According to Vanguard, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that it is now the turn of the masses to enjoy the dividends of democracy, stating that politicians who have presided over the affairs of the state since 1999 have helped themselves enough. He made this declaration while hosting a delegation from the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, at Government House Umuahia.
Otti emphasized that his administration is focused on making the masses, not just a handful of privileged politicians, have a taste of good governance. He cited his recent decision to clear the backlog of pension arrears owed retirees since 2014 as an example of his commitment to the masses.
The Governor also stressed the importance of embracing artificial intelligence (AI) due to its numerous advantages, particularly in cyber security and the fight against financial crimes. He encouraged youths with aptitude in AI to develop their skills for positive use.
Otti assured his guests that his administration maintains a robust relationship with security agencies in the state and vowed never to use security operatives for personal gains. He also claimed that his administration has decongested the Correctional Centre at Afara Umuahia of politically detained inmates.
The team leader of the delegation, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, commended Governor Otti for his developmental strides, particularly in the health sector, and his support for federal institutions in the state. He expressed optimism that if the tempo is sustained, Abia will soon become a reference state.