Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has called on the people of Abia State to choose the surest path to accelerated development and all-round renewal of their state by voting for Dr. Alex Otti in the gubernatorial election rescheduled for Saturday, April 25, in some parts of the state.

Speaking at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, yesterday, Obiano said the rescheduled election has given Ndi Abia the chance to get their calculations right this time. If truly the people were desirous of experiencing real progress in the next four years, they would have no difficulties voting for Otti, who is standing election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He described the choice of who to vote for between Dr. Otti and other candidates contesting with him as a choice between light and darkness, insisting that the APGA candidate was the best man for the job.

“As a retired banker, I know what it takes to attain the height that Alex Otti attained as a former managing director of one of Nigeria’s leading banks. That achievement is possibly the best preparation for the arduous task of running the affairs of a state. I want to assure Abia people that their future is more assured if they give Alex Otti the chance to lead them as their governor. I have no doubt that Otti will transform Abia in a matter of years,” Governor Obiano assured.

Speaking from his own personal experience, the governor explained that having a technocrat as the helmsman would ensure that scarce human and material resources were deployed in a manner that would give the state the greatest value. “It is not the same thing as having someone who does not have the benefit of that experience, someone whose only claim to fame is that he has been a loyal party man. Alex Otti knows exactly what to do to turn Abia State around.

“He is not coming to do any guesswork. He has a clear understanding of what the challenges are and how to tackle them. That is the major difference between him and others,” the governor said.

As a former managing director of a foremost Nigerian bank, Obiano added, Otti had a reputation to protect.

“He knows that he is representing one of the most respected professions in the world. He knows that his name would be at stake if he fails to do the right thing; if he fails to rise to the challenge of his job and surpass the expectations of Abia people as their governor. This cannot be said of those challenging him for the gubernatorial seat of Abia State. They have nothing at stake; no serious name to treasure and no prestigious constituency to answer to,” the governor explained.

The governor insisted that Abia was at a crossroads, arguing that after years of PDP leadership that left most parts of the state in dire need of urgent attention, only a renowned technocrat and astute manager of men and resources like Otti could lead the state back to winning ways.

He said: “Abia State is a very important state in the South East. The state occupies a significant position in Igbo land. The potential of Abia as a state as well as her many endowments in human and material resources are tremendous. However, they don’t amount to much if there is no competent manager in the state House, who knows exactly what to do with them. And that is where Alex Otti’s expertise and years of experience will come in handy.”

Expressing the hope that Otti would emerge victorious at the rescheduled election, Obiano assured that the economy of Igboland would be on the rebound with him and Otti running the two most industrialising states in the South East with the same development model provided by APGA.

“I have no doubt that Alex and I will cooperate with other governors in the South East to create an alternate economy that will answer our people’s strident call for a renascent Igbo land.

“I hope that the good people of Abia State will give Alex a chance. If they do that, they will have given Ndigbo a chance to reclaim what we lost in the last three decades,” he declared.

*Adapted from Daily Sun. Photo shows Governor Obiano.

Update news