As history beckons on Gov. Otti

‘If you try and not succeed, try again’. And so, on the third attempt, against all the odds, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti eventually dislodged the old guard and won the gubernatorial election of Abia State in the election of March 18, 2023, on the platform of the Labour Party. We, at Business Hallmark, commend Dr. Otti’s resilience and tenacity which, we hope, would be carried into his government, in order to overcome the clearly daunting challenges to be faced.

As he steps in, Abia State lies prostrate from clueless governance and serial looting and mismanagement of resources over the years, by an oligarchy of predators. Though a crude oil-bearing state, with padded federal allocation (accruing from the 13 percent crude oil derivation markup) it was unable to pay even the salary – not to talk of the pension – of public servants. It was unable to maintain public facilities – not to talk of providing new ones. Instead, it was perennially borrowing (and is heavily indebted) as it is, only to service the predatory cabal.

There is the decay of infrastructure, education system, healthcare system, public service system and state-owned enterprises. Aba, which had been developing into the industrial and commercial hub of the erstwhile Eastern Region, was allowed to decline into a slum, practically. We could go on and on.

Fortunately, from antecedents, Dr. Otti has all it takes to turn things around. He had the resilience and the guts to dislodge the entrenched old guard.

He comes to office with resounding intellectual and professional preparation, including both the First-Class degree in economics and the honorary doctorate degree of the University of Port Harcourt as well as honorary doctorate degrees of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the Babcock University – all in recognition of his superlative post-graduate track record. He also earned the Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree of the University of Lagos as well as various certificates in executive development from renowned institutions, including INSEAD, Columbia, Stanford and Wharton business schools.

Dr. Otti had a scintillating experience in the private sector, particularly, in the banking industry, where he traversed many institutions and departments, ending up as the transformational Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc (now merged with Access Bank Plc) after which he retired into successful private business since 2014. Also, he was a columnist and member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay (a leading Nigerian daily) and the author of the book: “Saving the Future: Economic Development & Prosperity”.

In addition, Dr. Otti is a ‘home boy’, who grew up in Abia State before venturing beyond the Southeast. It is assumed that he has a deep knowledge of the people, their culture and peculiar needs – which knowledge would have been solidified in his repeated campaign trails, to all corners of the state, since 2015.

Dr. Otti is the first economist, the first non-career politician and the only Abia State governor free from the constraints of a godfather and the structures of criminality by which the state had been raped for 24 years. He must anticipate that the dislodged old guard would fight back and that he could only overcome by mobilizing the people to his side with overwhelming good performance.

He should be guided by the legacies of Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara (Premier of the Eastern Region, which was the fastest-growing sub-national economy in the world by 1965), Dr. Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe (governor of the old Imo State – comprised of the current Abia and Imo states – whose footprints are still visible all over the region) and Labour Party’s icon, Peter Gregory Obi (former governor of Anambra State and the toast of all well-meaning Nigerians, for Spartan lifestyle, prudence and tenacity of purpose) all of whose selfless politics of public good and inclusive prosperity remain indelible in the heart of the people.

Indeed, Dr. Otti’s initial proposals (derived from his manifesto and declarations) inspire the confidence that he knows what to do to rapidly transform Abia State into the throbbing hub of commerce and industry that it is destined to be. Among others, there is the proposal for a special ministry for holistic renewal of Aba (the potential ‘Taiwan’ of Africa). There is the proposal for a light rail network across the state, which could be linked to the national rail network.

There are also proposals for business incubation and for an initial N10 billion fund for micro, small and medium enterprises. There is the proposal for cluster farming (seemingly, adapted from Dr. Michael Okpara’s Farm settlement) and an integral Marketing Board. There is the proposal for a world-class Entertainment Village and for an Information Technology training scheme for youths and so on. We believe that all the proposals are doable and could be packaged to attract investors for Public-Private Partnership and funding.

The people are eminently enterprising and only in need of shepherding and enabling environment to gain the momentum to unleash their creativity. And, once Abia State sets the pace of revival, many states would follow suit, in the spirit of healthy competition which largely accounted for the rapid economic development of all regions of Nigeria in the First Republic. Let Dr. Otti ignite the rebirth!

However, the envisaged transformation must be driven by cultural change – the change of mindset, values and ways of doing things, from rascality to prudence, frugality and transparency – or it would fail. Let that culture which distinguished Mr. Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra State and as a presidential candidate and which aligns with the expectations and yearnings of the people from their leaders, become the defining character of the Labour Party, starting with Abia State, its ‘first-born’ state; then the party will stand out in future elections.

Drastic cut in the cost of government and efficient and transparent mobilization and allocation of financial, human and material resources are imperative. Leakages in the flow of revenues and expenditures must be blocked. Ostentation and aggrandizement must never be tolerated.

Transformation must begin with cultural change! Nigerians are tired of predatory leadership and yearn for a complete cultural reset of the country.

Fortunately, Dr. Otti has alluded to all of this imperative in his acceptance speech, inaugural speech and other declarations. Once he sets the tone, the people will, definitely, play their part in moving the state forward. He cannot afford to fail. We wish him well!