Former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili says that Alex Otti, governor of Abia, “has all it takes” to surpass the administration record of the late Michael Okpara.
Ezekwesili made the comment at the 32nd Abia Day celebration, which was hosted at the International Conference Centre in Umuahia, the state’s capital, on Tuesday.
The late Okpara, who was from Umuahia, served as premier of Nigeria’s then-Eastern region from 1959 until the First Republic’s dissolution in 1966.
Ezekwesili said Okpara “did well in transforming” Abia “to a viable economic base” during his tenure, adding that Otti is equipped to take the baton further.
“Some of these items are produced manually, yet one cannot differentiate them from the foreign ones. Abia abounds in talented people whose skills need to be enhanced.
“China was nowhere in the last 14 years, but the country now has a strong economic base that is competing favourably with that of America.
“The problem in Nigeria is a leadership problem and will only be solved by the leaders. Once there is an improvement in the leadership style of the country, every other thing will follow.
“Abia had produced great men. Late Dr Michael Okpara is from Abia state and did well in transforming the state into a viable economic base. I believe Alex Otti has all it takes to beat his records.”
Ezekwesili called on the south-east governors to tackle the security challenge in the region for growth to flourish.
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