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Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti, OFR, says that his administration’s response to the opposition is more work, stating that for the first time, Abia people have taken over the government.

Governor Otti stated this on Saturday, March 14th, at Annunco Secondary School, Isiukwuato, during a grand civic reception organised by the Isiukwuato Local Government Council in honour of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of the State, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, who was recently elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Governor Otti began his speech by thanking God for the elevation of Barr. Uwanna to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and described him as one of the very strong pillars of his administration.

“We want to thank God for the elevation of our son, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna to the chambers where only the revered trade – Senior Advocate of Nigeria. We thank God for him. We thank God for using the body to confirm our decision to give him the role of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, because you will agree with me that the SAN came after we had appointed him. So, we want to thank the people that took that decision, and we want to confirm that they made a good decision.

“Ikechukwu Uwanna is one of the major pillars of this administration. And, we are very glad to have him because he is adding value. He works very hard…He jumps into everything that we want him to jump into, whether they have to do with law or not.

“Anything that has to do with this administration, and we need help, he jumps in to help. So, I want to publicly acknowledge what he has been to this administration and thank the Isiukwuato people for producing such a fantastic son,” Governor Otti stated.

Speaking further, the number one citizen of the State expressed his gratitude to the former Minister of State for solid Minerals, Abia-born Industrialist, and influential APC Chieftain, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah who had earlier spoken, for his kind words about the visible and impactful achievements of his administration when some opposition figures, in the name of politics are pretending not to see but instead crediting his achievements to another person.

“I want to also take this opportunity to thank our brother, the former Minister (Dr. Uche Ogah), for his very kind words. You listened to him. Some people think that it is customary to begin to deny achievements because somebody does not belong to their party. And, I had always said that after election comes governance. So, it is an anathema for Igbo people, so when you see some people mount the rostrum and begin to talk anyhow, we need to go and check if they are truly Igbo people because Igbo people are honest people.

“You cannot see a road that was done, and you say it wasn’t done. You cannot see a road that somebody did, and you credit it to somebody else. If you do that, you are not an Igbo man.

“But for us, we don’t even want to respond. Our response is more work… one thing you can be sure of is that this is your government. So, we want to thank him and honour him for standing by the truth, and there are a lot of our sons and daughters that behave like him. We may not agree, but you can’t come out publicly and begin to tell lies.

“For the first time, Abia people have taken over their Government. Anybody who wants to stand against Abia people, let him come, let’s see him,” Dr. Otti stated.

Earlier in his goodwill message at the event, Dr. Uche Ogah congratulated Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna for his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the legal profession, and went on to thank the Governor for appointing him the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the State.

The Abia-born Business mogul and influential APC chieftain used the opportunity to once again openly acknowledge and emphatically commend Governor Otti for his visible and impactful, people-centered governance across the State which has reduced financial burden on him from the people during the past administrations. He also openly reaffirmed his 2027 support for Governor Otti and President Bola Tinubu, GCFR.

In his words, “We are glad, Your Excellency, that you are here. I am a man who, when I believe in something, you only need to bring out my dead father for me to change my mind. I have said it time without number, and I will still say it again, whether anybody likes to hear it or not: in 2027, Uche Ogah will support you, my family will support you, Isiukwuato will support you, Abia will support you, and the entire people who love Uche Ogah in Abia will support you.

“Because when you see a good thing, you must recognise it. I keep telling people it is only someone who cannot see that will not see that light has come into Abia. Today, people will be proud to say, ‘I am from Abia State…’ Today God has answered our prayer; new things are happening, and things are moving. Every blessed day, we are hearing good news…

Speaking further, Dr Ogah said, “Every Abian must put their hand to support this man to complete what God has given him to do for us. It is not about politics. I am an APC person, and I have not changed, and nobody can deny me where I come from. And if you say I’m not from APC, I will show you. I don’t hide it; I am an APC person, but when it has to do with the governor, I stand with Alex Otti. When it has to do with the president, I stand with Bola Ahmed Tinubu because I want good things for Abia; it is not about me, it is about the people.

“Today, people in Abia are happy. People are getting their salaries, and pensioners are getting their pensions. Pensioners called me before now; if you work with me, every month I pay no less than 50 million to people – just people coming from Abia – my this, my that, you keep paying, but not these days. The call has reduced because people are getting their salaries. People are getting paid,” Dr Ogah stated.

In his speech, the celebrant, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, expressed his gratitude to the people of Isiukwuato Local Government for the honour of his elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He thanked the mayor and the organising committee.

The Attorney-General thanked Governor Otti for prioritising education among other numerous achievements of his administration, saying that without education, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

“I want to say something about His Excellency Dr Alex Otti’s leadership because without education, I wouldn’t be here today. And I’m happy that His Excellency has prioritised education in his administration. As we know, education is now free in Abia State. That opportunity that His Excellency has given to every Abian, to every person from Isiukwuato to be educated, is what will transform Abia State,” Barr. Uwanna stated.

He thanked the governor for reconstructing and retrofitting schools across the state, recruiting thousands of teachers, and increasing the retirement age of teachers. Of particular mention is the ongoing construction of the state-of-the-art law faculty at Abia State University by Governor Otti’s administration, which he described as second to none upon completion.

In their goodwill messages, the lawmaker representing Isiukwuato and Umunneochi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Amobi Ogah, and Mr Ken Ahia, SAN, congratulated Mr Uwanna and thanked Governor Otti for appointing their son as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the State, assuring the Governor of their support in 2027.

The event attracted very important personalities from the political, legal, and business communities, among others.

Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA

Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.

March 15th, 2026.