Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has credited his predecessor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, with laying the foundation for infrastructural development in Aba and across the state. He stated that his administration is drawing from Kalu’s blueprint to execute ongoing projects aimed at transforming the commercial city and its surrounding communities.

Speaking during a courtesy visit on Sunday, 8 June 2025, Governor Otti said that many of the policies introduced during Kalu’s tenure from 1999 to 2007 remain relevant today. He acknowledged that the roadmap adopted by Kalu continues to influence his government’s development strategy, especially in key areas such as road infrastructure, education, health, and commerce.

“Government and governance is a continuum — it can be broken, but you must go back and recover it,” Otti remarked. “That template is not wrong. You fix the place that generates revenue, and the revenue will come. Then you use it to fix other places.”

The governor also recalled that his late mother was a strong supporter of Kalu during his administration, noting that the impact of Kalu’s leadership is still widely recognised across generations in Abia State. He pointed to the construction of roads in Aba, consistent salary payments to teachers, and the provision of free education and learning materials as examples of Kalu’s achievements.

According to Otti, the Abia State University remained stable under Kalu’s leadership, with no prolonged strikes and a steady academic calendar. He credited the former governor with bringing in visiting professors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to strengthen the teaching workforce at ABSU. He further praised the development of the Abia State Teaching Hospital in Aba during Kalu’s tenure and improvements made to judicial welfare, including the construction of quarters for judges.

Governor Otti also referenced the Aba Integrated Power Project, acknowledging that the initiative had its roots in Kalu’s administration. The project, now spearheaded by Geometric Power Limited and its distribution arm, Aba Power Ltd, aims to provide dedicated electricity to Aba and was one of the first state-level efforts to drive energy reform through private partnership.

He described Kalu as a visionary who brought a business-minded approach to governance and noted that such foresight should be built upon, not discarded, regardless of political differences.

In his response, Senator Kalu expressed gratitude for the governor’s recognition and described Otti as a leader he holds in high regard beyond party lines. He promised to continue supporting the state government’s development goals and said he would have attended Otti’s second anniversary in office if not for a prior invitation from President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

Both leaders underscored the importance of continuity in governance and the need to prioritise the collective interest of the Abia people over partisan considerations.