Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has acknowledged the significant contributions of former governor of the State and current Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, declaring that his administration was actively using Kalu’s infrastructure blueprint to drive development across the State.
Speaking during a courtesy visit on Sunday, June 8, 2025, Governor Otti commended the former governor for his impactful tenure from 1999 to 2007, particularly highlighting Kalu’s achievements in Aba and other parts of Abia.
“I am using Kalu’s infrastructure template in Aba to develop Abia State,” Otti stated emphatically. “Government and governance is a continuum. It can be broken, but you must go back and recover it,” he added, stressing the importance of continuity in public service.
Otti, who described Kalu’s work as “excellent,” pledged to borrow a leaf from his predecessor’s approach to governance. The Governor revealed a personal connection to the legacy of Kalu, noting that his own mother was a devoted supporter during Kalu’s administration.
“My mum and many others before, within, and after her generation knew how well Kalu did as Governor,” Otti said. “I can assure you, that template is not wrong. You fix the place that generates the revenue, the revenue will come, and you use it to fix other places.”
Governor Otti detailed several of Kalu’s achievements, including consistent payment of teachers’ salaries, provision of free education and transportation, and the uninterrupted accreditation of Abia State University (ABSU) under the National Universities Commission (NUC) during his tenure.
Kalu also brought in auxiliary professors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to strengthen the academic staff of ABSU, and ensured that state-owned schools avoided industrial action throughout his eight-year administration. In the health sector, he built and equipped the Abia State Teaching Hospital in Aba with modern medical technology and qualified consultants. He also constructed residential quarters for judges, enhancing their welfare significantly.
Otti recalled how former President Olusegun Obasanjo referred to Kalu as the “Action Governor” after witnessing the transformation he brought to the state despite limited federal allocations. “Kalu became Governor at 39, and brought his strong business acumen into governance,” Otti noted.
The Governor also credited Kalu for laying the foundation of the Aba Integrated Power Project, driven by Geometric Power Limited and its subsidiary, Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), licensed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). During the commissioning of the project, Otti had previously recognized Kalu as “the pioneer brain behind the Aba power grid.”
In response, Senator Kalu praised Governor Otti for his leadership style, affirming his support for the administration and pledging to continue his visits to the state whenever possible.
“I can’t play politics with Otti,” Kalu said. He explained that he missed the Governor’s second anniversary celebration due to an invitation by President Bola Tinubu to Lagos for the presidential two-year commemoration.
