Alex Otti
Abia at 32: Time to build a new Abia that works- SSG
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, says the celebration of 32 years anniversary of the creation of the state would be used to start building a new Abia State that works for all, and not for jamboree.
Kalu stated this while briefing journalists on the week-long events lined up to celebrate the creation of Abia on August 27, 1991 by the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida military regime.
The SSG said the focus of the celebration with the theme: Abia: Hitting the Reset Button,” was to make sure that Abia works for everybody. “This is the time to build and not to celebrate,” he added while answering a question on why the event was not accompanied by the usual recognition of Abia sons and daughters who have attained milestones in their various fields of calling with awards.
According to the SSG, the event will climax with the lecture on theme to be delivered by a former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, and the “unveiling” of the State Orientation Agency on Tuesday, August 19, 2023 which serve as the oven for baking new, patriotic Abians who would imbibe new approach to doing things so that Abia would work for everyone.
Announcing the schedule of activities lined up for the events which kicked off on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 with the Press Briefing by the SSG and the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, Prof. Kalu, said the Abia First Lady, Her Excellency, Priscilla Otti, would embark on a visit to orphanages and hospitals, among others, across the three senatorial zones on Wednesday, August 23, 2023. “This year’s Abia Day celebration is about reaching out to ordinary Abians, not a jamboree,” the SSG declared, saying that the Mrs. Otti would present gifts to the vulnerable in the society during her visits which would continue on Thursday, August 24, 2023.
Friday, August 25, going by the schedule, would feature a special Jumat Prayer by the Moslem faithful in the state, to be followed on Saturday, August 26, by a special sanitation exercise and free medical outreaches across the senatorial zones. There would be also be musical concerts same Saturday evening, with youths as targets.
On Sunday, the state governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, would make a special anniversary broadcast to people of the state, thereafter, special interdenominational Church Service would hold at the Trademore Event Centre, near Okpara Square, Umuahia.
The SSG further announced that the State Executive Council slated for Monday, August 28, has been tagged Special Anniversary Exco meeting, adding that the anniversary celebration would climax on Tuesday, August 29, with the Anniversary Lecture by Dr Ezekwesili and unveiling of the State Orientation Agency, the linchpin for the re-orientation of Abians for an attitudinal change for doing things the right and proper way.
