Otti Applauds Orji Kalu’s Legacy, Says He’s Utilizing Ex-Gov’s Blueprint To Develop Abia

Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has acknowledged the numerous contributions of former governor of the State and present Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, declaring that his administration was actively utilizing Kalu’s infrastructure blueprint to drive improvement throughout the State.

Talking throughout a courtesy go to on Sunday, June 8, 2025, Governor Otti recommended the previous governor for his impactful tenure from 1999 to 2007, significantly highlighting Kalu’s achievements in Aba and different elements of Abia.

“I’m utilizing Kalu’s infrastructure template in Aba to develop Abia State,” Otti acknowledged emphatically. “Authorities and governance is a continuum. It may be damaged, however you should return and get well it,” he added, stressing the significance of continuity in public service.

Otti, who described Kalu’s work as “glorious,” pledged to borrow a leaf from his predecessor’s strategy to governance. The Governor revealed a private connection to the legacy of Kalu, noting that his personal mom was a loyal supporter throughout Kalu’s administration.

“My mum and lots of others earlier than, inside, and after her era knew how nicely Kalu did as Governor,” Otti stated. “I can guarantee you, that template shouldn’t be mistaken. You repair the place that generates the income, the income will come, and you employ it to repair different locations.”

Governor Otti detailed a number of of Kalu’s achievements, together with constant fee of academics’ salaries, provision of free training and transportation, and the uninterrupted accreditation of Abia State College (ABSU) underneath the Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC) throughout his tenure.

Kalu additionally introduced in auxiliary professors from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to strengthen the educational workers of ABSU, and ensured that state-owned colleges prevented industrial motion all through his eight-year administration. Within the well being sector, he constructed and outfitted the Abia State Instructing Hospital in Aba with trendy medical expertise and certified consultants. He additionally constructed residential quarters for judges, enhancing their welfare considerably.

Otti recalled how former President Olusegun Obasanjo referred to Kalu because the “Motion Governor” after witnessing the transformation he delivered to the state regardless of restricted federal allocations. “Kalu turned Governor at 39, and introduced his sturdy enterprise acumen into governance,” Otti famous.

The Governor additionally credited Kalu for laying the muse of the Aba Built-in Energy Mission, pushed by Geometric Energy Restricted and its subsidiary, Aba Energy Restricted Electrical (APLE), licensed by the Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC). In the course of the commissioning of the mission, Otti had beforehand acknowledged Kalu as “the pioneer mind behind the Aba energy grid.”

In response, Senator Kalu praised Governor Otti for his management fashion, affirming his assist for the administration and pledging to proceed his visits to the state each time attainable.

“I can’t play politics with Otti,” Kalu stated. He defined that he missed the Governor’s second anniversary celebration attributable to an invite by President Bola Tinubu to Lagos for the presidential two-year commemoration.