Governor Otti Charges Appointees To Stay Focused on New Abia Agenda

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged members of his cabinet and other political appointees to remain committed, focused, and diligent in delivering on the New Abia Agenda, declaring that distractions and political noise must not derail the administration’s developmental drive.

The Governor gave the directive while declaring open a two-day First Quarter Retreat organised for political appointees at the International Conference Centre, Ogurube, Umuahia. The retreat is themed, “Accelerating Progress: Unlocking New Opportunities.”

Addressing participants, Governor Otti acknowledged that his administration has recorded measurable improvements in the living conditions of Abians, but stressed that greater responsibility lies ahead, especially as 2026 is expected to be a busy and defining year for the government.

“My charge to you this morning is to keep doing your job with assured diligence and firm commitment to the New Abia Agenda,” Otti said.

He emphasised that while it is important to remain aware of political developments within the state, appointees must not allow distractions to shift their focus from governance priorities.

“There will be a lot of noise, but no amount of it, whatever the decibel, can be sufficient enough to take our attention away from the developments we want to see in our educational institutions, health ecosystems, and other critical sectors,” the Governor stated.

Governor Otti disclosed that the state government plans to commit over one trillion naira in the current fiscal year to strategic investments across key sectors of the economy. He reiterated that the future of Abia must take precedence over all other considerations.

He further called on members of his cabinet to work collaboratively, noting that governance succeeds through teamwork and shared responsibility.

“We either succeed together or fail together. The value of your office is not determined by your share of the budget, but by how your outputs contribute to the overall development of the State,” he said.

The Governor highlighted that infrastructural projects were deliberately initiated in economically viable areas to stimulate rapid economic revival after years of stagnation. According to him, the impact of these investments is already being felt by landlords, industrialists, and artisans in Aba and Umuahia.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribeole, described the retreat as timely and critical to strengthening coordination among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

He said the theme of the retreat challenges participants to reflect, evaluate performance, and align strategies for improved service delivery.

“Governance succeeds not in silos but through coordination,” Meribeole noted, urging participants to engage constructively and embrace innovative ideas that will enhance the welfare of the people.

The retreat, which features presentations and interactive sessions, continues on Sunday, March 1, 2026.