Comparison is the game of governance and in the southeast, the spotlight is on two governors: Alex Otti of Abia State and Peter Mbah of Enugu State. Peter Mbah is basking in the glory, while Alex Otti is under intense scrutiny in Abia State. The Southeast media is buzzing with talk of progress and performance.
Enugu State’s Mbah is being touted as a model of good governance; however, the reverse is the case with Abia’s Otti. The questions are: Is it fair? Is Abia’s Otti doing enough? The facts give a more nuanced narrative as the debate goes on.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently commissioned several projects in Enugu State, showcasing the state’s progress under Governor Peter Mbah’s administration. Some of the commissioned projects include 30 smart green schools, 60 Type 2 primary healthcare Centres, the Enugu International Conference Centre, 90 urban roads in Enugu City, a state-of-the-art command and control centre, and 150 patrol vehicles fitted with AI-embedded surveillance cameras.
Governor Otti has been seriously attacked lately, especially since President Tinubu visited Enugu State. Many have asked why Tinubu has not visited Abia State to commission similar projects, thereby giving the impression that the Otti administration is not doing enough, but is the criticism justified?
Upon scrutiny, some of the major milestones achieved by the Otti administration are 82 per cent of the state budget invested in infrastructure in 2024, among others. Some critical projects the administration executes include Section One of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and Section Two from Umuahia Tower to Aba. Besides that, his administration has been doing well in healthcare, education, and security. He has renovated the Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostics Centre, besides initiating programs that have upgraded the educational system.
In security, Governor Otti has been proactive with the launch of Operation Crush, a multi-agency anti-crime security task force and the donation of 20 Toyota Hilux patrol vans to support the operations. He has also addressed the issue of touts collecting revenues and taken some measures to make life and properties more secure.
He has not been idle; he has been trying to turn around the economic fortunes of the state. He initiated policies that will ensure the development of entrepreneurship, give support to farmers and provide job opportunities for the youth.
Critics say there is no improvement since the president commissioned projects in Enugu State. One would have to be reminded that all states are at their different developmental strides and unique challenges. A look at the impressive IGR increase that Enugu has shown in her budget performance does not say Abia has not been keeping up in her areas of development.
IGRs in Abia State have been on the increase. The summary of the total IGR was N 22,150,232,922.59 in Q3, 2024, representing 68.9 per cent of the full-year projected independent revenue estimate of N32,143,062,000. This represents an increase from N11,041,072,262.32 in Q1-Q3 2023, which is about 35.7 per cent of the projected independent revenue. With such impressive revenue growth, it is pretty clear that the Otti administration is hell-bent on making sure the economy and financial independence of the state are at the top.
What’s more, Abia State has leapt a great rung in the FDI rankings. It is now ranked third in the foreign direct investment rankings, after Lagos and Abuja. Abia State attracted an important amount, $150.09m, in foreign direct investment between June 2023 and June 2024. Foreign investors’ huge investment shows that Abia State’s economy is becoming more attractive, offering important potential for future growth.
In terms of debt management, his administration has done some serious work. Abia’s domestic debt stock now totals N97,241,994,249.15 as of June 30, 2024, and this figure represents an outstanding decrease from the previously higher large amount of N142,470,717,702.46 recorded as of June 2023. This represents a reduction of about N45bn or 31.8 per cent.
Dr. Alex Otti has surely made his presence felt in Abia State. Before he assumed office, the state had been battling huge debts in the form of unpaid salaries and pensions amounting to about N18bn. Staff at Abia State University were owed 11 months of salaries amounting to N3.2bn, while that of Abia Polytechnic was worse, as staff were owed 33 months of salaries amounting to N4.6bn. Since he took over office, Governor Otti has made frantic efforts toward paying these accumulated debts. He has paid salaries and pensions and has undertaken several developmental works in the state in all spheres.
Indeed, President Tinubu has not visited Abia State to commission projects, but that should be looked at in a larger context. And the Otti administration has been up and running with the deliverables, which are now beginning to show. Probably, the need to reconsider such criticism is an invitation to accord the Otti administration its well-deserved credit. After all, governance is a very complicated process that demands patience, understanding, and willingness to appreciate development no matter how minute.
The verdict is still on regarding the performance of Governor Otti, but one thing is very clear: Abia State is on the move. Let us give credit to whom credit is due and the strides being made in that regard. Comparisons may be inevitable in the game of governance. As we scrutinize the administration of Governor Otti, let us be very mindful of the complexities involved in leadership. Abia’s progress may be slow, perhaps not flashy enough, but it is real, and that matters.
The Otti administration may not have all the answers, but at least it is asking the right questions. As Abia State journeys on in this path of progress, let us keep the conversation nuanced and the criticism constructive. The Abia State story is still unfolding, and Governor Otti is writing a new chapter. Let him be allowed to finish the book before we judge the story.
– Micheal Ezeh, a journalist, writes from Umuahia.
Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.
