Being the Text of a Speech Delivered by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, at the Swearing in of newly Appointed Special Advisers, the Leadership and Members of the Abia State Drug Control Committee, Local Government Service Commission and others
Protocols
1. One of the most important privileges that life offers us is the opportunity to serve others. As the sages of old found, genuine fulfilment can only be found in rising above selfishness and committing part of the resources at our disposal to the pursuit of outcomes that benefit others. A society’s greatness is determined mostly by how much sacrifices its leading lights are willing to make for the good the community.
2. Progress, as we know, does not happen by chance. A community that seeks progressive, long-term development must be led by visionary individuals, blessed with the willpower to be resilient and not give up when met with challenges. The social outcomes that we seek as a community of people who share a common destiny require a certain ability to take the long view to determine the individual steps and milestones that when aggregated over time, offer convincing proofs that we are on the right track, on the strength of certain tangibles that reflect the collective aspirations of the population.
3. Development is never an abstract idea. It is about decisions made by leaders which pull people away from conditions that strip them of their dignity. One truth we have learnt from history is that every human community can achieve greatness. The difference between the societies at the top of the development pyramid and those at the bottom is the disposition of the leaders — the deliberate decision to rise above greed and selfishness.
4. Over the last 18 months, we have done nothing but work hard to justify the expectations of our people whose mandate we hold. We placed our foot on the pedal the minute we took the oath of office because we understand the weight of public expectations that we bear and the fact that there can be no excuse for average performance, not to talk of failure.
5. On account of the fact that non-payment of salaries and pensions were major issues during the electioneering campaigns, many had assumed ipso facto that if we just pay civil servants and retirees their entitlements as and when due, we would have been seen to perform well. But again, we also knew that if we run on mediocre standards, the struggles and the sacrifices that brought us to power must have been betrayed. We therefore resolved that we shall not just meet our statutory obligations to active and past employees of the State Government; we made a strong commitment to set a new leadership benchmark firmed on the principles of excellence, responsibility and responsiveness to the yearnings of the people.
6. Our primary objective from the outset was to assemble a team of visionary leaders, united by a shared passion for our prosperity and a relentless drive to create positive change. Thankfully, we found very remarkable individuals who have in the last 18 months gone above and beyond the call of duty to make genuine sacrifices for the long term good of the State. This is a great opportunity to thank every member of the team for all the hard work to help us achieve the social and economic outcomes that have won the admiration of millions of objective observers within and outside the State.
7. The applause notwithstanding, it is also common knowledge that building greatness is never a one stop-event. Sustained greatness in any endeavour requires continuous evaluation to identify where improvements are needed and imagine what could happen when new ideas and fresh energy are injected into the system. I know for a fact that we have a fantastic team but my philosophy is that nothing is so good that it cannot be improved upon. So, today, we have set out to make a wonderful team even better by on-boarding new members to support the actualisation of our vision on certain critical frontiers ranging from economic development to drug control and local government administration. Our goal remains what it has always been: to collectively build a State that works for Ndi Abia.
8. On this note distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me formally congratulate the appointees on their new roles. They have individually proven themselves over the years and in different fields of endeavour to be reliable, effective and result-oriented professionals. We expect them to bring the same dedication and commitment which enabled them to excel in previous undertakings to their present assignments. In the New Abia, we work round the clock so you have to be mentally and physically prepared to adapt to the new routines.
9. It will definitely not be easy for a few but I am also sure that many of you have gotten accustomed to sacrificing leisure for duty. Whatever your story, you have been offered a platform to serve our people and deliver on certain important responsibilities for the State. As I had earlier mentioned, there is no room for mediocrity in the Administration just as we do not condone corruption or any form of unethical practices. Such indiscretions are often treated as betrayal of trust and the sanctions can be very heavy. You are therefore advised to be well guided in your decisions.
10. I want to say a few words about the State Drug Control Committee (SDCC). This Committee is very critical to our social development agenda because we have seen the destructive impact of drugs on the lives of many, especially the young and socially vulnerable. The setting up of this Committee and the choice of its members is not only in line with a national commitment to establishing structures that complement the works of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency in the state but specifically speaks to our resolve to confront with fierce determination, the menace of drug abuse, illicit trafficking in drugs and dangerous substances and the associated toll in human lives and opportunities. This government is passionate about working with all relevant stakeholders to activate a chain of preventive mechanisms to shield our people, especially the young ones, from the dangerous influence of drugs and related substances. I congratulate the team and wish to publicly express the confidence I have in the SDCC to effectively cut down the harm posed by drug and substance abuse.
11. To everyone who just took the oath of office, let me thank you for offering to serve the good people of Abia State at this pivotal point in our history. We are a big team of committed individuals so you do not have to operate in silos. You will achieve more by collaborating and supporting colleagues for the collective success of the entire team. The most important success factor in public service is the realisation that you are serving the public, not in a hunt for personal glory. You are therefore encouraged to be humble in learning and generous in giving credit to the deserving.
12. As I say each time I perform functions like this, my doors are always open to listen to you and provide guidance and support where necessary. You are already aware that we are a very prudent administration so we do not spend carelessly or in pursuit of ventures that add nothing to our governance agenda. Even then, whatever resources you need to effectively deliver on the specific and general mandate of your office shall be made available to you. Just ask.
13. Thank you for listening and may God bless you all.
Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR,
13/12/2024
