Politics
Bishop Onuoha applauds Gov Otti’s leadership, says Abia wearing a new look
A governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 Governorship election in Abia State, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, says prior the 2023 election, he was convinced that Governor Alex Otti was prepared to leave indelible footprints in Abia State as governor.
In an exclusive interview with Business Hallmark, Onuoha rates Governor Otti high, insisting that Abia is now wearing a new look, which is a testament that Otti already knew areas of deficit in Abia before becoming the Governor.
You have supported the administration of Governor Alex Otti after the election of 2025. Why have you continued to keep faith in his administration?
The reason is simple: he has been consistent since the election that brought him in. In fact, during the debate, I saw a man who was prepared and knew what Abia State was lacking. I am not saying other candidates were not prepared, but Governor Otti was particular about what he wanted to do for Abians. He spoke like an economist and, after mounting the saddle, he has consistently maximized the economy of the state. That is why someone like me is still supporting him today.
You know that I contested the 2023 governorship election alongside Dr. Otti and others. He won the election despite controversies over whether or not to declare him. I issued a press statement congratulating him, and since then, I have continued to support him. He hasn’t derailed; if he does, I won’t hesitate to withdraw my support.
Have you been satisfied with the way he is handling the economy of the state?
That’s exactly what I am saying. Even during our campaign, I acknowledged that, among all of us who contested for governorship, Governor Otti was far ahead in terms of his understanding of the economy, monetary policies, and their application. I said then, without sentiment, that he was the most exposed among us.
Probably, that was why Abians decided to bring in somebody who would apply that knowledge of managing money, which was lacking all these years. Since Abia is not like Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, or Delta, which receive huge allocations, there is a need to maximize the little that comes in. I think Governor Otti has done that very well. Many Abians see him as a prudent manager.
Still on Governor Otti’s wealth of experience and management, during the public hearing on the creation of states and constitutional review held in Imo State, he clearly stated that he was not against creating more states but was concerned if the country could determine how to run them. That was his position, which some people misunderstood.
He never said he was against the creation of additional states in the South-East or any other region. He only expressed concern about how they would be managed. What it means is that he approached the matter from the perspective of an economist. That’s how economists reason, while a conventional politician would see it differently.
Governor Otti brought to the table his wealth of experience in the economy, and we Abians are benefiting from it.
How would you assess the performance of Governor Alex Otti in critical sectors like infrastructure, security, and others?
I think the average person who lives in Abia, or even a visitor, will attest that Governor Otti is keeping his promises on infrastructure and other aspects of the economy. I tell people to hold him accountable for what he says he will do. If he is not doing what he promised, let’s ask him questions.
But so far, from my own perspective, I can say that, as an investor in Abia for over 24 years through one of the biggest media organizations in the Southeast, Abia under Governor Otti has been peaceful and remains a destination for investors.
Governor Otti has done well in terms of security, and anyone who moves around Abia will tell you that he has. Issues of security are not things you politicize or trivialize. You don’t come out to tell everybody what you are doing, but people should feel the impact. Anyone living in Abia can clearly say that the state is safe.
That is why I said I am an investor. Security is the number one factor an investor considers; it is what drives an investor to a location.
The strategies he has put in place – creating opportunities for young people to work and thrive in their vocations, and addressing the menace of touts in the state – have gone a long way in tackling insecurity. Part of this strategy also involves chasing miscreants from forests that were previously difficult to access.
On road infrastructure, the governor has not done badly. The road from Umuahia through Item, Abiriba, and Ohafia attests to his commitment to ensuring connectivity across the state. For some of us who enjoy staying in the village, it is exciting that rural roads are being constructed to allow easy movement.
This is why we are also pleased with what he has done in the cities. When I confronted him about rural areas about a year ago, he said, “Bishop, hold on. Within the next one year, my strategy will focus on the rural areas.” I think he is trying his best to ensure this connectivity between the rural and urban communities.
Finally, if you have the opportunity to run in the 2027 election, considering Governor Otti’s achievements, will you declare your intention?
No. In one of my interviews, I was emphatic that I will not run against Governor Otti in 2027. The economy of the state will continue to grow under his watch. I will continue to give him every support. My manifesto aligns with his, so there is no need to contest.
I also appeal to him to recognize that we have a home that can give him the right platform to continue delivering for Abians. We don’t want any system that will unsettle him. The ADC, “The Holy Bride,” will always accommodate the governor in his quest to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to Abians.
