Nigerians no longer believe government can provide anything for them— Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO), says Nigerians no longer believe that government can do
anything for them.

Speaking virtually at the inauguration of the 100-member
Abia transition council, Okonjo-Iweala, on Friday, said Alex Otti, the governor-elect,
must run a clean and transparent administration.

The WTO DG asked the incoming government to focus on
“disruptive strategies rather than traditional operational systems. ”

“I told the governor-elect that everything we’ll do will
depend on this governance,” she was quoted by NAN.

 “Nigerians,
especially from that side of the south-east, have lost faith in governance.

“They no longer believe the government can provide anything
for them.

“They provide for themselves boreholes, electricity and
every other thing for themselves.

 “Although that is
entrepreneurial, but on the other hand, that is not how to run the place.”

She further advised Otti to run a “better and cleaner,
transparent governance” that should be exemplary to everyone.

Okonjo-Iweala expressed hope that through Otti, “there is a
unique chance to set Abia on the right side of development and modernisation,
through digital disruptive technology”.

She said the governor-elect should think of how to make Abia
function in line with the modern world and join the train into the future of
humanity.

Okonjo-Iweala also asked indigenes abroad who have the
capacity, to assist by returning to the state, so as to recover the state and
upgrade development.

On his part, Otti thanked everyone, who honoured the
invitation to be part of the council, for joining him to “create a new Abia”.

Otti said he was a bit surprised by the jubilation that
followed his announcement as the winner of the governorship election.

He said Okonjo-Iweala has told him repeatedly that “she does
not envy him”.

The governor-elect added that his 42-page manifesto contains
his plans for the state and would be a guide for the transition council to do
its assignment.

“But the good news is that we are prepared to do that work
and I have a lot of hope that I can draw from your expertise,” he said.

He said Aba was chosen for the inauguration because of his
plans “to attack the deterioration” there headlong.

Vincent Onyenkpa, chairman of the transition council,
described the council’s task as “very daunting but meant to help Otti achieve
the miracle he was expected to perform in the state”.

In March, the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) declared Otti as the winner of the Abia governorship election.

Otti polled 175,467 to defeat Okey Ahiwe, his closest rival
and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 88,529 votes.