Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and his Enugu State counterpart, Dr. Peter Mbah, have agreed to deepen collaboration in tackling insecurity in both states and the wider South East region.
Governor Otti disclosed this while briefing journalists after a closed-door meeting with Governor Mbah, who paid him a courtesy visit in his Umuahia office.
He thanked Mbah for fostering a cordial relationship between the governments of Abia and Enugu states and for his visit to Abia.
“You know, we share boundaries. So, one of the key issues we discussed is how to ensure that our people are secured across those areas,” Otti said.
“We agreed on the need for cooperation because if Enugu succeeds in driving out criminals and we do nothing, they may just relocate here. That’s why this kind of partnership is very important.”
Otti reiterated his administration’s strong support for the creation of state police, expressing hope that the Federal Government would consider the proposal during the ongoing constitutional review process.
“I’m completely in sync with my brother’s position. Our two states, and indeed many others, have backed the call for state police. Security, just like politics, is local,” Otti said.
The Abia governor also supported calls for the creation of an additional state in the South-East, noting the region’s current disadvantage in Nigeria’s geo-political structure.
“Virtually every other geopolitical zone has six states, and the North-West has seven. The South-East has only five. So, I support the creation of an additional state in our region,” he said.
On his part, Governor Mbah said his visit was aimed at fostering collaboration on areas of mutual interest, especially in governance and people-oriented development.
“We share not just geographical boundaries but also similar goals, especially as leaders who came from the private sector. Our policies and programmes are designed to impact lives, and we believe governance should revolve around the people,” Mbah stated.
He commended Governor Otti for what he described as “giant strides” across various sectors in Abia, noting that both states are aligned in their commitment to good governance.
“So, I came to exchange ideas on how we can serve our people better and commend him for the great work he is doing. That’s something we have in common between Abia and Enugu,” he added.
Among the top government officials who received Governor Mbah were the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu; and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba.
