The All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives candidate in the 2023 general elections, Chief Daniel Chimezie Okeke, Ph.D, has told Governor Alex Otti, OFR, to get ready for a second term in office, stressing that the second term election would be stress-free because there would be no contest against him. This is coming just a day after Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe emphasized that with the way Governor Otti is going, he sees no stumbling block to his second term re-election.
The Influential politician and business mogul whose business interests span the hospitality industry and other sectors is presently the Chairman and CEO of Sweet Spirit Hotels and Suites Port Harcourt, Express Concerns Limited, Danag Limited, Database Cables and Electronics, etc and made the statement on Monday, 6th January, in his palatial residence in Ututu Arochukwu LGA, in front of his kinsmen, friends and associates when Governor Otti paid him a new year visit.
“I wasn’t proud to be an Abia man before, but now I can raise my two shoulders high to say that I am from Abia State because of what you have done and what you are still doing in Abia”, Dr. Okeke boldly asserted.
He said that the Governor has done tremendously well in the health sector of the State and commended him for the ongoing renovation of 200 primary healthcare Centers across the State, which he said 3 of the healthcare centers are in Ututu Clan. He explained that from his experience in sponsoring free medical outreaches, the renovation of the healthcare centers will greatly improve access to healthcare in many communities where people die because of minor ailments that primary healthcare centers can take care of.
Speaking to newsmen from the depth of his heart, the APC Chieftain whose philanthropic activities extend beyond the Ututu clan to other parts of the State and Nigeria said,
“Apart from the health industry that he is working on, he is also doing a lot on road infrastructure. The Arochukwu-Ohafia Road, that has been a death trap for so many years is ongoing. The road leads to my community and we are happy to associate with the Governor.
“Apart from health, apart from road infrastructure, education is there. He is also trying to revive the education sector by way of rebuilding some schools and even fencing some schools to ensure that schools are secured in our locality. My community is also a beneficiary. He even made mention that he is going to also involve and re-employ some teachers that are already retired, that are interested and those that are not good he can train and retrain them. This is what administration is all about.
“I am an APC member but I can tell you that the Governor is doing the right thing. The Governor is a man of integrity. The Governor is doing well for Abia State. Abia State now can be called God’s Own State. Before now, we can’t say Abia is God’s Own State. And, where I reside, I can tell anybody around me that I am from Abia State; before, I couldn’t do that. So, I am proud to associate with the Governor.
“The visit is very important, and strategic, and it has sent a strong signal to people around that we are ready to work with the Governor.
“I have told him, whether he likes it or not, he will come back for second tenure. His second tenure would be stress-free. We are going to have a stress-free election where nobody would even compete. The last one was stressful; the second one would not be stressful for him because everybody, every Abian, well-meaning Abians, want him to continue the good he is doing.
“Even the President of the country commended him, so why can’t I commend him when I’m seeing the good works he is doing? So I’m proud to associate with him.
“The security issue that we used to have is no longer there, I can tell you that the number of people that visited Abia this year is more than the number of people that have been visiting Abia the previous years. Even people from other States came to Abia; they were operating from Abia to other States.
Chief Dr. Okeke called on all Abians to support the Governor saying that he is doing well and means well for everybody.
Governor Otti thanked his host and those who came to receive him as what was supposed to be a private visit saw the gathering of professionals home and abroad, captains of industries, and political heavyweights from Arochukwu LGA who joined Dr. Okeke to receive the Governor. The few who spoke on behalf of others eulogized and commended the Governor for his good works.
Governor Otti used the opportunity to reassure Abians of his commitment to people-oriented Governance and building an Abia that works for everybody irrespective of who you are and where you come from, putting merit and competence above clannish considerations. He recalled how someone from faraway Australia chatted him to confirm if it was true that someone from Edo State is the new Head of Service of the State; when he told him yes, he said he can now come back to live in Nigeria as the Nigeria of his dream is beginning to unfold.
Governor Otti informed the gathering that beyond what he has done and continues to do to keep the State safe and secure, all the Governors of the Southeast are working together to secure the region. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive, saying that the government will intervene when necessary to ensure that no industry goes down because of the adverse effect such would have on the economy through loss of jobs, etc. He explained that even in the United States of America, the Government intervenes when businesses are in trouble.
Governor Otti disclosed that once the 200 health centers undergoing renovation across the 184 Wards of the State are delivered within the 100 days mandate he gave to the Ministry of Health, another set of 200 health centers would be renovated until all are renovated and equipped to service the Primary healthcare needs of Abians.
The Governor equally disclosed that Julius Berger will deliver Port Harcourt Road next month.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
