The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says though the state has made significant progress from where his administration met it, it is still nowhere near what he envisioned, as there is still much to be done.

He said this on Monday when he received the team of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental organisation with a mandate to support sustainable democracy worldwide, led by its Head of Programme in Nigeria, Mr Danladi Plang.

The organisation has its headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, with 35 countries as members, and is the organiser of the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption programme.

Abia State, The PUNCH learnt, was chosen as the focal state for phase II of the programme, following conversations at the EU and the report of reforms ongoing in the state.

Phase I of the programme, which started in 2017, ended last year and had five focal states participating.

Speaking while receiving the visitors, Otti said, “There are lots of things that we’re still struggling with. Abia State is not yet what I envisioned, though the state has made significant progress from where the administration met it.

“That’s why we are happy to have you. On our own, we had taken a principled stand on a few issues that have to do with gender-based violence, people with disabilities and women and children, vulnerable groups.

“So, while we were taking the decisions and appointing people to supervise those roles, we were not thinking about you or anybody. We just felt that was the right thing to do.

“Virtually everything that has been spoken about here revolves around good governance. So, if you’re talking about the protection of the vulnerable, talking of anti-corruption, transparency, due process and others, it’s all about good governance and that’s what this government stands for. We actually do have zero tolerance for corruption.”

Otti thanked Plang and his team for their visit and for choosing Abia as one of the focal states for the programme in Nigeria while pledging the government’s support to help them succeed.

Plang, who commended Otti on his leadership qualities, said the programme was extended for another five years, with Abia and Plateau states chosen to join Lagos, Anambra, Edo, Kano and Adamawa states for Phase II.

“For us, it confirms what has been said about Abia, since Governor Alex Otti assumed leadership. It is a testament to the good work that you’re doing and also a testament to the fact that the people of Abia State did not make a mistake in electing you, seeing the support that is coming from the other development partners,” Plang said in his address.

“As we all know, nobody wants to be associated with failure, so it’s also in our interest that we’re associated with the success that Abia State is recording through your leadership.

“The purpose of our coming is to introduce our organisation, International Idea, and also to introduce the programme that the European Union has extended to Abia State and to seek your support and cooperation as we begin this project,” Plang said.

The Head of Programme in Nigeria said politicians always prioritised concrete achievements like roads, and hospitals, among others and lost sight of things that were not just concrete but tangible.

He said, “I believe that there will be sufficient interest shown by your leadership for issues of justice.”

Earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the state government would leverage the vast experience that International Idea had to ensure that it was better equipped to serve justice for the citizens.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ngozi Felix, described the inclusion of Abia State in the EU-sponsored programme as “a dream come true,” because of the benefits it would bring to the people, especially women, children, persons with disabilities and all vulnerable groups.

“I’m very happy that this programme is going to bring that needed capacity building for judges, it’s also going to help strengthen the criminal justice system and ensure that prosecution for sex offenders is not just done but in a very timely manner,” she said.

The Secretary to the State Government, Prof Kenneth Kalu, said Abia stood to benefit immensely from the values being offered through the RoLAC programme, though such values could not easily be discerned in the manner of other tangible developmental projects like roads and other physical structures.