Governor Alex Otti is being hailed as one of the most performing Governors in Nigeria. Definitely the best in the Southeast for now.
I did a survey of the best Governor of Southeast on Twitter (X) and Otti was scored the best by about 98% of the respondents. Governor Hope Uzodinma was mostly scored the worst. Why is Otti seemingly doing better than Hope? I may not know, but this is my guess.
When Otti became Governor he established Abia Global Economic Advisory Board (AGEAB). This brings together the best and brightest of Abia in the world to guide policy with their knowledge and experience. This shows a commitment to knowledge-based leadership. Although he is a first class economist and banker he sought the inputs of other very smart and experienced Abians.
When Hope became Governor and appointed his commissioners and special assistants, I was invited to give a keynote address at the inauguration of the team. After my speech the Governor took me to his office. During our discussion I offered him an idea of how to crowd source great ideas and practical experience without costs. I gave him a policy paper on how to put together high caliber Imo citizens on honorary basis to meet quarterly to advise on policy and project management. That is Imo Policy and Project Advisory Council (IPPAC). This bring together people who would not seek appointment in Imo State Government but are willing to spend time and ideas to guide the government.
The governor loved the concept and asked that we meet the next day with his team to define it further. That meeting never held, till date. No such council was established. Rather the governor constructed a politically oriented Imo Elders Council. He graciously made me a member. But I have not attended any of its meetings and some of the elders feeling I am too critical removed me from the Council’s WhatsApp platform.
The point is that when a leader genuinely commits to governance and focuses more on governance and less on politics he will probably get it right, notwithstanding his or her lower intellectual or technical endowments. Leaders can easily procure knowledge. They can buy it with the currency of political power. They don’t need to posses it in themselves. It is all about commitment and the discipline to know which voices count and deserve a listening.
Kudos to Governor Otti. I hope he holds on to the finishing line. Congrats to Governor Hope Uzodiinma for his second tenure (Yes, he has case in court. But until the final judicial decision he remains the Governor). He can recreate his second tenure away from the failure of the first.
May God help Imo and Abia States.
