The Labour Party’s governorship candidate for Abia State, Alex Otti, warned that the state could slip toward failure if voters choose the wrong governor in the 2023 general elections. With the election scheduled for 11 March 2023 and 18 candidates contesting, Otti told a gathering of Abia professionals in Umuahia that most aspirants are only interested in sharing the state’s resources once in office. He stressed that Abia’s economy is in dire straits and that a credible, competent leader is needed to navigate the state out of its economic quagmire.
Otti highlighted the state’s mounting debt, noting that it rose from N45 billion under the administration of T.A. Orji to N150 billion under the current government. “When this government leaves, whoever succeeds will find it extremely difficult because the state is badly broken,” he said. He warned that the unemployment rate in Abia stands at 51 percent—the highest in the country—and that the state ranks 32nd in ease of doing business, meaning investors must consider 31 other states before thinking of Abia. “If you make a mistake, you will be in a failed state,” Otti cautioned, adding that his campaign is driven by a desire to put Abia on a path of sustainable growth and development without embezzling or misapplying public funds. “If it is making money, I can do 101 things to get cool money. I will not touch Abia’s money. The only business I have with Abia money is that I will use it to develop the state,” he declared.
He thanked Abia Professionals for endorsing him as their sole candidate for the 2023 governorship election and urged them to work for his success on 11 March so that he could forge a partnership with the group to salvage the state. Nkem Egbuta, Secretary‑General of Abia Professionals, which organised the “Abia Professionals Hosts An Evening With Alex Otti” forum, assured Otti that the group would stand with him, emphasizing that Abia needs a man of character and competence to pull the state out of its woes. Egbuta lamented that Abia is the most backward state in Southern Nigeria, pointing to dilapidated infrastructure, unpaid lecturers, a 30‑month wage arrears at Abia State Polytechnic, and striking doctors—problems not seen in other states. He noted that the unemployment rate in Abia exceeds the national average and called for all Abians to unite in rescuing the state.
Explaining why the diverse intellectuals of Abia Professionals endorsed Otti, Egbuta said the group examined each candidate’s history, pedigree, job record, and societal impact. “You have to look at his integrity, you have to look at his character because any person can produce a manifesto. The most important thing is who gets the job done, the person who does what he says he will do, and that is very critical in leadership,” he asserted.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Eme Okoro, urged the organization to hold similar forums for all governorship candidates, allowing Abians to reject those lacking competence. “If we want to compare people, this is the opportunity for us to expose those who want to deceive us. When you don’t have competence, please go home and sleep,” the agronomist and former Secretary to the Abia State government said.
The event concluded with a vigorous question‑and‑answer session, during which members of Abia Professionals posed numerous questions to Otti, who provided detailed responses.
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