COMMENTARY
GLOBAL ACCOLADES FOR ABIA TRANSFORMATION AS EMIR OF KANO, HH MUHAMMADU SANUSI II, HAILS GOVERNOR ALEX OTTI’S TWO YEARS OF IMPACT AT 2025 ATANI DAY CELEBRATION IN AROCHUKWU
The Emir of Kano, His Highness (HH) Muhammadu Sanusi II, has commended the achievements of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, declaring that the remarkable transformation recorded under his administration in the last two years has attracted attention and admiration far beyond the borders of Abia State and Nigeria.
The highly revered, cerebral and outspoken traditional ruler from Northern Nigeria made the remarks on Thursday, December 25, during the 2025 Atani Day Celebration held at the Atani Community School Field in Arochukwu Local Government Area, where he joined his longtime friend, Governor Alex Otti, to grace the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Emir praised Governor Otti for the visible impact of his governance and the sweeping reforms across Abia State, noting that the progress being recorded is no longer a local secret.
“I like to congratulate Dr. Otti for all the work he has done in Abia. I’m sure for those of you in Abia, nobody needs to tell you. But you will want to know that even outside Abia and outside Nigeria, everyone has taken note of the great transformation of the last two years.
“I will like to congratulate Governor Otti for his work and to pray that he will continue to deliver for the people.
“And, I’m proud to be a member of his international economic advisory Board (Council),” Mohammed Sanusi II stated.
Speaking further, the Emir, who arrived in Abia State on December 23, commended the rich cultural displays showcased during the Atani Day celebration. He expressed hope that Nigerians would continue to strengthen unity across ethnic and regional lines, building bridges of brotherhood and shared citizenship.
“Many of you will recall that I was present at the swearing-in ceremony of my friend and brother, Dr Alex Otti. We have had a relationship going back decades. We were friends in UBA and First Bank. We have remained friends. This is not my first visit to Arochukwu. I have come here before to spend time with him.
“This is my first time at this event and I am most impressed by the cultural display. I bring you goodwill and good tidings from the good people of Kano and I hope that we will continue to build these bridges across the Niger, to hold hands and remain brothers and sisters, citizens of one great country,” the Emir added.
In his remarks, Governor Alex Otti warmly welcomed the Emir, describing him as a brother and trusted friend of over two decades. He used the opportunity to condemn the politicisation of ethnicity and religion, stressing that such tactics often arise when there are no meaningful arguments to make.
“I want to use a few minutes to celebrate my friend and brother from another mother, the Emir of Kano who like he told you, is coming to this community for the third time. We are glad to have him, he just came to celebrate Christmas with us.
“Sometimes, when people are politicising ethnicity and tribalism, it’s because they don’t have any argument. If you have an argument to make, it shouldn’t be about ethnicity and religion.
“just like he has been here several times, Kano is my second home. Sometimes, I go into the palace and spend a weekend even when he’s not there and I’m so well received.”
Governor Otti also praised the Emir’s character and resilience in the face of challenges, citing his principled stance while serving as Central Bank Governor and his eventual reinstatement as Emir.
“I want to thank him for what he has remained. I am very proud of him. He has gone through a lot of challenges. But, he hasn’t let anything affect him.
“So, I don’t know what you are going through today, if there is nobody you want to look at, look at him. He was Central Bank Governor, he insisted on the right thing to be done and they removed him. And, I remember his comments then, you can suspend me but you can’t suspend the truth.
“As an Emir, they removed him and then later, he was called back,” Governor Otti recalled, encouraging the people to remain resilient and steadfast in the face of adversity.
Reassuring Abians of his administration’s resolve, Governor Otti insisted that his government remains focused on service delivery and would not be distracted by those seeking attention for negotiation.
“We are not afraid, the people that brought us to power are still there, and they are the ones that will write the testimonial at the end of the day,” the Governor asserted.
The Governor apologized to residents of the area for the inconveniences caused by ongoing construction works, assuring them that contractors have been directed to accelerate the pace of work to ensure timely completion. He emphasized that governance is ultimately about improving lives and creating a better future for the people.
Governor Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to security, welfare and sustained investments in critical sectors such as healthcare and education, revealing that between 15 and 20 percent of the state’s annual budgets have consistently been dedicated to the two sectors over the past two years, going into the third.
“That is why you see schools looking different. You probably haven’t visited Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu. If you haven’t, please take a walk to that place. That place was forgotten.
“At the time we came, we found out that the number of teachers was 165, and the number of students was about 120. So, there were more teachers than students.
“We found out that there was no teaching going on. The teachers were not coming to work because they have been owed for over 2 years. So, what we did was to ensure that everybody was paid.
“And then, we went into the curriculum, went into accreditation; they lost accreditation for over 7 years. So, I’m happy to say that about 3 weeks ago, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, had all its courses accredited. We are retrofitting the Hostels, Laboratories and Teachers Quarters,” Dr. Otti disclosed amid applause.
Governor Otti, who noted that he attended public schools throughout his life, said it would be a crime for him to neglect public education, stressing that education played a critical role in shaping who he is today.
The event featured colourful cultural dances and traditional performances that reflected the rich heritage of the Atani people. The 2025 Atani Day Celebration was attended by the Eze Aro of Arochukwu Kingdom, HRH Eze Eberechukwu Oji, prominent sons and daughters of Atani Community and Arochukwu Local Government Area, as well as dignitaries from all walks of life, including ap
pointees of the Federal and Abia State Governments.