Former President Obasanjo Pours Further Encomiums On Gov. Alex Otti Of Abia State By- Charles Chinekezi
On a radiant Friday morning, beneath the gentle arches of the Unity Church in Uzuakoli, there unfolded a ceremony of profound significance—one that spoke not only to the laying of asphalt and concrete, but to the laying of new foundations for hope, progress, and collective aspiration. It was here, amid the stirring hymns and the assembled dignitaries, that Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, bestowed upon Governor Alex Otti a tribute both gracious and weighty: he proclaimed him a consummate performer, a leader whose deeds have illuminated the lives of his people and whose vision has reshaped the landscape of Abia State.
The subject of this high commendation was the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba highway, a vital corridor stretching 46.36 kilometers through the undulating hills and verdant valleys of southeastern Nigeria. For years, this route lay in lamentable disrepair—its ruts and potholes a constant hazard, its muddy expanses impassable during the rains, its once‑bustling towns and hamlets hemmed in by isolation. Travelers spoke of long, harrowing journeys, of vehicles strained beyond endurance, of lives imperiled by the capricious cruelty of a road abandoned. Yet on this day, those same communities gathered not to lament but to celebrate: the highway had been reborn.
Chief Obasanjo, whose own presidency witnessed ambitious infrastructural projects across Nigeria, recalled with vivid clarity the trials of his last passage to Abiriba. “It was, quite simply, hellish,” he confessed, his voice resonant with the memory of jolts and lurches and the ever‑present threat of breakdown. But when informed that this very journey could now be accomplished in thirty‑five minutes, he marveled: “This man called Alex Otti is a miracle worker.” Such praise, from one of the nation’s most seasoned statesmen, rang out as both validation and challenge—to sustain the miracle, to extend its reach, and to inspire others to emulate its spirit.
Governor Otti, for his part, received the encomium with measured humility, yet his address betrayed a steely resolve and a clear-eyed understanding of the stakes. He spoke not of vanity projects or hollow ceremonies, but of the quotidian realities that the highway would transform. In slashing travel times, he noted, the road would free drivers and commuters from the tyranny of delays; in mitigating accident risks, it would spare families the anguish of sudden tragedy; in reducing transport costs, it would ease the burden on merchants and farmers alike. By connecting Umuahia to the towns of Ohafia, Bende, Isuikwuato, and beyond, the highway would weave together markets, schools, clinics, and homes into a seamless tapestry of opportunity.
Yet the Governor’s vision extended beyond immediate convenience. He underscored the highway’s role as an economic artery, through which the lifeblood of agrarian commerce would flow unhindered. No longer would farmers watch helplessly as their produce rotted along impassable stretches; instead, cassava, yams, plantains, and vegetables would reach urban markets with speed and safety, ensuring fair prices and reducing post‑harvest losses. This, he argued, would embolden a new generation of youth to embrace farming not as a last resort, but as a profitable vocation—thereby kindling job creation, stimulating local industries, and delivering a decisive blow against the scourge of rural poverty.
In a gesture that blended commemoration with inspiration, Governor Otti announced the renaming of the thoroughfare to “Joe Irukwu Way,” in honor of the late Professor Joe Irukwu, former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and a distinguished son of the region. The choice resonated deeply: it paid homage to a man whose scholarly and civic contributions embodied the spirit of service, and it reminded all who traversed the road that leadership is inseparable from legacy.
Voices from across Abia’s political and civic spectrum lent further weight to the occasion. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Chris Adighije, and Hon. Obi Aguocha—among others—recalled the nightmare that the road once represented, and they lauded Governor Otti for delivering on his promise. Traditional rulers and community leaders, their countenances alight with gratitude, spoke of villages once cut off now humming with activity; of traders who could expand their clientele; of schoolchildren who could attend classes without fear of delay or danger. The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, and the President of the Abia State Cooperatives Union, Chief Chukwuma Azodo, highlighted the improved driving experience and the reduced mechanical wear on vehicles—benefits that would save ordinary citizens thousands of naira in repairs and fines.
In his own remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, explained that the project had been meticulously divided into two sections to ensure timely delivery and rigorous quality control. He reminded the communities that the road was not merely the government’s creation, but a shared asset that required collective guardianship. “Own this road,” he urged, “protect it, and let it serve you for decades to come.”
As the ribbon was cut and the engines of trucks and buses rumbled to life, the symbolism of the moment was unmistakable. Here was infrastructure as promise fulfilled—a tangible manifestation of what steadfast leadership, transparent governance, and community partnership can achieve. It was a testament to the idea that even the most entrenched problems—roads eroded by years of neglect, economies stunted by isolation, aspirations dimmed by infrastructural decay—can be overcome through vision and tenacity.
Beyond the speeches and the official fanfare, one sensed an undercurrent of renewed confidence among the people. Shopkeepers near the roadside waved to passing motorists; youths paused their work in nearby farms to watch the procession; elders stood in quiet reflection, perhaps recalling times when the journey to market meant days of hardship. Now, the same path shimmered with possibility—a conduit not only of vehicles, but of dreams.
In reflecting upon this landmark achievement, one cannot help but acknowledge the broader implications for Nigeria and for emerging economies everywhere. Infrastructure is more than the sum of its physical components; it is the framework upon which societies build resilience, the channels through which commerce and culture flow, the arteries that sustain collective life. When a road is restored, it reconnects not only places, but people—families, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike—reminding us that development is ultimately a human endeavor.
As the sun climbed higher and the festivities drew to a close, the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Akara–Alayi–Abiriba highway stood as a monument to what is possible when leaders refuse complacency and citizens embrace partnership. It is a living lesson in the art of governance: to listen to the needs of the people, to marshal resources with integrity, to demand excellence from contractors, and to deliver outcomes that endure. In Governor Alex Otti’s achievement, and in Chief Obasanjo’s recognition of it, we find a narrative of transformation—a story that begins with a humble stretch of road and culminates in the grand enterprise of human upliftment.
May this highway inspire many more projects, in Abia and beyond, that bridge divides, empower communities, and chart a course toward a future defined not by the obstacles we inherit, but by the opportunities we forge. In the words of the ancients, “The longest journey begins with a single step.” Today, that journey continues—on a road reborn, under the stewardship of leaders who understand that to build is to believe in tomorrow.