We Are Building An Abia That Has Opportunity For Everybody , Governor Otti Assures As Aba Businessmen Pay Him Thank You Visit
Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says that his administration is building an Abia State that has opportunity for everybody, as he called on businesses that left Abia in the past to return, stressing that there is no better time to think home (Abia) than now.
Governor Otti stated this on Sunday, July 27th, while receiving in audience a group of Aba Businessmen led by SJW Entertainment Boss and Investor, Mr. Justine Obiajunwa, who came to thank him for creating the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, making it possible for some of them to return to Aba to continue their businesses, having left in the past because of unfavourable business environment, caused by bad governance.
“We are building an Abia that has opportunity for everybody. We have just hired 5394 teachers. The posting was completed last night. A lot of them are not from Abia… I got a message from somebody from Akwa Ibom, he said, he just tried and was lucky.
”That person who passed is from Akwa Ibom and has something in his brain to offer the State, that’s what I’m interested in, I am not interested in where you come from.
”We have made it a point of duty to integrate everybody. And, you have as much right as I do. In our appointments, we focus on merit. What are you bringing to the table? Once you have something to bring to the table, please come.
”Go and check anywhere in the world, countries, and cities that have developed, check who developed them. None of them was developed by indigenes (New York, London, Milan, Paris, etc). They opened up to new ideas and to new capital,” Governor Otti stated amidst applause.
Speaking further, Dr. Otti commended the business men and entrepreneurs for returning back to Abia, saying that, there was no better time to think home than now. ”If you have been out of Abia for ten years and you returned in December, and you are still here, that means you have returned.
”I want to thank you and also use you to reach out to all those who are still considering coming back. A lot of times, it is not easy; moving back is a very difficult thing. You don’t blame anybody who finds it difficult to relocate because relocation is not easy.
”There is no better time to think home than now. Like you rightly said, this is still early morning. If what has been achieved in two years is possible, then a whole lot would be achieved as time goes on.
”So, my message to you is to encourage all your friends to begin to think home and to come back home. What businesses require is a conducive environment.
”Since you have been around, every day, you see a lot of vehicles coming from outside the State and even outside the country – Cameroon and Benin Republic, they are coming to Ariaria to patronize us, just because we have what they need. If you move what they need elsewhere, they will go there. But if it is here, they will come here.” Governor Otti added.
He thanked the Businessmen from Aba for coming to show their gratitude without anybody prompting them. ”It’s not always easy to say thank you. People may mean well, but then, keeping that remembrance is rare. So, we can’t take it for granted that you came without anybody prompting you.
”I also want to thank you for your kind words about what Aba has become. Sometimes, when you are doing what you are doing, the only way you would know whether it’s working or not is the feedback from the street,” he noted.
Earlier in his address, the leader of the group, Mr. Justine Obiajunwa, who said that he left Aba ten years ago because of bad governance but has remained in Aba since he came for Christmas last year, said that they came to thank Governor Otti for transforming Aba and making it conducive for businesses to grow.
”I was born, bred, and brought up in Aba. I left Abia State 10 years ago, and ever since I left Abia State for Lagos, I barely visited Abia State because of poor governance, insecurity, etc.
”My parents live in Aba. I visit them occasionally, and I have never spent more than a week each time I visit them.
”My friends are here. They can testify that since I came back for Christmas, I have not gone back to Lagos. Some of my friends are asking me if am now based in Aba…and I tell them, there’s no place like home,” Mr. Obiajunwa confidently stated amidst applause.
Speaking further, he said, ”Before, I can’t come to Aba without Security. Aba is now a place I go out and stay in the club till 4 AM without being worried. ”We are really excited, no place like home. Aba is now a place you compare with Lagos. We are excited, we are some of the beneficiaries of your work Sir. We only came to appreciate you, Sir. Thank you Sir, and keep up the good works.”
They visitors assured the Governor of their support beyond 2027, saying that he has shown competence and capacity with ease in administering quality and impactful governance in the State.
In his speech, the facilitator of the meeting, Hon. Ginger Okenze Onwusibe, Member Representing Isiala Ngwa North and South in the House of Representatives, thanked the Governor for receiving them on a short notice, saying that Governor Otti is a very accessible leader; unlike in the past, when accessing Governors was an uphill task. He told the audience that Governor Otti is a leader whose yes is yes and no is no. “Once he says yes, it is as good as done.”
The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, who, alongside some of his colleagues, joined the Governor in receiving the excited Aba businessmen, commended them for coming to express their gratitude to the Governor for his good works in Aba and across the State.
Rt. Hon. Emeruwa told the visitors that the Governor has positively impacted every part of the State with his development programmes and enjoined the entrepreneurs to continue to support, promote, and spread the good news of what the Government is doing across the State. He affirmed that Governor Otti is a man who does and insists that things are done the right way and has never presented anything wrong before the State House of Assembly for deliberation.
The Governor was joined in the meeting by the Hon. Commissioner for Culture and Creative Economy, Dr. Mathew Ekwuribe.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
