The Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 presidential election, Sen. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has applauded the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, and the people of Abia State for the change and progress being witnessed in the state, stating that the sun is finally shining in Abia and that truth is beginning to prevail.
Sen. Baba-Ahmed spoke early this week when he visited Governor Otti in Abia State in the company of Nigeria’s Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka, who has come to build a world-class football academy in the state.
Baba-Ahmed noted, “The sun is finally shining in Abia State. I am glad that truth is beginning to prevail and people are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I rejoice with the good people of Abia State for this change they have been able to bring for themselves, and I call on them to continue to see us, myself and His Excellency, Peter Obi, as their brothers and partners in this progress,” an excited Sen. Baba-Ahmed said.
Speaking further on the purpose of his visit, he said, “I brought your own son, whom I have adopted again, to his father, the Governor of Abia State. He goes by the name of Frank Onyeka.
“He plays football for Nigeria, and how we met and became close to the extent that I adopted him is that he is going into the line of education.
“Never mind that they are playing sports, like football. Football is education. That is my calling. That also happens to be the calling of our leader here (Governor Otti), who has already been leading with a remarkable 20% budget allocation in education in the Abia State budget, which is close to 26% of UNESCO, the World Bank, and the UN. And I believe before the end of his 8-year tenure, Insha Allah, he will make that 26% and possibly exceed it”.
Sen. Datti commended Governor Otti for the warm, special, and prompt attention that was given to him and Governor Otti’s firm promise to help Frank Onyeka realise his dream of building a sports academy in Abia State.
“This is a legacy that has brought all of our careers and ambitions together. When I spoke to His Excellency, he said this was a simple one. I will fix it; you don’t need to come, and as I said, Your Excellency, the important things need to be treated as such.
“I will bring this to you. And, about the greatest honour that a visitor can be given, I was invited when the meeting (the Executive Council Meeting) was paused to attend to me”.
“And we presented our case about a football academy by the son of Abia State to His Excellency the Governor, who has made a noble and honourable promise to the realisation of that noble dream. I thank you very much”, he said
Responding, Gov. Otti described it as a great pleasure to have His Excellency, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed, visit Abia with his adopted son, who is also his son, from Umunneochi Local Government of Abia State, and his beautiful wife, describing their visit as good news.
“Interestingly, this is good news because they are coming to invest in Abia State. All that I am required to do is use my red pen and issue them a C of O (Certificate of Occupancy), which I will do in the next 48 hours.
“I expect that while the investment would be made, he is not looking to borrow the money. He has the funds and just wants to give back to his state and support young people who want to be like him because he started like this too.
“So we are very grateful; we are very happy that distinguished Senator His Excellency brought them himself,” Otti said.
In his speech, Frank Onyeka, who also plays for English Premiership side Brentford FC of England, said he was bringing the investment back home because of the changes Governor Otti is bringing to the state and the need to give back to society.
In his words, “Because I have seen the governor’s vision for improving the state and also trying to bring more investments into the state, for me, I think I am happy to come back to my state. I also want to give back to the people of Abia State; that’s why I am here.“
It is expected that the investment visit, no doubt, has further given a boost to Governor Otti’s progressive push in the sports sector, having promised to build a standard Games Village at Nsulu in Isialangwa South LGA of the state.
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