X-Raying Otti’s Innovative Economic Development Paradigm

Jones Nnanna Ike

on Tuesday 26th November, 2024, Abia State Governor led the cream of the State civil servants, top government officials, and captains of industry, among others to re-open the renovated and retrofitted secretariat complex. Amidst pomp and pageantry associated with such an occasion, the cutting of the tape was performed by Chief Innoson Chukwuma, the Proprietor of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, the indigenous car manufacturing giant in Nigeria.

The new imposing complex tells the story of Abia, its decadence, rebirth and increasing transformation into a modern state under the able leadership of a ‘genius,’ If I may borrow Sam Omatseye’s apt description of Governor Alex Otti.

It also calls for greater attention to Otti’s peculiar Innovative Economic Development Model as such model could be useful to other third-world political leaders struggling with problems of underdevelopment. The example of this complex is just one of several other projects that have been delivered in Abia within a very short space of time and with the least possible cost through a systematic approach to governance that demands more scrutiny.

Such scrutiny will enable a better understanding of Otti’s peculiar Economic Development Strategy that has aided Abia’s fast development since he mounted the saddle of leadership.

Before the rebuilding of the Secretariat Complex, it had suffered neglect and dilapidated to such an extent that it was completely abandoned. The workers were evacuated to other locations and the complex became a dumping ground for all manner of wastes including that of humans.

That was before the advent of Otti’s administration. The complex symbolised the decadence that characterised Abia public infrastructure before May 29th 2023. A more informed story about the decadence and rebirth of the Secretariat complex can be glimpsed from the speech made during the reopening ceremony by Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing who led the rebuilding effort when he stated that, “State Secretariat’s serve as monuments representing both governmental authority and an excellent work place.

“The Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat Complex was built in 1993 by the IBB Administration and over the years fell into ruins and was finally abandoned by the last administration following concerns about its integrity.

“The Alex Otti Administration has brought it back to life! And this is in consonance with this government’s promise to Abians to rebuild our public service and this includes the provision of a conducive working environment for our civil servants.

“To restore the abandoned Secretariat – first an integrity test was conducted to certify the structural soundness of the building- following which an extensive reconstruction, renovation and retrofitting was embarked on to ensure that the building was fit for purpose.

“Not only has the structure been revamped; water and light has been restored -with a brand new IMVA Transformer connected to a 33KV line plus two boreholes resuscitated and a third in the works. Proper furnishing has been done to serve approximately 150 offices, 4 new Board Rooms were introduced for the Ministries, and a 240 -Seater Conference Hall was remodeled.

“In the reconstruction of the Secretariat, more open spaces were created, more toilets built, modern office furnishing introduced, greater lighting paid attention to, car parks re-established, and the façade revamped -all in a bid to create a conducive and livable working environment for the Civil Servants.

“In reopening the Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat Complex, we have also unfolded the Majestic Abia Flag at the entrance of the complex and mounted the new Abia Logo because what we have before us today is not just a paint job -but it is the rebirth of Abia’s public service as demonstrated in the revamping of its public buildings.”

Chukwumerije’s speech captured the entire gamut of the thinking as well as the effort that went into the rebuilding of the complex. However, the   beauty of the celebration was not just the feat of rebirth, but the strategy and processes involved in doing that.

According to the Governor during his speech at the event, the entire reconstruction including the retrofitting was carried out by the technical team of the State Ministry of Lands and Housing and the cost at little less than N1 billion which was far below the nearly N3 billion that was being quoted by prospective contractors who had positioned themselves to carry out the project. The cost-saving measures apart, the Governor equally mentioned the fact that the technical crew of the Ministry were increasingly acquiring skills for delivery of complex projects. All these are quite revealing about Otti’s innovative approach to economic development which has seen the state being rapidly transformed from a very backward one into a modern state within a very short space of time.

Countless numbers of projects are being delivered in the shortest possible time through an adroit combination of cost-saving strategies, hard work and fiscal discipline. A checklist of the projects commissioned or flagged within one week of the re-opening of the Secretariat complex gives an idea of how fast Otti’s innovative model is working out, especially in terms of quick service delivery.

