Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has solicited the support of stakeholders in Aba and other parts of the state for the protection of public infrastructure being put in place by his administration.
Otti also sought the assistance of Aba residents in sustaining the huge gains made by his government in keeping the Enyimba City clean.
The Governor spoke when he received in audience the executives of two business groups from Aba – the Association of International Traders (AIT) and the Ultimate Importers Association (UIA) – led by their Presidents, Prince Edmund Igwe and Chief Iroegbu U. Agu, respectively.
The groups came to thank the Governor for “recovering Aba after decades of ruins” and “transforming the infrastructural landscape,” which they said had resulted in a massive boom in their businesses.
Acknowledging their commendations, Otti said, “It is the duty of government to provide an enabling environment for hardworking people to thrive in their endeavors.”
He promised to sustain his developmental strides, saying he came on board to change the narrative.
Otti said: “Once you are hardworking and you are focused, government has a responsibility of providing the enabling environment for you to do your things.
“Unfortunately, Aba was abandoned for several decades. So, it became a major item on our agenda to recover it. We have done two years and a few months now, and I am happy that we have been successful in that journey of recovering Aba. There is still a lot to do; we are not resting on our oars.
“You will agree with me that the job is not an entirely easy one. But, we are not worried because we have people like you who would come back to show appreciation. Even if you didn’t come back to show appreciation, we can see it from the faces of people,” Governor Otti stated.
While reassuring that the government will continue to play its part in providing the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, he called on them to support the government in protecting public infrastructure against vandalism and theft, and in keeping their surroundings clean.
“We also have a few requests to make. One of them is that all the infrastructures we are putting in place – all the roads we are building, all the drainage we have cleared, all the schools we are rehabilitating, all the hospitals we are fixing – they are all for all of you. So, we request that you protect them.
“You ensure that they are not vandalized. You ensure that nothing would be stolen, including the streetlights that we are installing everywhere.”
The Governor mentioned an ugly incident that happened at Omuma Road, Aba, where someone vandalized and stole power cables but was electrocuted.
“Those kinds of stories should not be heard in Abia State, where somebody will go and steal cables so that the light we have restored would not be available for everybody,” Otti said.
On the environment, Otti expressed delight that Abia no longer smells as was the case before his administration came on board.
“Today, if you move around, you won’t see those refuse dumps anymore. If we close our eyes, they will return, but they will not return under our watch.
“But then, it is important for all of us as stakeholders to preach it, let it become the new mantra, where you cannot, and would not be allowed to throw refuse anyhow. And if you see anyone throwing refuse, you call the person and discipline him, and people will know that it is forbidden to do that,” Otti said.
The Governor disclosed that work had started on some of the roads in the inner parts of Aba, being executed by the Greater Aba Development Agency (GADA).
He thanked the businessmen and traders from Aba for appreciating the work his administration has done in Aba and commended them for paying their taxes.
“I have always insisted that if you do the right thing, people will appreciate what you have done. Anytime that the government has to deploy Agberos or extrajudicial measures to get people to pay taxes, that means that the government is not doing what it is supposed to do,” he added.
Earlier, in their address to the Governor, the leadership of the Association of International Traders (AIT) and Ultimate Importers Association acknowledged and thanked the Governor for rebuilding broken infrastructure, reopening forgotten roads in Aba, cleaning the environment – which were major signposts of the city before he emerged as Governor – and restoring security.
“…Trucks and containers no longer fall on top of each other as was the case just two years back.
“In Aba, warehouses are no longer being broken into at will as was the case before your emergence as Executive Governor of Abia State. We cannot thank you enough, sir.”
In a vote of thanks, Chief James Ochunkwo thanked the Governor for his infrastructural interventions, which he said were never witnessed in Abia. Chief Ochunkwo urged the Governor to continue on the trajectory as businesses are returning to the state.
The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu; his Trade and Commerce counterpart, Mr. Chibueze Nwokocha; Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem; and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe, were present at the meeting.
