It is no longer news that Dr Alex Otti had swept the gubernatorial polls of the 18 March, 2023 to defeat all other contestants in the election held in Abia state that day. It is also no longer news that more than eighty percent of Abians across the seventeen local government areas of the state had trooped out spontaneously to celebrate Dr Alex Chioma Otti when Prof Nnenna Oti, the INEC Returning Officer for the election, had announced and returned him as the winner and declared him the governor-elect of Abia State.
The celebration of Dr Otti’s victory in Arochukwu was something else, an unprecedented phenomenon! All through Amuvi to Asaga, through Amaikpe-Obinkita to Amannagwu, through Ugwu Slessor to Agbagwu and Ugwuakuma, there was no road, even to up to Ututu and beyond! People had trooped out of their houses to the main road, old and young, men and women, boys and girls in morbid celebration. Cartons of beer were sold out with other hot drinks. The scene was better seen than imagined.
At one point along the Presbyterian stores at Obinkita, the music seller there had brought out his musical sets and started playing music on his loudspeakers to the delight of the people who soon converged on that spot and every body dancing as if they were brothers and sisters to the late Michael Jackson! Really, the hilarity and fanfare was unprecedented.
The whole episode was heightened by the tension and curiosity generated by the processes that preceded the announcement occasioned, mainly, by the Obingwa Vote debacle. It was reported that similar celebrations had taken place in Umuahia, Aba, Isuochi, Isuikwuato, Ukwa and other parts of the state without exception. The people had rejoiced that their choice, Dr Alex Otti, was going to govern them, after all. To the people, pensioners and civil servants, their messiah has come.
That is why Dr Alex Otti needs to succeed as the governor of Abia State on assumption of office on 29 May, 2023 in all ramifications. Since governance is a collective responsibility and all-embracing devoid of isolationism, it may be pertinent at this juncture to put across some suggestions to the governor-elect which I think may help him to realise his dream of giving the best possible to the good people of Abia State in his administration as someone trained in government and public administration and a retired civil servant. These templates may be helpful to him in some ways.
Appointments based on merit – competence, capacity, experience
According to what everybody knows in common knowledge, people can only give what they have; nobody has ever given what they don’t have, just as we know that knowledge is power better than riches! Our governor in-waiting should do all he can to appoint persons he will appoint based on the competence, capability, experience, drive and determination of such people to deliver on the things they are appointed to do, and not otherwise. Putting round pegs in round holes will help the governor achieve his aim of serving Abians well and giving them the best in service delivery, as he has always wanted.
Blocking loopholes in revenue collection
All revenues accruing to Abia state should be collected duly and such revenue should go into government coffers without finding their way into private pockets. Revenue leakages are commonplace in the state today where some people claim to be untouchables in this regard.
Employ Sam Mbakwe’s template in environmental cleanliness
Immediately Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe of Avutu, Obowo was elected the governor of the old Imo State in October, 1979, he sought how best and what to do to be able to realise his desire to keep Imo cities clean. He was advised to seek the opinion and advice of the relevant professionals on the issue and which he did by inviting and scheduling a meeting with the then public health superintendents at the Imo Concord Hotel, Owerri, as professionals on the issue. Dr Otti may need to do same.
During the meeting, how best to keep Imo cities clean was laid bare before Chief Sam Mbakwe – employ the services of the professionals on the issue (sanitarians), put the necessary structures in place and fund the project at the zonal and state levels where experienced professionals must be appointed to man the offices. Full stop.
Chief Mbakwe accepted the professional advice. That was all the magic his administration needed to make Imo State become the cleanest state in Nigeria in the Second Republic and Umuahia, now the capital city of Abia State, the cleanest city in the country! That was the situation before the military junta of Major-Generals Muhammadu Buhari and Sani Abacha, and other of their colleagues, overthrew the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari in the night of 31 December, 1980. Dr Otti should employ the same templates in environmental sanitation towards keeping Abia State clean when he ascends to office on 29 May, 2023. Environmental sanitation must never be politicised in the state as what obtains today, and which is which the state has become one of the dirtiest in the country with the attendant prevalence of communicable diseases afflicting the people perennially, including cholera.
Prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities
Without a doubt, one of the reasons why the people of Abia State trooped out in mass and voted for Dr Alex Otti was that he had promised to pay salaries and pensions duly, and will go ahead to clear the arrears of pensions and salaries within one year in office.
God will help Dr Otti to be able to do this. Once he helps save the lives of Abia pensioners who now die on daily basis by paying them every month, clear the accrued arrears and pay workers every month, he will endear himself more to the people who will heave a sigh of relief and agree that, actually, God has sent Dr Alex Chioma Otti to save them from the hands of tyrant leaders who have been tormenting them since 1999.
All the glory goes unto Jehovah God Almighty for giving victory to Dr Alex Otti on the 18 March, 2023 governorship election in Abia State.
Abians rejoice.
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