Otti receive PDP/APC members to LP, vows to prioritize healthcare delivery
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
Abia Governor Alex Otti, has officially received the member representing Bende North State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe and other 50 stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party as well as chief Okey Ezeala, a former State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress in Abia State, into the Labour Party.
The Governor received them on Friday Practising School, Uzuakoli, in Bende Local Government Area of the state shortly after commissioning a Primary Health Centre in Ngwu-Uzuakoli
recently renovated, upgraded and retrofitted, under the ‘Project Ekwueme’ initiative.
A total of 200 PHCs out of the 948 PHCs across the 17 LGAs of the State are currently undergoing renovation and upgrade under the first phase of the project.
Otti also used the Ngwu Uzuakoli Primary Healthcare Centre as a point of contact to commission additional 15 Primary Healthcare Centres completed or undergoing renovation, remodeling, upgrading and retrofitting across the 13 electoral wards of Bende LGA.
Speaking during the event the governor assured Abia people that every community in the State is captured in the development programme of his administration.
He said, “This afternoon, we have gathered to renew our path and celebrate the important milestones we have recorded. Even then, an important part of our mission in Uzuakoli today is to announce that the best is yet to come.
“I am glad to report that in the last 10 days, we have commissioned 23 new projects across several Local Governments. The breakdown shows that 18 roads and 5 Primary Healthcare projects were commissioned for public use in over a dozen communities.
“The successful execution of these projects points to our determination to repay your faith in our Government. Our administration has demonstrated that governance is about service, responding promptly to public concerns and applying public funds to nothing other than projects and programmes that uplift the people”.
He noted that his commitment to making a difference is not about applause, but in fulfillment of a path and a promise to rebuild and restore the State and encouraged all to join the campaign against the vandalization of public property by criminal elements.
While congratulating the leadership of the Abia Arise, Bende LGA Chapter, that was inaugurated, the Governor appreciated a businessman Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso for joining the Abia Arise family in Bende LGA and invited everyone who shares in the new Abia leadership philosophy, to identify with the group and be part of the campaign for good governance in the State.
Speaking on behalf of other new defectors, the member representing Bende North State Constituency, Hon. Nnamdi Ibekwe said that the movement they have made is to send a message to the people that they have aligned with the Governor to redefine politics in the State and declared that victory is sure in 2027.
In an interview, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legislative Matters and Coordinator of Project Ekwueme in Abia North, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani noted that there are 64 Primary Healthcare Centres being retrofitted in the whole of Abia North.
Onyeani noted that the impact of the PHCs being retrofitted, remodeled and made functional is organic, mind blowing and amazing, adding that, it is the first of its kind in Healthcare delivery in the South East as they have been equipped with necessary facilities and quality healthcare workers.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the Deputy Governor, Bar. Chijioke Nwankwo and the State Coordinator, Abia Arise, Mazi Nkem Okoro appreciated the achievements of Governor Otti and assured of the continuous support of the people for the performing Governor.
In his speech, the YPP Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2023 general election and the newest member of the Abia Arise family in Bende LGA, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso described the presence of Governor Otti as historic and a reaffirmation of the support of the Bende people to him.
Dr. Anyaso said that the Governor has shown transformational leadership from infrastructural renewal to provision of other facilities and pledged to continue working on the path of good governance as enunciated by the Governor.
The event which attracted many dignitaries featured the formal inauguration of the Executive members of Abia Arise, Bende LGA Chapter while Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso donated two coaster buses to the Abia Arise family in Bende LGA to facilitate easy movement for the members and promised to fuel and maintain the vehicle from his pocket.
The events were attended by Senior Government appointees and several support groups.