The Governor of Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti, has attributed what he described as the modest success achieved in the state to the cooperation he receives from the people and his commitment not to disappoint them.
​He made the remark at the 60th birthday celebration of Apostle Bolaji Akinyemi, a Nigerian policy analyst. Akinyemi is the President of Voice of His Word Ministries and the Convener of the Apostolic Round Table (ART), an initiative aimed at aligning faith-based teachings with socio-political governance.
​Governor Otti, who attended the event in person, acknowledged the role Apostle Akinyemi played in his emergence as governor of Abia State and praised his dedication to nation-building.
Otti described Akinyemi as a conscious citizen of Nigeria whose life has been “shaped by the work you do for God, years of steadfast service to humanity, and a commitment to making Nigeria better.”
He noted that the celebrant made his birthday celebration less about himself and more about national renewal.
​As governor of Abia State, Otti said he remains committed to building a state that works for everyone. He stated that the progress happening in Abia has been made possible by the encouragement he gets from the citizens and the drive to create positive change among the members of his team.
​Otti said, “It is beyond dispute that things are now beginning to look up in Abia State. People in the state now know that the era of unpaid entitlements belongs to history. They see that their lives are being affected positively with tangible development. Permit me to say that the real credit goes to the Abia people.”
​He added that his greatest motivation as governor is his desire not to fail the people who brought him to power through their votes. “How can anybody fail people who fought night and day to ensure our victory?” he asked.
​While acknowledging that the state has not hit a perfect score yet, he noted, “We can see the ‘can-do’ spirit of our people returning. The Abia story points to a reality that citizens must reject mediocrity.”
​In Abia, Otti said his administration has been able to achieve the “optimization of lean resources. The old order is gone.”
​He noted that people who desire change often become a prime target for those trying to suppress progress. “But in Abia, the citizens vehemently rejected the deceit of the old order. Our parents rose in unison against opposition forces and embraced the new order. The courage shown by the seniors spurred us on. We were driven by a genuine hunger to help the people irrespective of the opposition. We refused to be bullied. We did our part, and God did the rest.”
​He expressed satisfaction with the modest gains in the state, disclosing that Abians can now boast of “meaningful jobs for our people, a safe environment for investors, and supporting infrastructure.”
​According to him, education in Abia is not only free, but compulsory. “It is a crime to see a child of school age hawking on the streets. If we see them, they are held so as to get the attention of their parents. But since we started, the children have disappeared from the streets. They are now in school.”
​Welcoming Apostle Akinyemi to the club of senior citizens, Governor Otti noted that his administration has also created a safe environment for older people. “Our philosophy of respect and care for the elderly is well-articulated. We do not want to trade away the welfare of the elderly.
“Being sensitive to the plight of the elderly is not an act of charity; it is an obligation that has to be met. We take care of their health and create opportunities for their children.”
​A special highlight of the celebration was the presentation of a new book authored by the celebrant, titled Global Leadership Code: Donald Trump as a case study”
​The occasion was graced by numerous dignitaries, the alumni association of Lagos Baptist Secondary school, Orile Agege (the celebrants Alma mater), his 95-year-old father, family and friends.
