By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commissioned the 46.36km Umuahia – Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi -Abriba Highway reconstructed by Governor Alex Otti and described him as a performer
and an exemplary leader who has impacted the lives of his people positively.
Chief Obasanjo stated this over the weekend at the Unity Church Uzuakoli, Bende LGA, venue for the commissioning.
Chief Obasanjo recalled how terrible the road had been, especially the last time he visited Abiriba,, and described Governor Otti as a miracle worker.
“You (Gov. Otti) are a man of your word, a goal-getter, a performer. You are a man who says no to what is bad and yes to what is good. You are an example of a leader.
“You (Abia people) said you have had leaders before, but one thing you must know is that good leaders don’t flock, and when you get a good leader as you have got in Dr. Alex Otti, you must maximize good use of him.
“This road you are all talking about, I traveled on it to Abiriba. It was hellish, and when I was told that the road you have done will get me from Umuahia to Abiriba in 35 minutes, I said this man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker,” Obasanjo stated.
He commended Governor Otti’s efforts in giving Abia a facelift and said that good leadership being witnessed in Abia state shows that whatever bad situation is being witnessed in the country today can become good tomorrow.
“I am a witness to what you are doing and urge you to keep doing what you are doing. If you look hard and wide, you will see that this governor does not lack a good team.
“Of course, this is proof that whatever bad situation we are seeing today can be made good tomorrow.
“All we need to do is to make sure that at every level, we must have the right leaders with the right team to work with.
“For me, a political party is just a platform. What matters is the quality of the man and the quality of Alex Otti is a good quality.
“Well, when the time comes for elections, my advice to the people of Abia State is, don’t change a winning horse,” Chief Obasanjo stated.
Speaking, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, said that the commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony of his resolve to do things differently and noted that the completion of the road project would, among other things, shorten travel time by motorists.
“Today’s commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony to our resolve to do things differently as a government. This administration has zero tolerance for shoddy jobs or the kickback culture that enables them.
“By completing this project, we have not just shortened travel time for drivers and commuters coming into Umuahia to communities within Ohafia, Bende, isuikwuato, and Umuahia North.
“We have also cut down the risks of accidents, security threats, and transport costs for scores of thousands of individuals and families.
“Anyone living and doing business along this axis can now travel safely from Umuahia and other urban centers within and outside the State at any time of the day or night, unafraid of harassment by criminal elements who took advantage of the bad state of the road in the past to wreak havoc on innocent travelers.
The Governor announced the renaming of the road to “Joe Irukwu Way” in honor of the former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the late Professor Joe Irukwu, who is from that axis.
