The Ooni called on the public to pray for Governor Otti for sound health and long life to deliver his plans for the state.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has said that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State will live a legacy in governance that will be difficult to match.
The respected Yoruba leader spoke during a visit to Otti in his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia on Friday, December 29, 2023.
The Ooni was in Abia for a civic reception in honour of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, organised by his Bende community.
The event also witnessed the unveiling of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an idea of Kalu, as part of the activities marking the grand civic reception, thanksgiving and homecoming of the Deputy Speaker, held on Friday at Bende Local Government Headquarters.
Oba Ogunwusi, while fielding questions from the media during the visit, attested to Otti’s competence, character and capacity to deliver on his current assignment in Abia.
He said, “For me, it’s a red-letter day because I know who he (Otti) is. It is not a relationship of now. I know his competence, I know his capacity and what he has delivered in the private sector. So we should rally round him and celebrate him because what he will deliver for the people of Abia will be very difficult to match.
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“I have asked him privately, ‘Your Excellency, there is something beyond winning, please share your legacies with me. What do you want the Abia people to know you for?’ He is somebody I became close to when he left banking and when he wasn’t a governor and we shared thoughts and ideas. But I’m very fulfilled because he came prepared for the job. I am much more than convinced that he will deliver the dividends of democracy for the Abia people and by extension the Igbos and Nigeria as a country.
“He has the capacity, he has the competence, a very broad brain with ideas and things he wants to implement. So for me, I am here to pick his brain. ‘Your Excellency, beyond winning, beyond celebration, what do you have on the table for the people?’ For the past two hours, we have been engaging one another, and I am very convinced that he is the same Dr. Alex Otti of yesteryears. In fact, much more better, a finer wine to deliver dividends of Democracy for the Abia people.”
The Ooni called on the public to pray for Governor Otti for sound health and long life to deliver his plans for the state, adding that the governor has a great plan for the state and knows what he is doing.
“He came prepared, so we should continue to support him. Forget that I came from the Southwest, he has been a brother. I call him My Own Governor. I told a lot of people from the East, and even the traditional rulers today, you can call him your own son, but he is my governor. I want to watch him succeed and that’s why I’m here.
“I have been looking forward to this and today, I am fulfilled. Irrespective of politics, irrespective of party, he is out there to be successful and by the very special grace of God, he will be successful. He will deliver great things for Abians,” the foremost Yoruba king said emphatically.
The Ooni’s visit coincided with the visit of some other high profile visitors to the governor, among whom was the former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.