Abia State Governor, Alex Otti
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restated his loyalty to the Labour Party, declaring that he has no plans to defect, even amid speculations surrounding the political moves of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.
Otti made the position clear on Wednesday at the Government House in Umuahia during the December edition of his Monthly Media Chat with journalists, tagged “ _Gov. Otti Speaks with Abia People.”_
The governor said his decision to remain in the Labour Party was firm, noting that he joined the party before Obi and that his political future was not tied to the actions of any individual.
“I am not leaving Labour Party, my responsibility is to stay and contribute to fixing whatever problems exist,” he said.
According to him, his focus is on strengthening the party and ensuring it overcomes its internal challenges, irrespective of developments at the national level.
Beyond politics, Otti disclosed that construction work on the proposed Abia Medical City would commence in 2026.
He explained that the timeline was deliberately chosen to protect the state from unfavourable investment terms.
He added that major improvements were already ongoing in the health sector, including at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) in Aba, as part of efforts to expand access to quality healthcare for residents.
The governor also admitted that Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state were yet to enjoy optimal patronage, largely due to years of neglect that eroded public confidence.
“It will take some time for people to believe in the PHCs, given that they were non-functional for many years but gradually, trust will be rebuilt as people see improvements,” he assured.
On workers’ welfare, Otti revealed that he had ordered the payment of all disengaged staff of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic and Abia State University.
He stressed that no affected worker should still be owed and advised anyone yet to receive payment to report to the appropriate authorities of their institutions for verification and submission of account details. (NAN)
