By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has declared that the state will never return to what he described as an era of irresponsibility, political profiteering and poor governance, as he formally flagged off his re-election campaign in Umuahia on Saturday.
The campaign flag-off, held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, attracted thousands of Labour Party supporters from the 17 local government areas of the state, alongside support groups, political organisations and dance troupes, turning the event into a carnival-like gathering.
Speaking at the ceremony, Otti said Abia had overcome years of hardship and poor leadership, insisting that his emergence as governor in 2023 marked the end of what he described as a prolonged political siege on the state.
The governor recalled his unsuccessful attempts to take over the state’s leadership in 2015 and 2019, saying his eventual victory in 2023 provided an opportunity to rescue Abia from years of mismanagement.
“We ended the era of political profiteers. We defied intimidation to liberate Abia and break Abia from the era of siege. Never shall we go back to the era of irresponsibility. Nothing will make us go back to Egypt,” he declared.
Recalling the alleged intimidation and persecution suffered by residents because of their political affiliations, particularly those whose properties were demolished, Otti promised that such experiences would not return under his administration.
“Never again will anyone’s fence be pulled down on account of political choices. I declare Abia free,” he said.
The governor urged residents to support his re-election bid, explaining that another four years would enable his administration to consolidate its achievements and establish stronger institutions capable of sustaining the state’s ongoing reforms.
According to him, the administration’s campaign manifesto for the forthcoming elections is titled “The New Abia: From Rescue to Consolidation,” which outlines its plans for deepening transparency, strengthening governance and eliminating mediocrity in public service.
“The only battle worth fighting is the one geared towards leaving Abia better than I met it, and I enjoin you to join me as we continue to fight that fight. I appeal to you to join me in fighting that battle in the next four years in order to consolidate our records of performance,” he said.
Highlighting his administration’s achievements over the past three and a half years, Otti disclosed that his government had completed approximately 400 road projects covering more than 1,000 kilometres across the state.
He cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, Oboha Road, Ohanku Road and Arochukwu Road as examples of projects that had transformed previously neglected infrastructure.
The governor also listed improvements in primary healthcare, the recruitment of more than 9,000 teachers and the construction of smart schools in several communities as part of his administration’s interventions in the education sector.
He further disclosed that his government had invested billions of naira in revitalising Abia State University, Uturu, and Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, while supporting the recovery of struggling industries and the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises across the state.
Otti said agriculture had also received significant attention through investments aimed at improving food production and achieving greater food sufficiency.
Beyond infrastructure and economic development, the governor maintained that his administration had restored the dignity and confidence of Abia residents, enabling them to participate more actively in conversations about development.
He consequently urged voters to support the Labour Party in all elective positions in the forthcoming general elections.
In a gesture he described as a demonstration of democratic tolerance, Otti extended his best wishes to candidates of other political parties, acknowledging that political plurality and the freedom to make electoral choices were essential components of democracy.
He directed government officials to make public facilities available to political parties and candidates seeking to use them for campaign activities, provided they paid the required fees and complied with applicable regulations.
The governor also charged his supporters to base their campaigns on issues, policies and records of performance, warning against political violence, intimidation and other forms of electoral misconduct.
