When you read the history of Nigeria’s independence, you will likely read about men and men. Yes, they attended conferences here and there. But one thing no one would tell you is this: Nigerian women were the first people who got “independence” for Nigeria when Aba women challenged the colonists over direct taxation. Men had largely agreed to pay, but the women said NOT here.
The women won a mindset battle, and that was a clear validation that the British could be “challenged”. Quickly, the men picked up that signal, and via the early newspapers started writing with boldness, triggering events which culminated with Nigeria’s political independence from the colonists.
Then, Aba was a seat of commerce. Men left with nothing and returned back to villages with wealth. In Abia’s state coat of arms, that “prosperity through enterprise” is talking of the spirit of Aba. Because Aba meant opportunities through entrepreneurial capitalism.
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Suddenly Aba began to fade and had lost many decades. I am here to announce that Aba will be back:“Abia State Governor Alex Otti has signed into law the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.” The goal of GADA is to have a laser-focused attention on Aba as a commercial and industrial hub.
Abians, let’s transform the “God’s Own State”.
GOV OTTI SIGNS FIRST BILL, GREATER ABA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, INTO LAW
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR, has signed the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Bill, recently passed by the State House of Assembly, into law.
Governor Otti, speaking Monday after assenting to the bill, his first since assuming office May 29, 2023, said the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority was to give Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, indeed South East Nigeria, a special focus in terms of development.
“Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we had said that we needed a special focus on Aba which is a commercial nerve centre of the State,” Governor Otti said in a tone filled with reassurance.
According to the Governor, Aba, beyond being a trading zone, is also an industrial base, where all kinds of light and heavy manufacturing; micro small and medium scale businesses are conducted.
“Virtually every street in Aba is a market, eventhough we are working at organising them, but it is a strength that we recognise,” he said, adding, “when we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognise the potentials that Aba has and we believe that if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses.”
He congratulated the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa; Deputy Speaker, Hon Austin Okezie Meregini; the leadership of the House and other members; and Members of the State Executive Council on the passage of the executive bill.
He stated that with the law now in place, Aba rejuvenation has got a legal backing to bring about the needed development in the commercial capital.
Earlier, while presenting the Bill to the Governor for assent, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, noted that the executive bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly on 8th December, 2023.
Uwanna said that the Greater Aba Development Authority is now the first bill Governor Otti was signing into law and congratulated the Governor on achieving that feat.
Giving insight on the newly signed law, the Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Mr. Uche Ukeje, described the law as a special vehicle that would drive the development of Aba to realise the Governor’s vision about the Enyimba City.
Ukeje, an architect of many years repute, described GADA as an integrator, that would coordinate all the efforts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government in a bid to bring the needed development in Aba.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Kenneth Kalu; Commissioner for Digital Economy and SME, Dr. Matthew Ekwuribe; Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr Ikechukwu Monday; and Senior Special Assistant on Legislative Matters, Hon. Luke Ukara Onyeani, among other senior aides of the Governor witnessed the bill signing ceremony.
KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
December 11, 2023
Aba holds the key to a great Abia. Think of Dubai’s usage of oil revenues to create a parallel economy in tourism & financial hubs. Aba can also be a great financial, industrial, manufacturing & tourism hub. Proximity to both PH & A-Ibom is a strategic edge to be exploited.
— U•G•O (@UgochukwuOgbua1) December 13, 2023
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A step in the right direction. In the words of the DG, GADA is an integrator, an SPV that will bring back Aba lost glory via coordinated development of the Enyimba city. Truly that is what it is!
Congratulations to His Excellency and Abia State House of Assembly.
There are no weak women, you only have weak men, and weak men are the most dangerous. Anyone who can fully grasp this assertion will not argue, because it’s self-evident.
The man Otti is focused on doing something nice for Aba and broad Abia State, but more importantly, his government has someone with the high octane intellectual capital, who really knows how to communicate government policies effectively and elegantly, without even being paid by the government. I mean, how often do you read or listen to those who speak for the government that can actually communicate meaningfully? We still need to school a lot of people, part of what the naira is suffering from is dearth of quality communication.