THE BEDROCK OF ENDURING TRANSFORMATION

Being the Text of an Address Delivered by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, at a Joint Session of the State Executive Council and the Leadership and Members of the Abia State House of Assembly to Commemorate the Second Anniversary of the Administration

Protocols

1. Development is not an isolated, one-chance event. All through history, an interplay of forces often combines to ignite the spark that set societies on a new trajectory where the basic gives way to the extraordinary. At the centre of every new wave of transformation the world has ever seen are innovative ideas, disruptive technologies, forward-looking entrepreneurship and systems that liberalise access to finance for productive functions. Whether we focus on the introduction of steam engines to the production process in Britain in the latter part of the 17th century, the use of railroads for more efficient transportation of people and goods across thousands of miles in the early 1800s in the US, or the role of foreign capital in China’s rise to the apex of the global economic order beginning at the twilight of the 20th century or perhaps the magic of bold thinking which has holistically transformed lives and economic outlook in the UAE since the turn of the new millennium; one fact that is beyond contradiction is that development is a process and can happen anywhere and at any time as we have seen through shifts and turns in the global economic power matrix over the centuries.
2. We came to power with a firm resolve to rebuild our State and set in motion a chain of processes that would radically transform not just the social and economic experiences of anyone living or doing business in any part of the State but would ultimately make Abia an attractive destination for global talents and capital. Our vision, as I had mentioned a few times in the past, are ambitious but not unrealistic. If you recall, our journey to this place was at a point deemed improbable after years of institutional frustrations and setbacks. The fact that we eventually made it tells me that we will, by the grace of God, and the continuing support of Ndi Abia, achieve much of the development targets we have set for the State. If they could do it in the deserts of UAE, if the snows could not stop them in Europe and America, and if a long history of political conflicts and instability did not stop China as it sought to make its way out of the traps of poverty around the middle of the 20th century, clearly, I do not see any force stopping our march to the Abia of our dreams.
3. Our plans, I can tell you, are clear and the targets well-defined. We will not just build quality social and economic infrastructures that would outlive our tenure in office; our schools shall also be the best around, the health facilities in every community will respond effectively to the medical needs of the local population, and the vulnerable individuals and families within our communities shall have their dignity restored. We have our eyes on the demands of the hour but more importantly, we are keen to take the opportunities that tomorrow promise. Therefore, we shall not just build schools where students and pupils go to rehash old ideas, our teachers are being supported to update their skillsets and stay fit for the pedagogical questions of the emerging global order. Our health facilities will not just dispense drugs and send the patients away; we are building a system that prioritises holistic healthcare, treating patients with care and a generous sense of duty.
4. Beyond setting new benchmarks for social infrastructure and service delivery in our institutions, what we have gathered to do this afternoon represents another layer of our holistic governance philosophy, building solid pillars that would not just institutionalise the body of reforms we have set in motion, but guaranteeing that the changes we make shall endure. On this note distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me formally welcome you to a joint session of the State Executive Council and the leadership and members of the Abia State House of Assembly. In addition to our primary agenda which is the signing and presentation of 18 landmark Executive bills, this occasion offers us a unique opportunity to interact as partners in the shared mission of building the New Abia.
5. Let me quickly seize this opportunity to appreciate the leadership of the State House of Assembly, particularly the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, for their focused leadership and commitment to the New Abia project. A great debt of gratitude is owed to the 8th assembly for providing strong legislative support to the programmes and policy outlays of the executive branch of government. Without compromising their constitutional responsibilities, the current assembly has accelerated our development pathway by looking beyond the prism of political affiliations to appreciating that the true goal of politics is to serve our communities with sincerity and humility. May I assure you that we do not take your support for granted. Abia is better today because of the excellent disposition you bring to your legislative assignments.
6. The Bills you have worked on and passed since your inauguration in June 2023 are not only structured to enrich our body of laws but designed to purposefully reposition the State to take advantage of the changes in regional and international economic directions. The Abia State Electricity Act of 2025 taps into the leverages offered by the Nigerian Electricity Act of 2024 which decentralised the electricity value chain, enabling active participation by the states and members of the organised private sector. Following the signing of the Abia State Electricity Act of 2025 in March this year, we moved quickly to set up the Abia State Electricity Regulatory Agency (ASERA) and in April, we inaugurated the management board of the agency with a mandate to create a robust framework to activate the electricity value chain in the State, creating systems of incentives and guidelines that attract investors, and protect consumers.
7. The legislations creating the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) and the Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA) are structured to stimulate holistic infrastructure development within the Aba urban and suburban corridors, and transform the northern region of the State to an inviting destination for modern living and business growth through investments in critical sectors, especially agriculture; and just as in the founding objectives of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), provide development guidelines for individual and institutional interests within the greater Aba residential and commercial districts and across the communities within Abia North. These legislations aligned excellently with the community and neighbourhood development proposals captured in our campaign manifesto and in the recommendations of the Transition Council which I inaugurated shortly after winning the 2023 guber election to help us set the tone and direction for impactful governance in the State. I am glad that we are already seeing the extensive fruits of these institutional structures with regard to elevating the appeal of our communities and expanding the frontiers of opportunities. Whether you are looking at managing infrastructure expansion protocols, real estate development roadmap or supporting other agencies of government, many of us in this room would agree that a lot is changing in terms of development approach in our urban and semi-urban centres.
8. Overall, I can assure you that from pension administration to enhancing effective governance systems at the local governments, the pattern of legislations coming to my table from the Abia State House of Assembly collectively embody the tools and frameworks that would accelerate the development objectives we have set out to achieve over the lifetime of this administration. The new laws encapsulate thoughtful legislative provisions for attaining our governance vision in critical governance areas like performance-based administration, accountability and fiscal discipline, investments in social and economic infrastructure, ease-of-doing-business, security and order, social protection and responsiveness of public institutions to public demands.
9. As I noted at the beginning, development may begin with an idea, technology may accelerate it and finance may push it beyond boundaries but without robust legislative support, much of whatever is achieved in the short to medium term could be lost in the long run. Here in Abia, I have no shred of doubt that the body of legislations we have put in place would guarantee the sustenance of the gains that have been made over the last two years. My conviction is that the excellent leadership philosophy of the New Abia would not just endure; it would bear even greater fruits in the years ahead.
10. Thank you for listening and may God bless Abia State.

Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR,

26th May, 2025