Abia State Governor, Dr.. Alex Otti has backed President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, which he said are difficult but necessary.
He praised President Tinubu’s removal of the controversial fuel subsidy, calling it a bold move to reset Nigeria’s troubled economy.
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Otti made the remarks during a weekend visit from former governor of the state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North district; and his former counterpart for Abia Central district, Senator Chris Adighije.
The political heavyweights met Otti at his Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, where discussions centred on governance, the economy, and the future of the state.
He noted that his longstanding relationship with President Tinubu predates current political positions, stating:
“When you talk about the economy, what Mr President is doing has always been my position. We’ve behaved irresponsibly for too long. Correction is painful, but necessary.”
He urged critics to revisit his past columns in Thisday newspapers, especially those published during the COVID-19 era, where he strongly advocated for the end of fuel subsidies.
‘It requires someone with courage to remove that subsidy. I support it. If we don’t lose faith, we’ll get it right’, he said.
Otti also criticised those already jostling for power ahead of 2027, saying such distractions are premature and presumptuous.
‘People in 2025 are talking about 2027 — you don’t even know if you’ll see 2026. Only God knows tomorrow. Let’s focus on today’, he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to governance over politics, stating that his administration was focused on performance, not blame or personal battles:
Otti said: ‘We hit the reset button. I’m not fighting anyone. Government is a continuum — we recover what’s been broken’.
Kalu commended Otti’s developmental strides, especially road construction, which he said had transformed the state’s transportation infrastructure.
‘The road from Igbere to Umuahia used to take three hours. Now it’s less than one. I flew on that road’!, he said.
He pledged full support for Otti’s administration while encouraging continued alignment with President Tinubu’s national agenda.
Adighije echoed Kalu’s sentiments, calling Otti’s leadership “exceptional” and affirming that his support transcends party politics.
He said: ‘It’s about progress, not party. Otti has proved himself. I made the right choice supporting him’.
Otti revealed plans to extend night-time economic activity across the state, directing the Commissioner for Works to design a plan to light up the Umuahia–Ohafia axis.
‘We don’t want our economy to sleep at 6 pm. Let it operate like Lagos and Abuja — money must keep changing hands’, he said.
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He cited an inspiring example of a resident who donated ₦200 million to the government after witnessing real road construction in Aba.
‘The template is simple: fix where revenue comes from, and use it to fix everywhere else’, he said.
