Politics

Over 100 Million People To Witness Otti’s Inauguration — C’ttee

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2023

Editor

No fewer than 100 million people across the world including Abians in the diaspora are expected to witness the inauguration of the Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti on May 29.

Coordinator, Alex Otti Inauguration Committee, Hon. Iheanacho Obioma, who disclosed this during a press conference Wednesday in Umuahia, said the audience included those who would join the ceremony virtually and physically.

He explained that Otti’s emergence was so unique and of special interest that so many people would be interested to witness his swearing-in ceremony.

Obioma further noted that “Abia is the only state won by the Labour Party,” hence, ” the whole world including all the ‘Obedient family’ everywhere will like to follow up with the ceremony in Abia”.

The former House of Representatives member further explained that the committee decided to make the inauguration elaborate because “it marks the beginning of a new dawn in Abia where the masses will no longer be treated as prisoners of war.”

He, however, disclosed that the Governor-elect and his friends decided to fund the inauguration expenses privately to prevent the outgoing Government from cashing in on it to lavishly spend public funds.

Obioma said that with the coming of Otti, it would no longer be business as usual in the state, assuring that the era of due process, accountability and frugality in public spending has set in.

Responding to a question on whether the committee was receiving the needed cooperation from the outgoing Government, Obioma answered in the negative.

He, however, explained that ”it will be expecting too much to think that the out-going Government which is still in pains for losing election will give us any meaningful cooperation”.

Obioma further assured that Otti’s administration would not discriminate against any section of the state, saying he will be Governor for all Abians including those who contested against him.

The Inauguration Committee Chairman appealed to Abia workers to call off the indefinite strike declared by Labour in the state before the inauguration day as part of their sacrifice for the quest for a new Abia, assuring that the in-coming administration will address their various grievances.

He disclosed that a number of music icons and legendary comedians would feature at the swearing in ceremony slated for Umuahia Township Stadium, and a luncheon later at the International Conference Centre Umuahia.

“Some of Nigeria’s best and globally acknowledged stars in music and comedy have been lined up to perform in the events of the inauguration. Topping the headlines in music is international award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, while our own son of the soil, Bright Okpocha, aka Basketmouth, will lead the front of comedy artists as Host of the events.

“Other celebrated singers on the bill include Mr. Raw, Ruff Coin and Rugged Man while Nedu Wazobia, Diamond Okechi and Funny Bone make up the comedy cadre.”

Obioma further disclosed that massive renovation work was going on simultaneously at both venues at the expense of the Governor-elect.

“Already, the venues for the inauguration events have received a facelift, preparatory for the grand showing. Extensive renovation works have been carried out at the Umuahia Township Stadium, where the State Box gallery have received a new layer of floor tiles, away from its usual pot-holed surface.

” Also, the broken spectator’s plastic seats have given way for a more befitting set of furniture. The weather-beaten walls have equally received a coat of fresh paint while the grasses around the playing pitch and surroundings are being mowed to give the effect of the carpet.

“As in the Umuahia Township Stadium so is the International Conference Centre (ICC) at Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, where the exteriors of the event centre have been refreshed with brilliant white-coloured paint. Broken flower kerbs littering the massive landscape have been revamped and coated with glossy white and black paints.

“Some have asked us why we are doing all of this, a burden that is supposed to be born by the government of the day. Our response has been simple: we will eventually do them, anyway. The only difference now is that these renovations are being done with private citizen’s money and are being executed at very reasonable cost.”

He also said that a water-tight security arrangement had been put in place to ensure a hitch-free inauguration.

Related Topics:#Abia State government Otti

Up Next

BREAKING: Wike Dissolves Cabinet

Don't Miss

Speakership: Gbajabiamila, Wase Exchange Words At Plenary

Comments

Politics

APC Defeats NNPP In Kano Re-run Election

Published

18 hours ago

August 17, 2025

Editor

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defeated the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the Ghari/Tsanyawa supplementary re-run election in Kano State.

