Former President Olusegun Obasanjo recently inaugurated the 46.3-kilometer Joe Irukwu Way in Abia State, praising Governor Alex Otti as a “miracle worker” for transforming the previously deplorable road into a smooth, 45-minute drive from Umuahia to Abiriba.
Obasanjo commended Otti’s leadership style, emphasising that leadership should be about vision, discipline, and eliminating corruption. He urged the public to support leaders who demonstrate integrity, regardless of party affiliation and warned against taking good governance for granted.
The newly rehabilitated road is expected to boost socio-economic development, reduce travel time, enhance security, and lower transportation costs for residents and businesses. Governor Otti noted that the improved road network will allow commuters and traders to move freely without fear of harassment by criminals.
Obasanjo pledged his continued support for Otti, urging him to stay focused on delivering dividends of democracy to the people.
He also advised voters not to replace performing leaders during elections.
“I travelled on this road to Abiriba myself and it was a hellish experience and I spent hours on the road.
“But when I was informed that the road you constructed could take me from Umuahia to Abiriba in just 45 minutes, I said to myself, this man, Alex Otti, is indeed a miracle worker.
“For me, a political party is just a platform, what matters most is the quality of the man, and in Dr Alex Otti, we have found a man of great quality.
“When the time comes for elections, my advice is simple: don’t change a winning horse,” he said.
In an address, the governor described the project as a milestone in his government’s determination to do things differently and build infrastructure that lasts.
He also said that the remaining part of the road project, known as Section 3 – from Abiriba to Ohafia – being handled by a reputable construction compan, was nearing completion.
Otti said the newly rehabilitated road would not only shorten travel time, enhance security, but also reduce transportation cost for residents and businesses along the axis.
He said that with the improved road network, commuters and traders could now move freely at any hour without fear of harassment by criminals, who had previously exploited the bad condition of the road to rob and harm unsuspecting motorists and travellers.
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