Otti inaugurates 100-man transition committee, Okonjo-Iweala suggests priority areas

Abia State governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, yesterday, inaugurated 100-member Transition Committee (TC) to prepare a roadmap for his government, saying that more would be added when necessary.

He also allowed the TC members to co-opt more people to the committee if need be.

Addressing the members at Juwam Hotel, Aba, before their inauguration, Otti said he would run a lean government, which would impact appointment of lesser number of people against what obtained in the state that became part of its bane.

Expressing worry over the state’s debt profile, accumulated salaries, pensions arrears and the volume of work required to be done; he assured the state that he would fix it.

“I am more encouraged that you (TC) have accepted to let me draw from your expertise to assist me. I have no doubt that you would answer this call to articulate the process based on my detailed published manifesto,” Otti said.

He said he has chosen to frontally address the issues of Aba, the industrial, business hub and heartbeat of the state. From there, he would move to other areas, citing industrial hub as one of his selected priority projects for Aba.

He noted that the presence of power from Geometric Power Ltd., former Vice President of the World Bank and former Nigeria’s Finance Minister as well as the serving Director General of the World Trade Center (WTC), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, would achieve a lot.

Okonjo-Iweala, who spoke virtually during the inauguration, set a number of tasks for Otti, ahead of his administration, urging him to focus on power and Small, Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) development among others.

She admonished him to tap into available human resources, digital market, Abia diaspora and run open, transparent and accountable government among others.

The TC Chairman, Mr. Victor Onyenkpa said Otti, having acknowledged the joy that greeted his election, was decided on giving the state the government it deserves.

He said, “Abians and Nigerians saw Otti’s election as the beginning of the restoration of the lost glory of the state. Igbo see the change Otti would make as a catalyst that would transform the entire Igbo nation as his antecedents show him as one that could work a miracle to make the desired difference.”

He noted that the challenge before the state as listed by Okonjo-Iweala, is the task before the TC to assist Otti work out the strategies to achieve the miracle.

“We accept this challenge having been cleared the ground for, “he added.

The governor-elect consequently tasked the inaugurated TC members to strive to turn in their report by mid May, 2023, to allow for immediate navigation.

In his remarks, the President of the National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ide Udeagbala, who is also a member of the TC, said Abians are aware that Otti has the capacity to transform the state and restore the lost glory of the state.