Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his earlier statement crediting Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s development blueprint as the foundation for the ongoing infrastructural transformation in Aba and other parts of the state.
Speaking during his monthly media parley tagged “Gov. Alex Otti Speaks to Abians” at the Government House in Umuahia on Thursday evening, Governor Otti clarified that his remarks about Kalu’s model had been quoted out of context by some media outlets.
“Sometimes when news is reported, it’s taken out of context,” Otti began. “If you understand the context of that statement, what I said was that when former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu started in 1999, he faced Aba and tried to build a lot of roads in that place.
The idea is that if you get Aba right, then the rest of the state can easily be fixed. Because Aba is a place that can generate enough internally generated revenue to help and support and fix other parts of the state, and that is exactly what we are doing.”
When asked why he appeared to sideline the development strategies of his two predecessors—Senator Theodore Orji and Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu—Otti replied with humour:
“When the press ask about the template about the other two former governors, I am sure that you are going somewhere and I will let you land.
And it’s for me to choose what template I want to choose, so when you become governor, you pick all of them and put them together,” he said, laughing.
“But anyway, that’s the context under which the statement was made, and it is a correct statement.”
Otti further emphasized that beginning state-wide development from Aba is strategic and necessary due to the city’s revenue potential.
“The whole idea is that you start from where you can generate revenue, and from there you proceed to the hinterlands.
And I’m sure that you can see that it’s exactly what we are doing. When we came, we started with Aba, we faced it, and now today we are virtually in every local government in that state.”
This isn’t the first time Otti has publicly acknowledged Senator Kalu’s vision. During a courtesy visit on June 8, 2025, he had stated:
“Government and governance is a continuum. It can be broken, but you must go back and recover it.”
He described Kalu’s legacy as “an excellent job,” and insisted his own administration is building on that solid foundation.
“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,” he added.
Otti also reflected on his personal connection to Kalu’s era, noting how his mother and her generation still remember the former governor’s wide-reaching impact:
“My mother and others from her generation remember well how Kalu’s leadership positively impacted various sectors in Abia, including education, agriculture, road infrastructure, and commerce.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, currently representing Abia North Senatorial District, served as Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, and was a former Chief Whip of the 9th Senate. He now chairs the Senate Committee on the South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
Kalu’s tenure as governor saw a sweeping transformation of Abia’s infrastructure. He constructed road networks across all 17 LGAs, including key projects such as:
- Owaza–Obehie–Azumini Road (Ukwa East)
- Nkwoegwu Ring Road (Umuahia North)
- Abiriba Ring Road
- Umuchieze–Leru–Lomara–Nneato Road (Umunneochi)
- Roads in Igbere, Ururuka, Omoba, Mbawsi, and more
In education, Kalu built the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and revamped Abia State University (ABSU) by recruiting academic staff, ensuring full NUC accreditation, constructing hostels, and providing transport for students.
He also:
- Renovated 821 schools, built 524 classrooms, and distributed 155,000 desks
- Implemented free education and zero-strike policy throughout his tenure
Kalu’s legacy includes several iconic government structures such as:
- Aguiyi-Ironsi Conference Centre
- Okpara Auditorium
- Commissioners’ Quarters and Legislators’ Offices
- Abia House in Abuja, staff quarters in Lagos and Abuja
- Umuahia and Aba Township Stadia
He famously constructed the Okon-Aku road in Ohafia, a long-standing campaign promise by previous administrations.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo once dubbed him “Action Governor” in recognition of his accomplishments despite limited federal allocation.
In the Senate, Kalu has continued his development stride, constructing over 150 rural roads, providing solar-powered boreholes, streetlights, and overseeing over 100 school projects across communities.
He also launched scholarship programs, especially for medical students abroad, and initiated youth and women empowerment programs.
On the legislative front, OrderPaper Nigeria ranks Kalu highest among Abia Senators, with 25 bills from 2019 to 2022, and second among all former governors in the Senate in terms of productivity.
His performance has earned him national recognition, including:
- Three-time “Best Senator in Constituency Projects” by the Senate Press Corps
- Progressive Leadership Award by the Progressive Movement for Better Nigeria
- Fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN)
- Senator of the Year (2022) by NUJ and FRCN
Otti’s public reaffirmation of Kalu’s governance model marks a rare moment of cross-party acknowledgment and could signal a more collaborative path in Abia’s development journey.
