By CHARLES IWUOHA

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described Governor Alex Otti as a performer and an exemplary leader who has impacted the lives of his people positively.

Chief Obasanjo stated this on Friday, at the Unity Church Uzuakoli, Bende LGA, venue for the commissioning of the 46.36km Umuahia ? Uzuakoli ? Akara ? Alayi ? Abiriba Highway, reconstructed by Governor Alex Otti-led government.

Obasanjo recalled how terrible the road has been, especially the last time he visited Abiriba and described Governor Otti as a miracle worker.

"You (Gov. Otti) are a man of your word, a goal getter, a performer. You are a man who says no to what is bad and yes to what is good. You are an example of a leader.

You (Abia people) said you have had leaders before, but one thing you must know is that good leaders don't flock and when you get a good leader, like you have got in Dr. Alex Otti, you must maximise good use of him.

"This road you are all talking about, I traveled on it to Abiriba. It was hellish, and when I was told that the road you have done will get me from Umuahia to Abiriba in 35 minutes, I said this man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker.

This is contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Otti's Chief press Secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists in Umuahia, the state capital.

While commending Governor Otti's efforts in giving Abia a face lift, Chief Obasanjo said that what Gov. Otti is doing in Abia now is a proof that whatever bad situation being witnessed in the country today can become good tomorrow.

"I am a witness to what you are doing and urge you to keep doing what you are doing. If you look hard and wide, you will see that this governor does not lack a good team.

"Of course, this is a proof that whatever bad situation we are seeing today, can be made good tomorrow.

"All we need to do is to make sure that at every level, we must have the right leaders with the right team to work with.

"For me, a political party is just a platform. What matters is the quality of the man and the quality of Alex Otti is a good quality.

"Well, when the time comes for elections, my advice to the people of Abia State is, don't change a winning horse," Obasanjo stated.

Speaking, the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti said that the commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony of his resolve to be doing things differently and noted that the completion of the road project would among other things shorten travel time to motorists.

"Today's commissioning ceremony is an eloquent testimony to our resolve to doing things differently as a government. This administration has zero tolerance for shoddy jobs or the kick back culture that enables them.

"By completing this project, we have not just shortened travel time for drivers and commuters coming into Umuahia to communities within Ohafia, Bende, isuikwuato and Umuahia North.

"We have also cut down the risks of accidents, security threats and transport cost for scores of thousands of individuals and families.

"Anyone living and doing business along this axis can now travel safely from Umuahia and other urban centres within and outside the state at any time of the day or night unafraid of harassment by criminal elements who took advantage of the bad state of the road in the past to wreak havoc on innocent travellers.

Governor Otti further said that the completion of the road guarantees speedy and safe transportation of agro produce from various communities to the urban centres and cut cost of food items while empowering farmers economically.

He added that, the road would unleash the wholesale economic potential of the area by making farming attractive to a new generation of young people, support job creation and give a big blow to the menace of poverty in many communities.

He emphasized that, "By rebuilding strategic public infrastructure such as this, we are actively eliminating the barriers that stunted the productivity of our people for decades. Never again will farmers suffer unavoidable loses."

The Governor announced the renaming of the road to "Joe Irukwu Way" in honour of former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, late Professor Joe Irukwu, who is from that axis.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia South, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha and Senator Chris Adighije affirmed that the road has remained a nightmare for the people before the intervention of Governor Alex Otti. They commended the Governor for fixing the road, saying that he has done what the people expect of him.

The member representing Bende South State Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Ndubuisi, Mayor of Isuikwuato, Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, Chief David Ogba Onuoha and Dr. Johnson Chukwu thanked Governor Otti for the quality of the road he built for the people and described it as a signature project.

They said that the Governor has transformed the State and made the people pride, adding that the road would impact greatly on the economic lives of the people.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu and the President, Cooperatives Union Abia State, Chief Chukwuma Azodo commended the efforts of the Governor in fixing the road and said that it would enhance driving experience and reduce regular visit to mechanics by transporters and other motorists. They equally highlighted the economic importance of the road.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti said that the 46.36 kilometres being commissioned was divided into sections 1 and 2 in order to ensure quick delivery.

He said that the reconstruction of the road is one of Governor Otti's unwavering commitment to providing access road to rural areas and connecting them to urban communities and advised the benefiting communities to own and protect the road.

The occasion was witnessed by so many elected officials at the Federal and State level, stakeholders from the benefitting 4 local government, Mayors of the benefitting 4 LGAs, traditional rulers from the benefitting 4 local government, the clergy and senior Government appointees.

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