CASMIR ROBERT
Gov Alex Otti’s climb to where he’s today, didn’t start with flourish. It didn’t start start with blaring of trumpet, or shooting of cannon shots. It began quietly and humbly. His was a journey planted,nurtured and watered by merit. He entered the banking industry humbly by merit,and worked his way through the rank and file through the same value.
It was merit that took him to the pinnacle of the same industry. At the height of that glorious and highly successful career, he served as the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank, and arguably, it was during that time, that the bank witnessed its best days.
As one whose life’s trajectory- academic, professional and politics- were all defined by merit,it’s no suprise that upon his emergence as governor in 2023, Gov Alex Otti proudly declared that merit will be a principal policy of his government. Of course, at that time there was the thinking that the statement was merely a political rhetoric. But, two and half years on the governor has continued to demonstrate absolute commitment and dedication to that vow in words and actions.
At the recent rousing reception organized for him by the old Bende Bloc, at the Enyimba International Stadium, the governor as has become part of him, made a very illustrative statement that underscored his passion for this policy focus. He had asked the teeming crowd: “if you are sick will you demand that a doctor from your village should treat you? Would your concern not be to be treated by a good doctor? That’s what you will do. That’s why we’re running a government that places competence in the front seat. If you’re competent we’ll give you job no matter where you come from.” he declared.
That wasn’t just mere rhetoric, it was a pure statement of fact, of reality. A few months ago as part of the administration’s efforts to revive the state’s collapsing education system, over five thousand teachers were employed by the governor. Verifiable records today show that a significant portion of the newly recruited teachers ,are from other South East States. This happened as a result of the governor’s deliberate placement of competence and merit,over clannish and emotional considerations. From his own personal experience, the governor knows that if his burning desire to return standards and values to the Abia Education Sector, is to become a reality, he must employ only qualified and skilled teachers,irrespective of who they are, and where they come from, and that was what he did. Having done that, alongside the ongoing aggressive infrastructure development, aimed at enhancing conducive learning environment, Gov Otti has effectively laid a solid foundation for the rebirth of the Abia State Education Sector. In no distant time the state will not only become more competitive than it is presently in the nation, but will definitely become one of the consistent best performers year on year in the sector.
Across other actions of his government the policy has been very obvious. We can clearly see it in his appointments. Nearly two years ago his administration made history as the first state in Nigeria to appointment a non Abian as its head of service. Mr Idahosa is from Edo State. He did his National Youth Service in Abia, and was employed in the state civil service after. As he himself confessed the highest level he thought he’ll get to is the directorate level. But, against that expectation which was understandable, given the deep culture of ethnicity and nepotism in the country, Gov Otti appointed him Head of Service of Abia State. It was merit that spoke.
Dr Sam Amadi, an internationally known technocrat with high proficiency in the power sector management, is today in charge of the state’s power sector. Dr Amadi was one of the brains behind the birthing of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission. Beyond that, when ex President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him its helmsman, he went on to introduce some radical reforms that helped reposition the country’s power sector. No doubt, it was on the basis of his excellent leadership trajectory, that he was appointed to head Abia’s drive for constant power supply, for sustainable growth and development.
For those who may not know, what Dr Otti is doing now was what his predecessors whose legacies remain strong and solid today did. I’m talking of Dr Michael Okpara, and Dee Sam Mbakwe. They were cerebral and visionary leaders, who assembled men and women of capacity and competence in their cabinets. And together with those egg heads they transformed the socioeconomic landscapes of Old Eastern Nigeria, and Old Imo State, in less than eight years.
Dr Alex Otti, who has already been dubbed the “Sam Mbakwe” of our time is following exactly the footsteps of these immortal leaders. This is why the state has become a reference point,and bench mark for measuring good governance, in only two and half years of his governance. Abia State is witnessing real development and progress in all it’s sectors for the very first time since it was created in 1991,and both the people of the state,and outside world is seeing and testifying to this. Of course, the state and the governor have been garnering awards, rankings, and accolades for the ongoing dramatic transformation. The secret behind this new dawn is nothing but, the governor’s visionary policy of prioritizing merit over and above primordial considerations. If he sustains this drive, he’ll definitely make Abia a frontline state in the country, in all ramifications before exiting office.