Alex Otti and His New Mayors

To the individual who insists on leaving their mark in this world, recognition is a matter of time. Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, is gradually reaching this level. With his attempts at overhauling the state of affairs in Abia, more scrutinising eyes are turning to Otti, intent on seeing the outcome of his undertaking.

Abia is currently undergoing something of a cleansing and readjustment process. The latest gist from the state is that Governor Otti has appointed 17 mayors along with their deputies. Each of these mayors is in line to serve as a transition council chairman for a Local Government Area (LGA) in Abia. Thus, all 17 mayors cover the entire state.

As of the time of compiling this report, Otti’s 17 mayors are yet to be confirmed by the House of Assembly. However, the governor had already submitted their names for screening. If they pull through, Abia will welcome 17 new heads to its LGAs, completing Otti’s bid to unite the state in theory and practice.

Whether or not the development is welcomed by members of the other political parties, Otti’s bid to have full control over the gears of governance is appreciated by stakeholders of his Labor Party (LP). Even though this exercise might cost a bit more than necessary, it consolidates Otti’s achievements since coming into gubernatorial power.

Indeed, Otti is currently celebrated across Nigeria for his apparently visionary method of governance. Although such evaluations are a bit too early, Otti shows promise of being a responsive leader, one that seldom delays when things need to change.

As some commentators have pointed out, this means that Abia could potentially climb up the ladder of progress faster than its sister states or fall to the very bottom. It all depends on the outcome. With the addition of 17 new mayors to represent the interests of Abians and execute Otti’s will, nothing is set in stone but things are looking promising.