Otti assures Ohanaeze leader of S’East govs’ support

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has assured the new President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Mbata, of the support of the five governors of the South-East states.

Speaking at his Umuehim Nvosi country home in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area on Tuesday, Otti commended Mbata for his integrity, consistency, fairness, and transparency.

Otti received Mbata and the Deputy National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Okey Nwadinobi, who visited to express gratitude for the governor’s backing during the recently concluded Ohanaeze Ndigbo elections.

Addressing the gathering, Otti said, “Although the task ahead is not easy, I am confident you will succeed. The seven of us governors have no personal interests. Our focus is the development and unity of our people. If anyone asks you to deviate from this mission, they are out of line.

“This is a time for Ohanaeze to unite our people and provide the leadership needed to safeguard and promote our heritage.”

Otti, who said he had known Mbata for long, described him as a perfect choice to lead Ohanaeze, adding that he was delighted at Mbata’s emergence.

He said, “President-General, I have known you for decades. Just as you spoke kindly about me, I can vouch for you. I know your capacity and what you stand for—consistency, truthfulness, fairness, equity, and transparency.

“I was very pleased when you showed interest in this role. My colleagues and I agreed that someone like you deserves the opportunity, and we are confident you will excel.”

The governor highlighted his belief that leadership is fundamentally about the people’s welfare. He underscored his administration’s priorities, such as paying salaries promptly, improving road infrastructure, and extending development to rural areas.

Otti assured Mbata of the collective support of governors in the region, emphasising that their shared goal is to foster unity and progress among the Igbo people.

In his remarks, Mbata expressed gratitude to Otti and his fellow governors for their unwavering support, which he credited for his emergence as Ohanaeze President-General.

“Your presence on election day, January 10, underscored the importance you place on the Ohanaeze institution,” Mbata said. He assured the governor that the new Ohanaeze executive would collaborate with the governors to achieve shared goals.

“We will pay an official visit with the new executive team soon, but on a personal level, I felt it was important to express our gratitude and pledge our commitment to consultation, collaboration, and cooperation.

“We are eager to tap into your wealth of experience as a leader well-versed in both the private and public sectors. Your approach and perspective will be invaluable to our mission,” Mbata added.

He also commended Otti for the positive strides his administration has made in Abia, stating, “Having known you for a long time, I expected nothing less than excellence.”