We don’t govern Abia by assumptions, says Otti

By Steve Oko

Governor Alex Otti has declared that his administration’s grassroots engagement initiative across Abia communities is aimed at delivering people-driven governance based on the actual needs of the citizens and not assumptions.

Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Caleb Ajagba, during a town hall meeting at Ugwunagbo Local Government Area, the Governor said every community has unique developmental challenges which government must understand firsthand before initiating projects.

“We don’t want to govern based on assumptions because every community has peculiar needs,” Ajagba said.

“That is why we are engaging the people directly — to know exactly what they want”, he added.

He assured residents that requests submitted during the engagement would be converted into practical projects and programmes capable of transforming communities across the state.

Ajagba said the achievements recorded by the Otti administration in less than three years had already distinguished it from previous governments, expressing optimism that Abia would witness greater transformation before the end of the governor’s tenure.

In a veiled swipe at past administrations, he argued that leaders with genuine capacity to solve problems would not create them in the first place.

“Today, Abia is being celebrated because God prepared a leader with solutions,” he declared.

The Chief of Staff also urged residents to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and support good governance through active participation in the electoral process.

He further assured vulnerable groups and Persons Living With Disabilities, PWDs, of inclusive policies and sustainable empowerment programmes focused on economic self-reliance rather than temporary handouts.

Earlier, stakeholders and community leaders presented a compendium of priority needs including roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare facilities, classroom rehabilitation, employment opportunities and improved welfare for PWDs.

Earlier, Chairman of the Organising Committee, Temple Nwosu, commended Governor Alex Otti for the grassroots engagement initiative, saying it gave communities a platform to directly present their developmental needs to government.

He said a compendium of priority demands of the people would be submitted to the Governor through the Chief of Staff, highlighting key needs such as roads, potable water, rural electrification, classroom rehabilitation and improved healthcare facilities.

Speaking on behalf of President-Generals in the area, Rev. Sampson Azubuike called for the citing of a key project in every community.

Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the LGA, HRH Onyinye Alozie, urged Governor Alex Otti to give urgent attention to the development requests of the people.

Similarly, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, Comrade Vine Sampson, called for greater involvement of workers in governance.

She also called for recruitment to fill vacancies created by retirements and deaths, and the establishment of an ICT centre at the council headquarters.

Speaking for Persons Living With Disabilities, PWDs, Princess Ngozi Nwaguru decried discrimination against PWDs and demanded greater inclusivity, including ramps in public buildings, a five per cent employment quota, and mobility aids such as wheelchairs and crutches.

“We also deserve empowerment and opportunities for self-reliance,” she said, while commending the Otti administration for its support toward PWDs.

Chairman of Ugwunagbo LGA, Hon. Chiemela Wagbara, praised the Governor’s grassroots engagement initiative and pledged continued support for his administration.

Other stakeholders including Amarachi Odochi, Dannie Ubani and Ikpengwa Eberechi also commended the Governor’s developmental strides and pledged support for his re-election.

In her remarks, the Director-General of the Abia Orientation Agency urged women not to sell their votes, advised youths to shun drug abuse and other social vices, and called for skills acquisition and protection of public infrastructure from vandalism.

The town hall meeting at the Ugwunagbo council headquarters attracted a large turnout of stakeholders, community leaders and residents from across the local government area.