LIKE THE PHOENIX, ABA HAS RISEN

Protocols

1. 1, 464 days ago, this very building was looted and torched by angry protesters in the wake of the civil disturbances that attended the October 2020 #ENDSARS demonstrations. The events of October 2020 and the attendant losses in human lives and property represent terrible sore points in our democratic evolution. Very fundamentally, the effects of the carnage, arson and public anxiety that followed the #ENDSARS protests have remained with some of the victims till today.

2. For all of us gathered here, there are two very significant lessons that the tragedies of October 2020 present. The first is the huge prize a society pays when injustice is allowed to fester. The second is the importance of strong leadership in managing the unfortunate outcomes of social upheavals. While it is true that violence and destruction should have no place in a democratic society, it must, however, be noted that responding to the fallouts of crises when they do occur requires responsive and sincere leadership. The failure to restore the symbolic Aba Town Hall and the Administrative Block of Aba South LGA tells an unfortunate story.

3. To the eternal credit of Ndi Abia, the old political culture that left Aba in ruins as represented by the charred remains of the Aba South Office complex have been shown the red card. A new era is upon us and the atmosphere of excitement that I find here is an indication that our people got what they ordered at the electoral marketplace in 2023. I am glad that we can again point to the Aba Town Hall, and now this beautiful edifice, as important and glorious landmarks of our beloved Enyimba City.

4. Let me on this note welcome you, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, to the dedication and commissioning of the rebuilt Aba Administration Complex. It is very necessary that we appreciate the importance of this event because it is not entirely about the physical structure. While it is proper that we applaud the craftsmen and engineers whose technical ingenuity gave rise to this edifice, our gathering this afternoon is essentially in celebration of a new leadership culture, one that places service to community above the individual appetites of the leaders.

5. The rebuilding of this facility did not happen because there was a financial windfall to the Council; if anything, the high cost of materials could have derailed the completion of the Project. The difference between today and yesteryears is that we now have a leadership that appreciates the historical and social importance of these facilities. It is about the commitment to see that the vandalised structures are rebuilt to support the productivity of the staff who had operated in make-shift offices over the last four years. Today’s event speaks to the determination of the Mayor of Aba South LGA and his team to provide the right ambience for effective service delivery to members of the public.

6. This Project aligns perfectly with the “rebuild and restore” agenda of the State Government, especially in Aba where we have committed billions of naira in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and retrofitting of public infrastructure especially roads. Our vision is to remake Aba into the leading regional destination for investments, family life and leisure. While we are still far from the target we set for ourselves, we are nevertheless satisfied that in the last 17 months, we have moved with purpose and dedication, leaving no one in doubt that we are focused and deliberate in the pursuit of our governance agenda.

7. Aba has become one of the cleanest urban destinations in the country, the exact opposite of what it was before May 29, 2023. Sanity is returning to public places, especially at the road junctions following our insistence that touting and other negatively disruptive activities shall have no place in the City. We are also deliberate in clearing abandoned drainage pathways to create free channel for rainwater. Our effort in this regard has drastically cut down the menace of flooding and improved public safety, especially at the peak of the rainy season.

8. As a government, we understand that without effective security, the best governance initiative is reduced to nothing. We have therefore gone ahead to prioritise the setting up of a robust security architecture for this city. Through stealth but very effective operations, several criminal hideouts have been raided and a clear message sent that if you are involved in any criminal venture, this place, or any part of Abia for that matter, is clearly not for you.

9. We have supported the security agencies to regularly patrol all parts of the city as a confidence building measure, and to respond quickly to any threats or security breach anywhere. I will not fail to acknowledge that there are still pockets of troubles that occur at irregular intervals but I can assure you that we are not resting on our oars. Our target is to bring the crime rate in this city in particular, and the State in general, to the barest minimum level.

10. I am glad to report that these efforts are yielding very impressive results. Just this October, the National Bureau of Statistics listed Abia, alongside Lagos and the FCT, as one of the major magnets of foreign direct investments in Nigeria over the past 12 months. This is no mean feat considering that in the first six months of 2023, data from the same agency indicated that Abia was in the same league with 27 other states that had zero inflows from foreign investors. One thing that can be learnt from the significant leap we have made in the last 12 months, is that investors, like one has always said, are paying very close attention to what we are doing here.

11. Beyond the impressive inflow of foreign and domestic investments into the State, we have also seen steady progress in our Ease-of-Doing-Business ranking following the publication of new set of data by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in July. Our progress can be attributed to the series of institutional reforms and structures put in place by the administration to improve the productivity of individuals, institutions and businesses.

12. We have created new pathways to support property acquisition by genuine investors, cutting down fraudulent practises and opacity in the process of selling or acquiring land for business or private purposes in all parts of the State. On the strength of the reforms introduced in the State Ministry of Lands and Housing, applicants can now track the progress of their applications and know, exactly when their relevant certificates and approvals will be out.

13. It is gratifying to say that because of the trust the public has in us, we are also seeing steady improvements in the generation of internal revenue. More businesses and individuals are now mindful of their statutory obligations regarding the payment of taxes and government-approved levies. This process has also been helped by the rapid digitalisation of the entire spectrum of the internal revenue framework to enhance accountability, transparency and ease of administration. Our target is to continue to expand the tax basket without overburdening our community of productive and entrepreneurial individuals because ultimately, we want both the government and the people to benefit from the fruits of higher social prosperity.

14. As I conclude, let me commend the Mayor of Aba South LGA, Chief Uche Wogu, for his commitment to the successful completion of this project. It takes great managerial ability to accomplish what you have done and anyone who works or visits the newly rebuilt offices for official transactions will bear eloquent testimony to your great work as Mayor. Thank you for contributing to the success story of the New Abia by restoring these very important landmarks that millions of us remember with great nostalgia.

15. This brings me to the important subject of local government administration. The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) shall in about nine days from today conduct elections for mayoral and councillorship positions in the 17 LGAs and 184 wards in the State respectively. Effective administration at the local governments is very important for our holistic development agenda. I will therefore invite you to participate actively in the process by asking questions of the candidates and supporting those who share in our development agenda. We know our people. I am sure none of us will be in doubt when you go to the polling centres as to who the right candidates for the relevant positions are. Like I have always known, Abia people go for the right candidate despite platform. We must continue to seek out the right people. One thing I can assure is that ABSIEC will be given all the necessary support to conduct a hitch-free exercise on November 2.

16. It is important to remind us that we have the power to use our votes to address much of the discontent that led to the street anger of October 2020. By supporting and voting for quality leaders we can trust, you are making a very significant contribution to the rebuilding project happening in all parts of the State. As a people, it behoves us to collectively resolve that never again shall we be led, especially at the LGAs, by individuals who are only interested in the privileges of political offices, without the responsibility of service to the people.

17. Thank you for listening and may God bless you all.

Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR,
24/10/2024