Abia State Governor Alex Otti says, in Abia, his administration identifies more with and honours meritorious people as against those with mediocre orientation.
This was even as he said Abia residents presently have access to free education, while his administration is poised to make future leaders out of young people in the state.
Otti stated this in Umuahia during the 75th Birthday Celebration of a 2023 presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sam Ohuabunwa, describing Ohuabunwa as one of the best the country has produced and worth celebrating.
Otti said, “We are celebrating Mazi Samuel Iheanyichukwu Ohuabunwa. Today, Mazi is 75. We will be here when he is 85. We are celebrating one of the best that this country has produced, and that is Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.”
Otti, who observed Ohuabunwa’s ideals and principles have continued to shape both men and institutions around him, said, “He will disagree with you, but you can never doubt his patriotism.
“You can never doubt his integrity. He joined Pfizer in 1978, and that was 10 years before I graduated. And 15 years later, he was the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the multinational corporation, and since then, he has continued to rise and to make an impact in the country and beyond.
“When during the COVID-19, I visited him, and he told me about his dream to run for the presidency, we struggled with this idea – and like myself, people had always felt jilted when I told them I wanted to become the governor of Abia State. I was just worried about Mazi. Why? I was worried about where he was coming from, whether he would do ‘what’ was involved and all that.
“For us in Abia State, we celebrate meritorious people. We don’t even want to know where you come from — once you live here, you are one of us. A former governor of Imo State sent me a cheering letter a few days ago, thanking me for appointing an Edo indigene as head of service in Abia State. And in reply, I said, ‘I didn’t even know he is an Edo man. But I am aware he has been here since 1999 to date. And as far as I am concerned, he’s one of us.
“So for us here, we celebrate meritocracy. Therefore, I want to thank the chairman of this occasion for the beautiful words he spoke, wherein he commended us. We have just done two years, and I am sure that the next time you are here, the story will be different. In Abia State, we are training future leaders — irrespective of where you are from. We want to make sure that everybody has access to free education.”
Speaking earlier, the celebrant, Ohuabunwa, ascribed his success story in life to God’s guidance, grace and inspiration, urging friends and well-wishers to embrace Him daily.
According to Ohuabunwa, his new book, titled “Driven by Revelation and Inspiration – My Journey through the 2023 Nigeria Presidential Aspiration and Matters Arising”, which was launched during the occasion, reflected on his political journey driven by a divine call to action despite his initial self-doubt.
He said, “I decided to decline that I wanted to run for the office of the President of Nigeria. I was doubting myself, but a force kept driving me.”
He reiterated that the book exposed deep-seated rot within the nation’s political system, which, according to him, victimises the country by preventing suitable individuals from taking on leadership roles.
While acknowledging that the political game for 2027 has already begun, Ohuabunwa stated that the real transformation in Nigeria’s leadership style will only begin in 2031, stating, “I am afraid. I don’t know whether we can change the system by 2027. This is because the 2027 game has started already. We should be looking at 2031 to change the narrative.”
Ohuabunwa, who is the immediate past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, stressed the need for a new breed of political leaders, free from the constraints of “godfatherism”, and lauded the leadership styles of Otti and Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, among others.
“Alex Otti has no need to steal government money; he was very wealthy before he became governor. So what is he stealing government money for? A lot of things that kill politicians and make them unable to perform are their godfathers or when they vow to shrines or to their gods and goddesses, who will suck the money. They have to keep sacrificing for them, whether they are men, spirits, or idols,” he added.
Some of the dignitaries who attended the event, which was chaired by a former minister of foreign affairs, Chief Ike Nwachukwu, were Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti; Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who was represented by his Deputy Barr Ifeanyi Ossai; a former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; a former Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr Uche Ogah; a former governor of Rivers State; Chief Celestine Omeha; the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator Azuka Mbata; the Eze Aro Kingdom, HRH Eze Eberechukwu Oji; among others.
