A technology company based in Umuahia, BemsSoft Hub Ltd, has responded to recent remarks by activist Omoyele Sowore on the performance of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, urging a more contextual and time-sensitive evaluation of the administration.
In a statement issued by its Group Managing Director, Dr. Pastra Arinze Etie, the firm described Abia’s current phase as a “structured transition” rather than a completed governance cycle, stressing that the state is undergoing foundational reforms after decades of systemic decline.
The company traced Abia’s governance history from 1991 through successive administrations led by Ogbonnaya Onu, Orji Uzor Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, noting that infrastructure deterioration, weak institutional systems, and the decline of Aba’s commercial strength defined much of the state’s trajectory over the years.
According to the statement, businesses in the state—particularly in the technology sector—operated for years in an environment that lacked structural support, limiting innovation, scalability, and visibility.
“Abia functioned below its potential for decades. This is not political commentary but an operational reality experienced by those building within the state,” the statement noted.
However, BemsSoft argued that the past thirty months under Governor Otti have introduced a shift in governance approach, moving from what it described as “reactive administration” to “intentional, system-driven governance.”
The firm highlighted ongoing developments in Aba as a key indicator of this shift, citing road reconstruction, drainage interventions, and a gradual return of commercial confidence.
“Thirty months into this process, Aba is not yet fully restored, but it is no longer abandoned. What is evident is intentional recovery driven by structure,” the company stated.
Beyond infrastructure, the firm pointed to increasing alignment between governance and digital systems, which it said is already impacting how businesses operate and scale within the state.
It referenced emerging platforms such as SmartAIRS as examples of how governance, infrastructure, and technology can converge to drive broader economic transformation.
BemsSoft further argued that judging the administration at this stage as a “failure” reflects a misunderstanding of how systemic transformation occurs.
“Thirty months is not a conclusion—it is a foundation phase. Real transformation must be assessed over time, where initial years establish structure and direction, and subsequent years consolidate and expand impact,” the statement added.
While acknowledging Sowore’s role in promoting accountability and public scrutiny, the company emphasized the need for what it termed “contextual evaluation and system-level understanding” in assessing state performance.
From its perspective as an operating business within Abia, the firm maintained that there is already a noticeable shift in governance direction, creating new opportunities for innovation and economic growth.
“There is still significant work to be done, but there is also clarity, alignment, and measurable direction,” the statement concluded, adding that sustained progress could lead to a broader economic repositioning of the state.
