Abia State Governor Alex Otti has commended President Bola Tinubu for what he described as the courage to implement bold economic reforms, saying the hardship currently experienced by Nigerians is the result of years of poor economic management rather than the reforms themselves.
Speaking on Tuesday while receiving First Lady Oluremi Tinubu during her visit to Abia to celebrate the state’s Akwete weaving heritage, Otti asked the First Lady to convey his appreciation to the President for taking difficult but necessary decisions.
He said the removal of petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira in 2023 required exceptional courage, noting that the reforms had freed up resources for the federal, state and local governments to invest in development instead of financing consumption.
According to the governor, the increased revenues have enabled many states to clear salary obligations, embark on infrastructure projects and implement programmes that support productivity and economic growth.
Otti acknowledged that the reforms have imposed short-term hardships on Nigerians but argued that such sacrifices are inevitable when correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
“Every courageous decision comes with consequences,” he said, adding that the economy would gradually adjust and recover. He maintained that the hardship many Nigerians are experiencing today is largely “a fallout of previous bad behaviour.”
The governor also reaffirmed that Abia remains a welcoming state for all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity or political affiliation, stressing that good governance transcends party lines.