By Casmir Echebiri

I have been to Aba two times this 2026. On both occasions I was told something that tickled me and also made me think. I visited the city to print some T-shirts on those occasions for one of my friends aspiring for a political office from the ruling APC. After the printer had finished printing on the first day, I donned one of shirts, trying to see if he did a good job. After wearing it and was critiquing it, with my brother who resides in Aba and who escorted me to the market and some other people around, my brother playfully said:”you should sample this shirt here in Aba with caution ooo, because if you sample it anyhow here you may receive hot slaps ooo”.

I was told the same thing again when I returned the second time to do the same thing. This time by one of neighbors of the printer. Naturally I laughed over the jokes as that was what they were, as i know too well that Aba hasn’t descended so low to the extent that people could be beaten for exercising their rights. But. at the same time they made me think inwardly. I told myself that those statements conveyed more than jokes. On the surface they were jokes meant to stir laughter, but they were also indicative of the overwhelming love and affection that “Gov Alex Otti enjoys in the city. They showed he is a true darling of the residents of the Enyimba City.

Then, I asked myself: what could Gov Otti have done that earned him this type of raw, organic and genuine love of the people?

But, right before me and all around me starkly stood the reasons behind the massive love he enjoys from the city,and indeed,the whole of Abia State. The governor is truly building a new Aba out of the old Aba, that used to be one huge sprawling ghetto that was unfit for human habitation, and for the fact that such has never happened in recent memory, Aba people are left with just one option: massive love for him.

Aba was completely run down before Gov Otti came in 2023! I say this because I had in depth experience of the old Aba. I schooled in the university of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State back then. So. Aba was my major route, and besides, I used to also spend time there during holidays and breaks in the city with relations. Back then you could hardly point to anything that was positive about the city. It was a crime scene that crawled with different kinds of criminals. All the roads were broken down, and as if that was not bad enough mountains of oozing refuse competed with people for the right of way, Aba is synonymous with commerce, but every single market in it then was in a state of unimaginable decay .and inaccessibility . Traders used to park their bikes and vehicles and trek many kilometers to their shops. While customers also had a nightmarish experience accessing their shops.

To make matters worse the city also got hit by the “Osisikankwu tsunamii” which literally brought it to its knees. That was one of the darkest moments city had ever witnessed. Everyone gave up hope, resulting in mass exodus from the city as was done by Israelites from Egypt in the Bible.

But, suddenly, in 2023 from the distant horizon light again started filtering into the hitherto darkened landscape, after Gov Otti was sworn in. Since then the inspiring flicker has broadened into full scale bright light of massive transformation, not only been seen by Aba residents and Abians,but by the entire nation.

Before Gov Otti Aba was arguably the dirtiest city in the whole Nigeria. But, now it’s arguably one of the cleanest, courtesy his revolutionary environmental policy. The lifeblood of the town which are the markets are experiencing a new lease of life courtesy of the ongoing comprehensive reconstruction of all markets. Roads within them that were once impassable oceans are now paved.Aba markets are now truly conducive for business!

The governor has wrought the same transformation in road infrastructure. Many major entrance and exit corridors and internal access roads have been totally reconstructed. And several others are ongoing. To cap it all, the city is now enjoying 24/7 power supply, giving it the wings to fly towards the actualization of its famed potential as the “Japan of Africa.”

Yet, it’s not just Aba that is being renewed. The Otti magic and accompanying results and impact are being felt in all sectors and parts of the state. Key sectors such as education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and industrialization are all on upward swing, with nearly 1000 kilometers of road’s paved, ten thousand new teachers engaged, and over six hundred projects executed across the health and education sectors.

The obvious truth is that the notion that “A New Abia” is rising under Gov Alex Otti is not just a slogan. It’s a stark and verifiable reality. That’s why the people are “madly” in love with him. It seems the few elites who used to feed fat on the resources of the state, and who have been jumping up and down,bragging that they will unseat him, have noticed this indescribable bond. hence the hasty retreat been beaten by them today.

That’s the only way out for them, because when a leader so endeared himself to his people that he becomes their “cult figure” anyone fighting such a leader is playing with fire, and must go home seriously injured at the end of such battle.