Umuahia, Nigeria – 13 July 2025
In a bid to foster greater collaboration across Nigeria’s South-East region, Enugu State Governor Dr Peter Mbah paid a courtesy visit to his Abia State counterpart, Dr Alex Otti, at the latter’s country home yesterday. The meeting underscored the shared vision of both leaders for a more secure, prosperous, and unified South-East, with discussions centring on security, governance, and developmental alignment.
Governor Mbah, reflecting on the visit in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described the encounter as a refreshing opportunity to exchange ideas outside the confines of routine leadership. “Leadership can sometimes feel like an echo chamber, so it’s refreshing and productive to step out, compare notes, share ideas, and exchange perspectives,” he wrote. He commended Governor Otti for his achievements across various sectors in Abia, noting their mutual belief that “the people are the epicentre of governance. Thus everything we do, every project we pursue, must ultimately serve and uplift our people.”
Both governors, who hail from private sector backgrounds, highlighted how this experience shapes their results-oriented approach to public service. Mbah emphasised the interconnectedness of the region: “After all, the South East is one closely knit region. What happens in Enugu impacts Abia, and vice versa.” The visit, he added, was rooted in “partnership, shared purpose, and a collective vision for a more secure, just, and prosperous South East,” extending thanks to Otti and his team for their warm hospitality.
Governor Otti reciprocated the sentiments in his own X post, welcoming Mbah as a “brother and friend” and praising the “remarkable transformation and development” underway in Enugu. He detailed the scope of their talks, which spanned critical issues such as security cooperation, advocacy for state policing, and the push for an additional state in the South-East amid ongoing constitutional reviews. “Abia and Enugu are next-door neighbours and have a lot in common,” Otti stated, affirming that the states would “continue to collaborate on areas of common interest, for the greater good of the South East region and Nigeria.”
The discussions gained particular focus on security, given the shared borders between the two states. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Otti stressed the need for joint efforts to prevent criminals from relocating across boundaries. “If he successfully drives away criminals from there, they will probably end up here. If we don’t do anything, then, one part of the South East will be secured and the other part will not be,” he said. Both leaders voiced strong support for establishing state police, with Otti aligning fully with Mbah’s stance and expressing hope that the federal government would act swiftly. “The issue about security is local, just like politics,” Otti remarked.
On the call for a new state in the South-East – the only geopolitical zone with just five states compared to six or more in others – Otti reiterated his backing: “Virtually every geopolitical zone has six, and I believe the North West zone has seven states. The South East has five States. So, I’m also in alignment with the creation of an additional State in the South East.”
Mbah, in turn, framed the visit as an extension of their commitment to people-centred governance. “Our focus is largely on governance. We believe that the people are the epicentre of governance. So, what we do, the projects and programmes we execute, are all about the people,” he told reporters. He also praised Otti’s work in Abia, highlighting their common private sector roots as a foundation for effective administration.
