* Tasks nominees to fashion out policy direction for the State
The Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, on Friday, inaugurated a 100-member transition council to midwife the take-off of his administration in the State.
Inaugurating the council in Aba, Otti, tasked the council members to produce a policy document that would forge a direction and developmental agenda, in line with his vision for the State and campaign promises.
He said the choice of Aba – the commercial hub of the State – for the inauguration of the council is strategic as well as significant with the Enyimba city being the centre-piece of the incoming administration’s economic and infrastructural development plan.
While noting that members of the council were chosen to serve because of the need for a strong foundation to be laid for the rescue and development of the State, Otti said: “We want to thank you all for honouring us with your time to help us lay the foundation our administration will build on.
“We intend to run a slim government in terms of political appointments, but then it is our intention to create enough opportunity for businesses to thrive and succeed in the State.
“We have chosen Aba for this inauguration today because Aba is the heartbeat of Abia’s economy despite the fact that it has been abandoned for many years by successive administrations.
“We want to build an industrial hub with steady power supply, renewable energy and other solid infrastructures for the economy of the State to grow.”
Responding on behalf of the members, Chairman of the council, Victor Onyenkpa, said the task before the them is to produce a road map that would aid Otti to meet the expectation of the residents of the State, adding that the committee members have accepted to do the job, despite the enormous challenges that came with the acceptance.
He said: “Alex Otti, is expected to perform a miracle concerning the transformation of Abia State and our Job is to give him a road map that would help him to perform that miracle.”
The Governor-elect, through a statement on Tuesday by the Council’s Secretariat, said the transition council will help to articulate a policy document that would forge a direction and developmental agenda for Abia, in line with his vision for the State.
Otti had promised during the campaigns to create a ministry for Aba, to take charge of the urban and physical renewal of the once foremost commercial and industrial hub of South East Nigeria.
The council, which parades distinguished professionals and technocrats in business, economics, entrepreneurship and politics and other eminent Nigerians from different backgrounds, has Mr. Victor Onyenkpa, Partner and COO, KPMG, as Chairman, and co-chaired by Mrs. Ifueko Omogui Okauru, a former Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
It also includes Ms Arunma Oteh, former Director General of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); former Treasurer and Vice President of the World Bank and currently a Director at FSD Africa, and resident scholar at Oxford University’s Said Business School, is also on the Council; Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, a Nigerian-born inventor who helped Apple design a semiconductor for the iPhone; Mr Uche Orji, the immediate past CEO of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Victor Okoronkwo, GMD of Aiteo Oil and Gas; Chief Frank Nneji, founder of ABC Transport Company; and Ide John Udeagbala, an Aba-based business mogul and industrialist. Also on the list is Prof Okey Oramah, President, Afreximbank, Cairo.
Other notable personalities with proven track records of excellence ranging from Legal profession, Industry, Education, Health, Public Service, Business etc include, Chief Dr David Ogba Onuoha, Chief Ume Kalu (SAN), Prof. Uche Eme Uche, Chief Ndukwe Osogho-Ajala, Dr. Uzoamaka Amah-Mbah, Dr. Okey Anueyiagu, Prof. Vincent Asor, Prince Chris Igwe, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, Mrs. Lynda Saint Nwafor, Prof. Herbert Mbagwu, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, Prof. Udechukwu Ogbonna, Sen. Darlington Nwokocha, Mr. Bank Anthony Okoroafor, Prof. George Chima, Dr. Eloka Umeh, Engr Kalu Nto, Mr. Enyinnaya Onokala, Dr. Nnaemeka Obiaraeri, Mr. Lloyd Onaghinon, Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, Dr. Chris Ukah, Dr Leo Ogba, Nnenna Nwakanma, Mrs. Victoria Osondu-Adefala, Mr. Ken Ahia (SAN), Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani, Sir Ernest Onwumere, Prof. Joshua Uzoma Ogbonna, Dr Paschal Kanu, Mr Austin Uformba, Mazi Ugochukwu Okoroafor, Hon. Eziuche Ubani, Engr. Bob Ibeneme, DIG Azubuko Udah, Chief Okey Agbara, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, Mr. Echezona Etiaba (SAN) and other eminently qualified Nigerians.
