DR ALEX OTTI’S TRIUMPHANT COUNTDOWN TO A SECOND ANNIVERSARY AND HIS GOVERNANCE PRIORITIES.
Dr. Alex Otti exhibited another plus when he just few days ago exhilarated his audience about his intention to complete the uncompleted government House project started by the duo of Ochendo and Okezuo Ikpeazu since 2010. This finally settled the highly contentious issues surrounding his unputdown stand to be working from home since his Inauguration almost two years ago. As much as I love the grandeur and authority an exquisite government house brings to every state, deprioritizing the government House project started by two previous and very corrupt predecessors until now was not a bad idea. Afterall he inherited a state in ruins and wasn’t expected to immediately start his rebuilding process with such self seeking project as a government House. He should rather be praised for not seeing such outlandish construction exercise as a priority in his new administration.
As we weigh the two sides of the arguments on whether or not to be working from his home, I will support Dr. Alex Otti’s decision to prioritize the rebuilding of Aba the Enyimba City over other choices one might be pressed to make. Aba today is largely rebuilt while the former bustling and commercial nerve center activities are returning with undeniable gusto. Aba the Enyimba City amaala mma. We’re all happy and fulfilled that Aba was the first priority of the New Abia led by Dr. Alex Otti.
His redevelopment and urbanization plans in Umuahia to change its kindred village status setting to its now urban status is also another epic prioritization that makes sense to the properly initiated. At the time of his Inauguration two years ago, Umuahia village or pseudo town was dorn with impassable roads but not anymore today. The six lane transition from Tower into Umuahia which is now being extended from Onuimo border town with Imo state is itself a status symbol. I know governor Alex Otti has future plans to place a flyover bridge over the Portharcourt Enugu Expressway to replace the aged Tower to complete his legacy signature project. These to me are better priorities to building government houses you can’t even maintain.
Also the prioritization of the Umuahia to Abiriba to Ohafia highway to join the Ohafia to Arochukwu federal highway is one piece of infrastructure every sane mind will choose over the uncompleted pseudo palace initiated by two previously incompetent former governors. Priority was also given to construction of Igu bridge at Ozu Abam to remove the last colonial vestige in the area called Omenuko bridge. In the same vein, priority was accorded the Ozu Abam to Ndi Oji to Ndi Okereke to Okobo to Amuvi in Arochukwu to grant access through that corridor to Arochukwu that was literally cut off from Abia state due to unmotorable road access. This corridor plays home to an estimated one million population. All these seems to me a better priority than building a government House to service one man. Don’t forget that Abia was in ruins two years ago at the inception of this government.
If I’m governor, I won’t touch those structures so called Ogwurube government House commenced by two previous administrations of sixteen years without completion until all engineering tensile tests are carried out by very competent professionals. I say this with all sense of decorum and professionalism because there were evidences of abuse of professional ethics and lack of due process in engaging the contractors that worked on those structures. We might end up spending more to complete that government House complex than just starting a new government House project that can start and finish in the life of one administration cycle. It is utterly irresponsible and smacks of gross abuse of office to start a government House project without the plans to finish it in one administration cycle.
In the case of Ochendo and Okezuo, they spent 16 years and were unable to finish their so called government House. Who is deceiving who? The both previous administrations embezzled or wasted about 2 trillion Naira of Abia people’s money, the equivalent of 10 trillion Naira of today’s deregulated or redenominated Naira value. Abians will not rest until these two former thieving governors are brought to book.
While commending Governor Alex Otti for having the will to promise the reconstruction of a befitting government house, it might be plausible for the governor to seek more professional advise on the issue and refuse to be bamboozled into a hasty decision. The option to turn the purpose of the abandoned white elephant government House project as a site for a five star hotel might be more strategic and bring more economic value to the state. While the governor finds a way to recover more lands and expand the old government House premises to accommodate new buildings projects befitting of the government House. This can be done by relocating all the offices of some of his aides and redevelop the left over area for the exclusive use of the governor. Afterall Douglas House in Owerri is not up to the size of the old Umuahia government House premises if adjoining lands are fully recovered.
Ochendo and his governor appointee, Okezuo Ikpeazu should rather be recommended for prosecution for using that white elephant project of a government House to expropriate Abia peoples money. Dr. Alex Otti should demand full disclosure of all the monies appropriated and the contractors that handled the government House white elephant project and take all of them to the EFCC. It is a travesty for the New Abia government to put one kobo to fund that criminality they disguised as government House project. What Abians want is to prosecute those that played one role or the other in using the Ogwurube government House white elephant project to fleece Abia funds.
This writer will like to remind governor Alex Otti that Abians desire to have those who kept the state under the sea for 24 years to be brought to public accountability. Therefore the governor should prioritize EFCC invitations to those found wanting for malfeasance of the past regime concerning some criminalities that are unforgettable and quite unforgivable. Some of these cases had been highlighted by the recent Judicial Panel on Recovery of Government Assets and Funds headed by retired Justice Florence Duruoha Igwe.
Abians are not happy that some of these high profile cases that left the public dumbfounded are being delayed since the panel concluded its work. The governor should continue to maintain his integrity by ordering the release of the white paper to coincide with his second year anniversary.
Abians voted for the New Abia government enmass because they trusted that Dr. Alex Otti was a clear departure from the years of locusts and musical chairs. The New Abia should not disappoint the people who looked desperately for a government that could bring the criminals that reigned for 24 years to public accountability.
The government therefore must prioritize the probe of the three previous administrations by sending appropriate petitions to the EFCC to ensure there will be no cruise for the wicked to catch. The government of Dr Alex Otti is also expected to join high profile graft cases against former public officials of the state as interested party to ensure the long arm of the law deliver appropriate Justice. These cases are well known and in the public domain.
I wish the governor and his cabinet a Happy second year anniversary in advance.
Dr. Engr Odo Ijere.
