Governor Alex Otti Reaffirms Support for Tinubu’s Economic Policies
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has pledged unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu, praising the President’s bold economic decisions, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, which he described as long overdue.
Otti made the remarks on Sunday at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, while receiving former Abia State Governor Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, and Sen. Chris Adighije, a former representative of Abia Central Senatorial District.
Fuel Subsidy Removal: “It Was the Right Call,” Says Otti
Speaking on Nigeria’s economic challenges, Otti said:
“It requires somebody with courage to remove that subsidy, and I am in support of it. We have behaved in an irresponsible manner for a very long time. And when you have years of irresponsible behaviour, the correction would be tough, difficult, and painful.”
The Governor encouraged Nigerians to remain steadfast and patient through the current economic corrections, expressing confidence in eventual recovery.
He also cited his past writings during the COVID-19 pandemic in ThisDay Newspaper, where he had advocated for fuel subsidy removal even before it became government policy.
Otti Slams Early 2027 Campaign Talk
Governor Otti criticized those already discussing the 2027 elections, calling it premature and irresponsible:
“People in 2025 are talking of 2027. You can’t even talk about 2027 because there is no guarantee that you would go beyond 2025. Who are you to begin to talk about 2027?”
He emphasized the importance of focusing on current governance and national recovery instead of future political ambitions.
A Friendly Visit with Governance on the Agenda
The visit from Senators Orji Kalu and Chris Adighije was described as a friendly one, during which they commended Otti for the progress in Abia State and discussed various governance issues.
In response, Governor Otti appreciated their encouragement and reiterated his administration’s focus on resetting and rebuilding the state without dwelling on past failures:
“What we’ve done is to hit the reset button and start work, without looking back. Government and governance is a continuum, it can be broken but you must go back and recover it.”
A Nod to Orji Kalu’s Legacy in Abia
Governor Otti acknowledged Orji Uzor Kalu’s contributions during his time as governor, especially in road infrastructure development in Aba:
“My late mother was a strong supporter of Orji Kalu because of the good roads he constructed in Aba. That template of fixing revenue-generating areas first is not wrong—generate income and use it to develop other regions.”
Focused Leadership Amid National Challenges
Otti’s comments signal a firm alignment with the federal government’s current economic direction while maintaining an apolitical and development-focused approach to leadership in Abia State.
As Nigeria navigates through economic reform, Governor Otti’s message was clear: support courageous leadership, stay focused on today’s realities, and leave tomorrow in the hands of time.
