Prominent businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Chima Anyaso, has delivered a scathing critique of lackluster leadership while praising the transformative strides of Governor Alex Otti’s administration, labeling any leadership short of “good governance” as an act of criminality.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Umunna Leaders of Thought Colloquium held in Igbere, Bende LGA, Anyaso joined a chorus of stakeholders honoring Governor Otti’s impact on the state. The event, themed “Good Governance as a World Legacy,” served as a platform for Anyaso to draw a sharp line between current progress and past stagnation.
A New Standard for Leadership
During his address, Anyaso didn’t mince words regarding the responsibilities of public office holders. He argued that the failure to deliver tangible benefits to the people is not just a political failure, but a moral and legal one.
“Anything that is short of good governance is criminality,” Anyaso declared. “Whether you are a Local Government Chairman, a House of Assembly member, a Senator, or a President—so long as you are not delivering good governance to the people, you are a criminal.”
He noted that Abia is finally breaking away from this “criminality” through the current administration’s focus on infrastructure and transparency.
“Retrofitting ” vs. Renovation
Anyaso echoed the sentiments of previous speakers, including Reverend Ernest, who noted that while past administrations often settled for superficial renovations, the Otti administration is engaged in “retroficial” development—completely overhauling and modernizing the state’s foundation.
“The Governor has done so well that if we start to talk about all the things he has done and is still doing—commissioning projects even on his birthday—we would be here all day,” Anyaso said.
A Personal Connection
Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with the Governor, Anyaso teased a future revelation regarding how Dr. Otti influenced his own career during Otti’s tenure as the Managing Director of Diamond Bank.
“One day, I will tell you the story of me and Dr. Alex Otti from 2011. It was something the Governor did for me as a businessman that changed my trajectory,” he shared, though he opted to save the full details for another occasion.
The colloquium concluded with a consensus among the Umunna Leaders of Thought that the current governance model in Abia State serves as a blueprint for the “world legacy” discussed in the day’s theme.
