Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has credited his aggressive urban renewal efforts in Aba to the developmental strategy pioneered by former Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by Senator Kalu to his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South, on Sunday, June 8, 2025, Governor Otti openly acknowledged the former Governor’s influence on his developmental stride in the commercial city.
“I am still using former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu’s infrastructure template for Aba. He did well in Aba when he was the Governor. That template is not wrong — you fix the place that generates the revenue, and the revenue will come and be used to develop other areas.”
Otti also declared his administration’s commitment to building on functional legacies, regardless of political affiliations, stressing the importance of continuity over conflict.
“Government and governance is a continuum. It can be broken, but a wise government must go back and recover what worked. There is no need to dwell on the past or fight anyone. We are focused on resetting and moving forward,” he said.
He also reminisced about how his late mother admired Senator Kalu’s achievements in Aba, saying, “My late mother used to say good things about what Senator Orji Kalu did in Aba. I have always believed that the approach he used was correct — start by fixing the revenue-generating centre of the state and spread development from there.”
Governor Otti’s model has already yielded economic dividends. He revealed that a grateful Aba businessman recently donated N200 million to support the ongoing road infrastructure projects in the city.
“People in Aba can now do business day and night. There is no sleep in Aba anymore. Money is changing hands, and the city’s economy is growing faster. That is how it should be,” he noted.
Senator Kalu, in his response, lauded Otti’s transformative efforts across the state and was particularly moved by the revival of key roads long abandoned.
“You have done well for our State. I am very happy to see that the road from Igbere to Umuahia, which was abandoned for over 16 years, is now smooth and motorable because of your leadership,” he said.
Observers and analysts view this moment of mutual respect and bipartisan acknowledgment between the two leaders as a sign of political maturity — where development trumps division.
As Governor Otti pushes forward with rebuilding Aba, his embrace of a proven infrastructure model shows a pragmatic shift toward results-driven governance — one that puts the people first, not party lines.
