Former Mayor of Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, Mr Newman Azuh, has congratulated Abians on the 35th anniversary of the creation of the state, declaring his unalloyed support for Governor Alex Otti’s administration and his re-election bid in 2027.
Azuh, who spoke at his country home in Ogwe Asa, Ukwa West, while assessing developments in the state, his tenure as mayor and the political situation ahead of the 2027 general elections, described Otti’s leadership as a departure from what he called the old order of governance in Abia.
The former mayor said Abians in Nigeria and the diaspora had reasons to be proud of the achievements recorded by the present administration, particularly in infrastructure, road construction, healthcare, education, electricity and youth participation.
“Since the inception of this government under His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, every Abian, both at home and in the diaspora, is really proud of what he has been able to achieve in changing the narrative about leadership and governance in our state,” he said.
Azuh also expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for appointing him as the pioneer mayor of Ukwa West, describing the opportunity as one of the greatest honours of his life.
According to him, the appointment enabled him to return from the diaspora and contribute directly to the development of his community.
He said the appointment of him and other pioneer mayors demonstrated the governor’s confidence in Abians with experience outside the state, adding that they collectively gave their best during their respective tenures.
On the state of development in Ukwa West, an oil-producing local government, Azuh said the area still required substantial government intervention because of years of neglect and the peculiar challenges confronting oil-producing communities.
He, however, commended the Otti administration for projects executed through the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), particularly in Ukwa West.
He cited the road linking Obehie to Owaza and the Asa Civic Hall among projects that had impacted the area, expressing confidence that more development would come to the local government.
“We are very hopeful and positive that, going forward, there will be more things to come to my local government. Because of decades of neglect, there are a lot of facilities and infrastructure that need to be rebuilt,” he said.
Reflecting on his 11-month tenure as mayor, Azuh described the period as challenging but rewarding, insisting that his administration left visible footprints in the local government.
He listed the construction of a new police station, rehabilitation of the High Court and Customary Court, interventions in water supply and efforts to restore electricity in some communities among the major projects undertaken during his tenure.
He said the initiatives were designed to strengthen security, improve access to justice and water, and enhance the general welfare of residents.
“Every Ukwa citizen will testify that we changed the face of our local government for the first time in a long time. If you go there, you will see the physical structures we put in place,” he said.
On the 2027 elections, the former mayor declared his total support for Governor Otti’s re-election, saying he had already commenced grassroots mobilisation for the governor and the Labour Party.
Azuh maintained that Ogwe Ward in Ukwa West, his political base, remained firmly behind Otti, describing the governor’s support in the area as overwhelming.
“There is no competition against His Excellency here. This place is secured, Otti or nothing,” he declared.
He added that his political network extended beyond his immediate community, noting that he and his associates were already working to consolidate support for the Labour Party across Ukwa West.
Azuh said he had returned to his private business after leaving office but remained actively involved in grassroots political mobilisation.
As Abia marks 35 years of its creation, Azuh urged residents to remain hopeful about the future, expressing confidence in the direction of the state under Governor Otti.
Using an aviation analogy, he described Abia as being in safe hands under the current administration.
“When you have a good captain on the ship or an aeroplane, you see, it is in automatic mode. I believe strongly that Abia State is in very safe hands and is on autopilot,” he said.
He urged the people of Ukwa West and Abians generally to continue supporting the administration, arguing that its achievements had raised the expectations of citizens across the state.
“I tell my fellow Abians to relax because we are cruising at high altitude. There is no stopping us,” Azuh added.
