Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as performer and an exemplary leader who has touched peoples lives positively.
Recalling the terrible condition of the 46.3km Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba Road reconstructed by Governor Alex Otti, the last time he visited Abiriba, the former President, while commissioning the road, described Governor Otti as a miracle worker.
Obasanjo: “You 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 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 like you have got in Dr Alex Otti, let us make 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 road you have done will get me from Umuahia to Abiriba in 45 minutes, I said this man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker.”
Chief Obasanjo observed that with Governor Otti’s performance there is hope that the present bad situation in the country 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.
“All we need to do is to make sure that at every level we 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 you is don’t change a winning horse,” Chief Obasanjo stated.
Speaking, Governor Otti said the ceremony was an eloquent testimony of his resolve to do things differently and noted that the completion of the road project would not only shorten travel time for motorists but also reduce transportation cost, risk of accidents and security threats.
According to him, “This administration has zero tolerance for shoddy jobs or the kick back culture that enables them.”
Otti further said that completion of the road guarantees speedy and safe transportation of agro produce from various communities to the urban centres and cut cost of food items while empowering farmers economically.
He added that the road would unleash the wholesale economic potential of the area by making farming attractive to a new generation of young people, support job creation and give a big blow on the menace of poverty in many communities.
He noted that, “by rebuilding strategic public infrastructure such as this, we are actively eliminating the barriers that stunted the productivity of our people for decades. Never again will farmers suffer unavoidable loses.”
The Former President had earlier in the day performed the launch of the Abia State formal sector Health Insurance Scheme and medical outreach with distribution of hearing aids by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation, where he declared that Nigeria would emerge great if leaders serve with patriotism.
While commending Governor Otti’s strides in the health sector, Obasanjo advised leaders to work for the people and not for themselves.
“Healthcare security, which is what we are doing here today, and health for all, is what led to my establishing the health insurance scheme.
“Nigeria is a potentially great nation, with people like you we will achieve our potentials. So, we are here to launch the Abia State medical outreach and healthcare delivery for all. This is very important”, he declared.
