“To reenact the Otti’s leadership and administrative template at the grassroots is not an activity that is far-fetched, simply follow the leader.”
By Njoku SaintJerry A.
Few days ahead from today the 17 LGA in Abia State will be choosing their respective political and socio-development leaders whom they trust to guide the community into the path of the new Abia project.
The New Abia project is an idea from the Alex Otti manifesto during his gubernatorial campaign under the platform of Labour Party.
Today, every residents and citizens of Abia State including critics of the Otti’s Government is a witness whether the New Abia is a reality or mere campaign rhetoric.
I was in ABA recently at the commissioning of ABA South LG council Headquarters by H.E. Gov. Alex Otti, I must be sincere to admit that I used to see this structure as an unoccupied abandoned dirty edifice but on this day, I was amazed at the change of things including the physical upgrade of the infrastructure around the area. It was a complete remodeling, everything was a new, the people enlivened and the leadership at the ABA South Council headquarters building exemplified the kind of accountability required of elected and appointed officers. Charity certainly begins here.
I have visited a couple of other LG headquarters including Ohafia LG and in every one of the Council headquarters; the physical and administrative infrastructure all replicated the concept of the New Abia under the leadership of Gov Alex Otti administration.
As we approach another Elections and most importantly, an activity within the prerogative and primary interest of the grassroots, our famers, artisans, small scale business owners, community leaders and families domiciled in our traditional enclaves, the concept of the new Abia introduced by the Alex Otti administration should serve a guiding principle of the kind of leadership the local government deserves or should be.
The rebuilding process of the new Abia begins here and having laid the foundation by his principled stance on accountable leadership and responsibility to your people, it behooves the candidates vying for all elective position down to the Ward Councilors to key into the New Abia project.
The outgoing Council Chairmen baptised ‘Mayors’ no doubt has proved that quality leadership is achievable beginning from your office, at least their critics couldn’t do much trash talking because it is obvious there was little or none to fan your social media relevance or regale your pastimes at the buka joints dissing on irresponsible and underperforming government. Virtually every Mayors across the 17 LGAs proved their unalloyed participation at the New Abia project under the supervision of the Alex Otti eagle eyed leadership.
The people at the Grassroots, myself now included would not deserve less, our community roads must be linked up to the city, if the coming LG Chairman won’t do much, do all within your best to fix the community roads linking our farmlands to the towns, you would be improving on a network of commercial activities within your LG because a good road network signifies a viable livable community, our healthcare system at the Grassroots are still not encouraging to go to for any serious consultation, Do not deceive everyone with campaign rhetoric, The New Abia project under the Otti’s leadership did not do that therefore you have a duty to fix our community healthcare systems in all sincerity of purpose.
To reenact the Otti’s leadership and administrative template at the grassroots is not an activity that is far-fetched, simply follow the leader.
Has the government under his guidance reneged in any of its campaign promises or failed to deliver its responsibilities to the state and its people, this should be the focus for those of us that has the blessings to influence decisions at the grassroots, tell your people the truth on the development works that has been achieved at the state level. Abia has departed from its sordid past of darkness, profligacy and outright deception by political state actors that ran the state and the beauty of our communities aground before the emergence of the Otti’s administration.
The great development works you see ongoing in the cities of Aba and Umuahia is about to be replicated across the 17 LGAs on one condition; simply follow the leader and advocate of the New Abia project. I am very certain if we follow this simple instructions of wisdom on who to vote for the LG Chairmanship and the Ward Councilors we will be removing round pegs from square holes and elect the men and women fit for the job.
As an electorate, you owe yourself one responsibility, go out and vote and when you do that, make no mistake about the instructions on the man and the woman duly approved by the leader, the community, experience and historical antecedents to follow the template of the New Abia of a brighter future for our people and their communities
Thank you
Njoku SaintJerry A. is the State Publicity Secretary of Labour Party in Abia
