Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and retired military officer, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, has commended Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, for what he described as remarkable developmental strides in the state, saying he now feels proud to identify as an Abian.
Nwachukwu made the remarks on Thursday in Lagos during The Niche Lecture 2026, themed “Governing the Economy: Choices, Trade-offs, and National Priorities,” where Governor Otti served as guest lecturer.
“We must commend Governor Otti for what he is doing in Abia. I must say that for the first time in years, I now feel proud to say I’m from Abia State,” he said.
The former military governor of Imo State and ex-senator representing Abia North also used the occasion to call for the restructuring of Nigeria, insisting that true federalism remains the most viable path to national development.
He argued that the country’s current structure limits efficiency and accountability, stressing the need for a return to what he described as “proper federalism.”
“I say this with a great sense of responsibility: we must begin to look at the structure of our great country, Nigeria. We need to return to a proper democracy and proper federalism. Our founding fathers were not mistaken when they adopted a federal system for a diverse country like ours,” he said.
Nwachukwu further maintained that no state in Nigeria is economically unviable, noting that every state possesses mineral resources, human capital, and land capable of driving development if properly harnessed.
“No state in this country is unviable. Every state has resources and capacity. What we need is proper leadership, leaders who understand economics and see governance as service to the people,” he added.
He praised Governor Otti’s leadership style, describing it as focused and people-oriented, and called on citizens to support continuity in governance for sustained development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, and political leaders to discuss Nigeria’s economic direction and governance challenges.