Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold decision to remove the fuel subsidy, describing it as a courageous move that, despite short-term pains, will ultimately favour the nation’s economy.
Otti made the remarks on Thursday while receiving the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) in Abuja, Chief Victor Ikeji, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House annex in Nvosi.
The governor, who has long been an advocate for subsidy reform, recalled his earlier public positions on the issue.
“Some of us have held positions in the past that completely align with what the President is doing today. One of them is on the petroleum subsidy. I have written extensively in my back-page column of a national newspaper about the petroleum subsidy. At that time, I still believed that it was a scam,” Otti stated.
He praised Tinubu for acting decisively, noting: “Today, the President was courageous enough to take a decision on it. It may be painful, because once you indulge in bad behaviour, by the time you are correcting it, somebody must take the pinch somehow. But in the long run, things will correct themselves.”
Otti also used the occasion to express appreciation to President Tinubu for appointing Chief Victor Ikeji as the Federal Commissioner for Abia State at the FCC, describing the choice as one of the President’s best decisions.
“I want to also thank the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for this appointment and for recognising Abia in this way. I want to assure him that this is one of the best decisions he has made, and this appointment is appreciated by Abia people,” the governor said.
He assured the President that Ikeji would uphold the core principles of the Federal Character Commission—fairness, equity, and justice—and would perform creditably in office.
“I can assure you that he will not be found wanting to do anything that would promote fairness, equity, justice. That is what the Federal Character Commission is about,” Otti added.
Describing Ikeji as “a square peg in a square hole,” the governor congratulated him and urged him to leave the office better than he met it.
“We have no doubt that you will perform credibly well, and we are happy for you. We want to encourage you to put in your best and make the place a better place than you met it. We also want to assure you that as you stay, we will partner with you and your team,” Otti said.
Earlier in the meeting, Chief Victor Ikeji, who was in the state on an official visit, commended Governor Otti for the visible developmental strides recorded in Abia under his administration.
He thanked the governor for the confidence that led to his nomination and subsequent appointment, and reaffirmed his commitment to effectively represent Abia State within the constitutional mandate of the FCC.
“As part of this responsibility, I have engaged with the staff of the Commission in the Abia State office in Umuahia, where I emphasised the need for diligence, accountability, and purposeful service. I also commended their resilience and assured them that their welfare and professional dignity will receive attention as we reposition the office for greater effectiveness,” Ikeji stated.
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