Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has declared that the state is entering a new phase of development, urging residents to build on the resilience that has sustained the state over the past 35 years.
Otti stated this in a statewide broadcast on Thursday to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Abia's creation.
The governor described the anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of successive administrations and ordinary citizens to the growth of the state, while acknowledging that much more remained to be done.
He said the progress recorded so far should not breed complacency, stressing that the original vision behind the creation of Abia had yet to be fully realised.
“Our moment has arrived and with gratitude, we shall seize the opportunities of our day to create a better world for those coming after us,” Otti said.
He paid tribute to the late Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Abia's first democratically elected governor, and acknowledged the contributions of his predecessors, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, Chief Theodore Orji and Dr Orji Uzor Kalu.
Otti also commended the military administrators who governed the state in its formative years, saying their efforts helped establish the foundations for peace, infrastructure and social stability.
Founders remembered
The governor recalled that Abia was created in 1991 by the military administration of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, following prolonged agitation by political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, academics, industrialists and other stakeholders.
He listed several prominent figures who contributed to the struggle, including Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara, Chief Benjamin Nwachukwu, Dr Moses A. O. Agbara, Pharmacist Rufus Obi, Barrister Vincent Uwanna, Dr Nwakama Okoro, Barrister Igwe Ugwumba, Chief Eme Udeoji, Eze Dr Feyi Waboso, Chief O. C. Ememe and Ezeji Joseph Madumere Nwamgburuka.
Otti disclosed that Babangida spoke with him on Wednesday and sent his goodwill message to the people of Abia on the anniversary.
He said the sacrifices of the founding generation imposed a responsibility on the present generation to preserve the ideals that inspired the creation of the state.
Citizens drive Abia's growth
The governor said the state's development over the decades could not be attributed to political leaders alone, noting that entrepreneurs, artisans, traders, teachers, civil servants and other workers had played critical roles.
He particularly highlighted the contribution of Abia's business community and artisans to the state's reputation across Nigeria and West Africa.
According to him, the state's fashion, leatherwork, construction and trading sectors reflect the creativity and determination of its people.
“Abia, like every society through time, embodies the energy and the optimism of the people who live in it; we do not give up, whatever the odds are,” he said.
Over 1,000km of roads rehabilitated
Giving an account of his administration's performance, Otti said more than 1,000 kilometres of roads had been rehabilitated across urban and rural communities in the past three years.
He said the projects were aimed at improving connectivity, boosting productivity, opening up rural economies and attracting investment.
The governor also identified agriculture as a key area of economic expansion, saying the government was increasing investment in the sector to improve food security, create jobs and increase household incomes.
He said efforts were also being made to strengthen the housing and real estate sector through reforms designed to make land administration more transparent and improve public confidence.
Otti added that his administration was investing in information and communication technology infrastructure while providing training for young people to take advantage of opportunities in the digital economy.
Education, healthcare get priority
The governor said education and healthcare would remain central to his administration's development agenda.
He said thousands of teachers and healthcare workers had been recruited and trained in the past three years, while salary packages and infrastructure in the sectors had also received attention.
According to him, the free and compulsory basic education programme is intended to ensure that children are not denied opportunities because of their parents' economic circumstances.
He said smart schools were being developed alongside efforts to rehabilitate public primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
On healthcare, Otti said the government was developing primary healthcare centres across all 184 wards in the state to improve access to medical services.
He also said the state's health insurance scheme had been strengthened to reduce the financial burden on residents who rely on healthcare services.
Retirees to receive gratuity promptly
Otti also used the anniversary broadcast to reaffirm his commitment to clearing outstanding gratuity owed to retired workers.
He said the government had commenced payment of accumulated arrears dating back to 2001 and would continue to settle the liabilities as funds became available.
The governor further promised that the practice of allowing retirees to wait for years before receiving their entitlements would end.
“Anyone leaving the service should be paid their gratuity as soon as the necessary documentation is completed,” he said.
He said the policy was part of efforts to restore dignity to senior citizens who contributed to the development of Abia.
Otti calls for citizens' support
The governor urged Abians to take greater responsibility for the development of the state by paying taxes and statutory fees promptly.
He also called for cooperation with security agencies and warned residents against allowing themselves to be used by individuals seeking to undermine peace and stability.
While describing Abia's future as promising, Otti acknowledged that the state still faced significant challenges.
He said the present generation must ensure that it hands over a stronger society to its children rather than a “broken society”.
“We cannot afford the lethargy of complacency nor accept the limitations that mediocrity imposes on great aspirations,” the governor said.
He expressed confidence that Abia was on the right path and urged residents to remain united and committed to building a state that would fulfil the aspirations of its founders.
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