On the same 26th November, after the re-opening of the secretariat complex, Otti commissioned yet another important road project, the Dozie Way, complete with street lights.

The dual carriage road like several others prior to May 29th 2023 was completely abandoned. Friday, 29th November 2024 was the official flag off of the Aba International Trade Fair. Tuesday 3rd December was the commissioning of two long-abandoned roads in Aba, Abak and Obiora Roads while Wednesday 4th December 2024 was the flag-off of the reconstruction of Onuimo-Abia Tower of Peace and the reconstruction of the Umuopara Ring Road measuring 5.5Km and 6.92Km respectively. While the roads in Aba were delivered by the technical team of the Ministry of Works, the construction of the dual carriage Onuimo–Aba Tower of Peace is being handled by a reputable international firm Cranberg.

Activity-studded weeks has been the lot of Abians since the man who promised to wipe away their tears during the campaign with the slogan “Wipe away your tears, help is in on the way,“ came to the saddle.

Alex Otti has not only wiped away the tears of his fellow citizens in the state but is additionally putting smiles on their faces almost on a daily basis. All these achievements have been made possible through the deployment of an innovative development strategy that is novel, workable and cost-effective.

The question then arises as to what the paradigm is? Otti’s achievements in Abia is not a mere happenstance. His strategy is systematic and can be analysed scientifically. Many critical economists and public policy experts do know that part of the reason for Nigeria’s under-development is the uncritical and undisciplined implementation of wrong economic policies modelled along World Bank and IMF guidelines and mostly practiced in breach with associated fiscal indiscipline and corruption.

Otti’s model of development has shifted a little bit to the left of the far-right economic model being practiced in Nigeria. The kernel of  Otti’s development model is that prosperity and indeed sustainable development can be achieved with a great deal of hard work, fiscal discipline, transparency, openness, and increment in productive abilities.

It is also the assumption of this model that the best way to achieve optimum production is to enhance the purchasing power of the local populace as well consuming locally made goods.

This is what Otti’s Innovative Economic Development Paradigm is all about. The commissioning of the state secretariat, the roads, the prompt payment of workers’ emoluments, the aggressive rebuilding of health care and education infrastructure, the control of crime, the use of Made-in-Nigeria vehicles (Innoson) etc are all fall out of this creative thinking in economic management. There are very other important components of Otti’s unique model or what may be called Ottinomics. There is for instance the mater of hard work that may not be found in conventional Economic Text Books.

Otti is a hard worker who hardly catches up to 5 hours sleep in a day. He is also blessed with good health. His personal discipline and spartan life style that is devoid of frivolities, relevant local and international exposure, the complete mastery of his craft plus a life of personal integrity   have all   combined    to produce a leader that is quietly transforming his state from the least developed to one that may be number at the end of his tenure. Otti possess Chief Awolowo’s prudence in financial management and spartan lifestyle, Mazi Mbonu Ojike’s self-reliance qualities, Dr Michael Okpara’s pragmatism and commitment to the public good as well as Chief Sam Mbakwe’s activism and forthrightness.

Otti had during his campaign period promised to advance the Michael Okpara-Chief Sam Mbakwe leadership tradition. He is presently doing just that. The numerous projects being churned out every week are all products of a smart and an efficient governance structure that is in place in Abia. It is the by-product of a society having a “Philosopher King” as its leader.

In fact, Sam Omatseye accolades on Otti with the title “Many hurray’s for Dr Alex Otti” published at a corner of his column on the Nation’s Newspapers of Sunday 18th November is not a fluke. Even though Omatseye wrote with his unwarranted and unnecessary bashing of his “whipping boy” Mr. Peter Obi yet he couldn’t have been more apt with his description of Dr. Alex Otti as a “genius.”

Ike, the General Manager/Editor-In-Chief Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation wrote in via jonesike556@gmail.com 08167158367 (Whatsapp Only)