office, the people of Isiala Ngwa South have shown themselves as a people of great conscience worthy of emulation and it would also give the governor the morale to do more.
He described the state as a work in progress stating that construction is going on in different parts of the state.
Hear him: “It is very uncommon what we have seen. It is no propaganda. And one good thing is that he has a listening ear. So we are happy and proud of him”. He called on Abians to sustain their support for him.
The chairman, Isiala Ngwa South Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze J. C. Ngobi (JP) said that the grand civic reception is well deserved and a proof that a prophet can be honoured by his people.
He described it as historic and commended the people of Isiala Ngwa South for the honour done their illustrious son and Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR).
He pointed out that the achievements recorded by Dr. Alex Otti are unprecedented since the creation of Abia State. I am so happy that we are celebrating him. He has covered all the areas.
On his part, HRM Eze O. J. Ananaba, the immediate past Chairman, Obingwa Council of Traditional Rulers said that he felt highly elated that the event eventually took place.
He described it as well deserved considering the fact that the Governor has really done well by improving the infrastructural base of Abia State from roads to hospitals, schools among others.
He said that the entire people of Abia State are celebrating him today, not only Isiala Ngwa South people not minding that he has only stayed eight months in office.
He prayed for God to give him more enablement to be able to give the people of Abia State more dividends of democracy.
In a similar vein, HRM Eze Nwabiaraije Enogwe, the Ekwueme 1 of Abayi Ancient Kingdom, Obingwa local government area of Abia State, former first Deputy Chairman, Abia State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman, Ukwa la Ngwa Council of Traditional Rulers expressed satisfaction with the grand civic reception saying that Dr. Alex Otti has done so well within a very short time in office and given them the hope for a brighter tomorrow.
He extolled him for reconstructing so many roads across the state describing him as the ‘Ekwueme’ Governor of Abia State.
He called on the people of Abia State to support Dr. Alex Otti irrespective of political party affiliations adding that he is poised to transform the state.
Contributing, the Mayor of Aba South local government area, Hon. Chief Uche Wogu said that the grand civic reception is well deserved because Dr. Alex Otti has done so well within a very short time in office.
He said that when he came to Aba the people were shouting 24 over 24 and he decoded it with a spiritual eye stating that he would serve eight years as a governor, eight years as vice president and eight years as the President of Nigeria.
He expressed happiness to be part of Dr. Alex Otti’s administration saying that he has done in less than eight months in office what the PDP could not do in 24 years.
On their part as Mayors he said that they have no choice than to do their best in complementing the efforts of Dr. Alex Otti who he said has set a very high pace for them to follow.
He advised the people of Abia State to sustain their support for Dr. Alex Otti’s administration.
Speaking, Nze Jonathan Chinkere Nwogu, Agbawo Dike Izu of Ngwa Land, the traditional prime minister of Ngwaukwu and the head of all traditional prime ministers in Ngwa Land who represented the in-coming Ukwu Onyenweala Ngwa the XIV, His Eminence Eze Azubuike Clement Enweremadu, the Ezeukwu of Ngwa Land described the grand civic reception as a step in the right direction.
He said that Dr. Alex Otti has tried so far and advised him to also consider stomach infrastructure.
According to Nze Godwin Anyaocha, the chairman of village heads in Isiala Ngwa South, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has performed so well within a very short time in office.
He described him as a man of his words and lauded him for commencing the reconstruction of Omoba Road.
He pledged their total support to his administration and appealed to him to recognize the village heads adding that they are very important at the grassroots.
He also implored him to do the Mgbedeala-Umuagharata Road for them with streetlights.
Hon. Okechukwu Ikpeama, the chairman of Labour Party ward six in the area congratulated Dr. Alex Otti on his victory at the Supreme Court.
He appreciated him for all his good works in the state within eight months in office and urged him to do more by paying attention to the rural areas where the need for potable water, access road, hospitals and so on is greater including stomach infrastructure, which he described as very, very important.
The highlight of the well-attended occasion was the reception of PDP defectors to the Labour Party (LP).
The wife of the Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, members of the state executive council, mayors of local government areas, chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mba, members of Labour Party among others graced the occasion.
