Otti will not impose a successor in Abia — Premium Times Nigeria
Governor of Nigeria's Abia State Alex Otti said in Umuahia that after completing his second term in 2031, he will not impose his successor on the state and will not become a political godfather. According to him, a successor should be determined by the ability to govern the state effectively, rather than through a system of political patronage.
Otti said this while welcoming former Social Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Ngozi Johnson-Chukwuneyene and her supporters to the Labour Party, Premium Times Nigeria reports.
Selecting a successor
Otti said that after his term ends, the best candidate should be jointly identified and supported in the election, while current leaders should step away from leadership roles. He also reiterated that he does not plan to run for another elective office after his second gubernatorial term.
The governor stressed the need to give younger people opportunities to take on leadership responsibilities. According to him, the administration is already preparing future leaders through a number of initiatives, including the Abia Leadership Academy.
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Training young leaders
Otti said that more than 1,080 young people aged 16 to 25 recently graduated from the academy. He described them as the generation that should take over administrative responsibilities in the future.
The governor also said that his administration will continue improving state governance and infrastructure despite criticism. According to him, the authorities initially focused on restoring the cities of Aba and Umuahia and are now expanding their work to Abia's interior areas.
Johnson-Chukwuneyene explained her support for Otti by citing his administration's actions to clean up, illuminate and restore the state. She also called for legislation on the continuation and completion of projects so that future administrations would implement the initiatives of their predecessors.
