By NewsCritic Reporters
The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Abia State, Wednesday 5th March, 2025 defied the heavy rains that fell in the commercial and historic city of Aba that lasted for over two hours, to stage a massive solidarity rally in support of Governor Alex Otti’s administration and his second term aspiration.
The members of the transport unions led by the State Chairman of NARTO and RTEAN, Chief Amaobi Ohaeri and Chief Emetumba respectively, commenced the solidarity rally with a march that began from the Park Road area, Aba South Local Government and terminating at the Osisioma modern motor park, which covered a distance of about 8 kilometres in celebration of the Abia State governor Dr Alex Otti, whom they described as the modern day Chief Sam Mbakwe.
The solidarity rally coordinated with the assistance of officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Police Patrol Team though peaceful and orderly, nevertheless caused traffic snarl along the road corridor to Osisioma due to the large number of people and buses that participated in the carnival-like gathering.
Speaking before a mammoth crowd the Abia State Chairman of NARTO Chief Amaobi Ohaeri, who holds the title mgborogwu Isingwu, maintained that the motor unions are among the beneficiaries of Gov Otti’s good governance and exceptional leadership style, which he said has yielded positive results.
He said that with what they have witnessed in Abia today under the inspiring leadership of Gov Otti, his 2027 bid can be described as a mere walkover and easy victory, as Abia is going to witness an election that will return gov Otti unopposed’. The NARTO boss said “we heard the APC caucus the other day urging him…the BoT of PDP also endorsed him and I think the men are telling the truth. The point I want to make now is that Abians are full of Otti’s praises because of the quality of his leadership, which we continue to admire”.
Chief Ohaeri who spoke amid intermittent cheers and applause from the elated crowd, believes that the rally in celebration of Gov Otti is their own little way of appreciating the Governor who has shown love and done so much for Abia State, and to declare their total support for his assured 2027 project.
“So, we want to assure our pragmatic Governor that we are endorsing him and promising that we are going to give him all our support because he is truly God sent.
The chairman of RTEAN and other stakeholders of the transport unions, including chief Chidiebere Ogarakanyanwu, said they decided to adopt Otti as their preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship poll based on the fact that he has surpassed the expectations of the people so far in terms of service delivery.