Announcing the result on Sunday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammad Waziri of Bayero University, declared APC’s Garba Gwarmai winner with 31,472 votes, ahead of NNPP’s Yusuf Maigado, who polled 27,931 votes.

The supplementary election was conducted after the initial poll was declared inconclusive.

Hon. Gwarmai’s 3,541-vote lead marks a significant victory for the APC, further consolidating its political foothold in the state.

According to Tribune Online, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kano State Chapter, had expressed concerns over alleged irregularities in the rerun elections for Ghari/Takai and Bagwai/Shanono Constituencies.

Politics

Obi Blames Tinubu For 70% Investment Crash

Published

1 day ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of presiding over what he described as “a collapse in foreign direct investment.”

He blamed what he called “poor leadership, weak governance, and uncoordinated reforms” for the country’s economic woes.

Obi, in a statement shared on official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, noted that going by fresh figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, FDI into Nigeria plunged by about 70 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, falling to $126.29m from $421.8m recorded in the last quarter of 2024.

“While the President, ministers, and other government officials continue their global galivanting in search of FDI, our poor performance in key governance indicators – such as rule of law, regulatory quality, government effectiveness, and voice and accountability – continues to prove that you cannot attract sustainable foreign investment with poor leadership and governance,” Obi wrote.

While noting that the country’s investment inflows were largely speculative, Obi said, “Of the total capital importation of about $5.64 bn in Q1 2025, FDI accounted for only about 2.24 per cent, compared to 8.2 per cent in Q4 2024.

“Disturbingly, about 90 per cent of the imported capital went into speculative money market instruments, with negligible impact on industrial growth or job creation, given the ease with which such ‘hot money’ can exit the economy.”

He argued the sharp drop in manufacturing inflows further underscored the lack of investor confidence in the country.

“Capital flows to the manufacturing sector declined by 32.1 per cent, falling to only $129.92 million in Q1 2025 from $191.92 million in the same quarter of 2023. There is no better confirmation of the lack of trust in this government, whose reforms remain uncoordinated and largely reactive,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor further compared the country’s performance with other African nations that recorded major gains.

“In 2024, while global FDI flows declined, Africa’s FDI rose by about 75 per cent to $97 billion,” he stated.

“Egypt alone attracted $46.58 billion. Ethiopia received $3.98 billion, Côte d’Ivoire $3.80 billion, Mozambique $3.55 billion, Uganda $3.30 billion, DR Congo $3.11 billion, South Africa $2.47 billion, Namibia $2.06 billion, Senegal $2.02 billion, Guinea $1.83 billion, and Morocco $1.64 billion.”

According to him, Nigeria has been left trailing far behind.

“Most disappointingly, our dear nation, the so-called ‘Giant of Africa,’ received only $1.08 billion – about one per cent of Africa’s total FDI – representing a decline of about 42 per cent from 2023. Worse still, after that 42 per cent drop between 2023 and 2024, FDI to Nigeria has further declined by 75 per cent between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025,” Obi lamented.

He warned that unless Nigeria fixed its governance problems, it would continue to lose investment to more stable African economies.

“We cannot achieve sustainable growth and development with ineffective leadership and a weak government,” he said.

Politics

By-election: Edo Deputy Gov Lauds Credible Process, Encourages Voters

Published

2 days ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on Saturday commended the impressive turnout of voters in the ongoing by-election for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives.

Idahosa gave the commendation after casting his ballot at Unit 3, Old Education Board, Iguobazuwa West Ward, Ovia South-West Local Government Area.

He described the process as seamless, peaceful, and encouraging.

Edo Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, on the queue at the Ovia Federal Constituency to cast his vote.

“I must commend the people for coming out in large numbers to vote. So far, everything is going well. We are expecting free, fair, and credible elections. Ovia people will be happy with the outcome. I am calling on more voters to come out and perform their civic duties.

“I just voted and I am going home while I wait for the result,” he said.

Meanwhile, at Okada West Ward Units 1, 4, and 6, voters were seen in long queues waiting to cast their ballots.