Gov Uzodinma’s Maturity In Respecting His Predecessors Stands In Contrast To Otti’s Toxicity Toward His Seniors In Office By Eric Ikwuagwu 

*We all know that government is a continuum and no Governor of class 2023 could ascribe himself as a “Mungo Park” that discovered his state. Most Governors doing their second term from 2023 are beating their first tenure record because President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the bold leadership decision to remove subsidy and allow Governors manage the proceeds.

*I have always argued that while Governors are enjoying the benefits of the subsidy removal windfall and getting praises from their people for infrastructural turnaround in their states; the arrow head who took the bold and courageous decision takes the blame for the discomforting aspect of the policy. President Tinubu is indeed a leader, who looks at the bigger picture and overall wellbeing of Nigeria.

*It is based on the subsidy removal windfall that Governor Hope Uzodinma is taking on very huge/iconic/breathtaking/magnificent projects like the Orashi 15MVA 33/11kV power station. A feat he achieved without noise.

*Compare and contrast Hope Uzodinma’s quiet infrastructural revolution in Imo state, even as he doesn’t claim “sainthood” to Otti’s noisy achievement in Abia without any physical infrastructure on ground matching the propanganda of a government that has received over N1.3 trillion in total revenue.

*Otti’s propaganda looks worse when examined through the prism of poor workers’ welfare and low salaries, especially when compared with Imo under Hope Uzodinma, where a Level 1 Step 1 civil servant earns more than a Level 10 officer in Abia.

*Gov. Hope indeed surprised many Nigerians with his quiet but strategic work on the Orashi 15MVA 33/11kV power project. Unlike the noise associated with Abia independent power project claims by Otti, despite the fact he merely inherited a completed power project from efforts of his predecessors.

*While Gov. Hope has been deliberate, off media and results-oriented in his approach, while Otti who didn’t contribute a dime to the Aba Power project has dominated the media space, laying claim to achievements he was never part of. What an irony, which speaks of different governance style between ègbè na egbe.

*NOTE (a little bit historical background): The Imo State (Egbema) Power Project is a Federal Government legacy asset under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), conceived during the Obasanjo Presidency with Achike Udenwa as Governor. Similarly, the Abia State (Aba) Power Plant was initiated during the Obasanjo Presidency with Senator Orji Uzor as Governor.

*It is also important to note that the Imo State Government is an equity owner in the Orashi Power Project.

*Likewise, Abia State Government has equity investment in Aba independent power project. In fact, it is on official record that it was under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration,
that Abia State strategically invested $3.6 million in the Aba Power project.

*Shockingly, Otti denied and was almost getting away with his deliberate denial of this huge Abia govt. equity investment until the national embarrassment on live television where he was confronted with the official document that spoke to the facts. Nobody knows his reasons but the toxicity toward his seniors in office could not be ignored.

*Gov Hope who is a modest gentleman was honest enough to acknowledge that power improvement would initially be concentrated around Owerri and its environs. Governor Otti, however, went as far as the United States to
exaggerate and falsely claim that Aba enjoys 24/7 uninterrupted power supply.

*Just last week, Otti again claimed that Abia State is totally off the national grid, when he knows the that the verifiable reality on ground puts that claim as “pants on fire LINUS”. “Ashi ocha”.

*Reality on ground in Abia is that 12 out of the 17 local governments hardly enjoy 5 minutes of electricity in two weeks. Ohafia and environs have not even seen “up nepa!” in ages. “Up Nepa” = flash and take.

*Gov. Hope did not demonise his predecessors for the long neglect of the Egbema Power Plant. But funnily and in stark
contrast, Otti who has zero contribution to Aba Power project will publicly ridicule his predecessors who worked tirelessly to bring the project to fruition. Again, what an irony!!

*Onwa Oyoko, the Governor General, demonstrated true leadership by inviting past governors to the commissioning ceremony. Meanwhile, in Abia efforts are made daily to obliterate the achievements of every Governor before Otti, just to validate his exaggerated claims of unseen performance.

*Did you know that in Enugu, during his presentation while at the SEDC stakeholders meeting, Otti was so consumed by self glorification that he ostensibly offered to supply bulk power to Enugu and Imo States.?

*Gov. Hope who was represented by the speaker Imo State House of Assembly, would be smiling to himself as apparently, Otti was unaware that Imo State currently enjoys more stable and secure power supply than his Abia.

*Keeping it honest.

@ORACLE.