By Obinna Ejiofor


In a dramatic denouement, as  good governance and lame duck administration came up for comparison, Abians could not hold back their emotions as they took  to the streets singing and chanting the praises of Governor Alex Otti even as they bitterly denounced the lame duck administration of former governor Okezie Ikpeazu 


Few days ago, Abians in a burst of palpable joy and infectious excitement took to streets of Aba, the State’s exuberant commercial hub, to witness the road construction tour embarked by Gov  Otti, alongside former Speakers of the Abia State House of Assembly, under the auspices of the Conference of Speakers.


Roads inspected during the tour included Pepples Road, Ndoki Road, Old Court Road, Ehi Road, Port Harcourt Road, Omuma Road, Industrial Road, Umuodu Avenue, University Road, all in Aba, and Mgbedeala-Omoba Road in Isialangwa South LGA, were thoroughfares where all vehicular movements have seized for years


To see roads turn from rubbish dumps to sparkling black tarred roads spontaneously provoked  shouts of endearments and praises for Otti. 


The governor who stopped to address the people at various spots, thanked the people for cooperating with the contractors, while also expressing confidence in the capacity of the contractors to deliver before the rains set in.


“The contractors are trying but I want them to do more because I don’t want the rains to meet them here. They have the capacity and I know they can achieve that.


“I want to thank you for supporting the contractors, giving them all the maximum cooperation, I also want to thank you all for going through all the inconveniences to ensure this road is done to the highest standard’ Otti said.


Some of the residents who thronged the street to witness the event and spoke to our correspondent could not hide their sentiments on how much the governor have been able to achieve in barely less than a year.


“My brother, I am excited, the entire Aba is excited. Governor Otti is our messiah. What do you want to hear? The whole country can see what he has done and is doing. We have never had it so good. The last governor should hold his head in shame. See what his fellow man is doing. For eight years we lived like people without a father. We lived in total darkness. Now we sleep with fan and air conditioner. Now we are sure to drive and move our goods on good roads. No more incessant flooding. So, pardon my excitement. Otti is our messiah. Please don’t ask me about the last governor” Emeka Mba, a trader and resident said.


In the same vein, Nkiru Anumudu, a cloth seller and resident, echoed the sentiments of Mba. Anumudu who spoke in a spatter of Pidgin English said; “If them do election tomorrow this man go win. Na im make him win those wicked people thruway. Wetin dem sabi na to chop our money. But God pass them. God don send us person wey love us. Na thunder go fire the last gofnor wey play us wayo,” she said.


Rt Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka, who spoke on behalf of the Conference of former Speakers commended the efforts of Otti, hinting deep satisfaction with the initiatives and projects the governor has implemented so far


While reiterating the importance of good governance, Ohajuruka said that although the former Speakers are from different political parties, they are very impressed with the governor and asked him not to relent in his efforts to change the Abia State narrative.