Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with his Enugu State counterpart, Dr. Peter Mbah, and other South-East governors to strengthen regional security. He made this known during a press briefing after receiving Mbah at his office for a private meeting.
Otti thanked Mbah for the visit and praised the strong relationship between their administrations. He stressed the importance of cross-border collaboration to fight crime, pointing out that criminals displaced from one state could easily move to a neighboring one without a joint strategy.
He emphasized that both states must align their security efforts to ensure that the entire Southeast benefits from peace and stability. According to him, if one state tackles insecurity effectively while others do not, the problem will simply shift rather than be solved.
Otti expressed full support for the establishment of state police, adding that several other states share the same view. He urged the federal government to take the proposal seriously, noting that security challenges are often local and require local solutions.
He also backed the creation of an additional state in the Southeast, describing it as long overdue. He pointed out that the region has only five states, while others have six or more, and insisted that political equity demands balance across the zones.
Governor Mbah explained that his visit focused on sharing ideas and deepening cooperation on policies that directly impact the lives of citizens in both states. He said both leaders have a shared background in the private sector and a common approach to governance centered on people.
He also used the opportunity to commend Governor Otti for the progress made in Abia, praising his achievements across various sectors. According to him, both leaders are committed to making decisions that improve the lives of those they govern and are determined to keep learning from each other.
