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By: Bethel Toby
A prominent university lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Vitalis Ekeocha has said that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State’s emphasis on transparency, infrastructural overhaul, and civil service reform, has created political capital early into his administration.
Speaking with Our Correspondent in Port Harcourt recently on Otti’s pro-people development legacy within the past two years in office, Ekeocha commended the Governor for his landmark achievements so far, urging him to prioritize sustainability of reforms, advising him to put in place a formidable civic partnerships for project ownership.
While reacting to the already completed development projects in Abia State, Ekeocha explained that many stakeholders now view performance as the fastest route to legitimacy, not power-sharing or party loyalty.
On reflections of previous pace of development in the state, the erudite scholar and professor of Analytical Chemistry, said that leaders’ across the country should imbibe the spirit of performance-driven leadership, which he said, breeds long-term relevance.
He further said that governance should be built on data and transparency, which, as a result, garners trust.
The varsity don enjoined government at all levels, to capitalize on road construction efforts, pay workers’ salaries, as and when due, without backlogs, which was exemplified by Governor Otti.
Concerning leadership remedies in Nigeria, Ekeocha demanded for the institutionalization of open governance in Abia State, especially, dashboards for other states, the prompt engagement of diaspora professionals in key sectors in the state for their contributions to national development.
He also demanded for quarterly public scorecard session, provision of a national development agreements, endorsed and peer-viewed that can restore faith.
Ekeocha, used the medium to congratulate Governor Otti on the commissioned development projects in the state. He described the Governor as, ” a beacon of development hope for Abia people”, urging Abians to massively support the governor to be able to transform the state.
