Days of infrastructure decay and utter neglect of Aba, Abia State commercial nerve centre will soon be over. This was the pledge of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate in the state, Dr. Alex Otti, as he stormed the Ariaria International Market, Aba yesterday.  
He also pledged provision of conducive environment for businesses and abolition of multiple taxation, which is currently the order of the day.
Otti, who was in Aba in continuation of his sensitization and mobilisation tour in various parts of the state, bemoaned the filthy state of the once glowing and vibrant commercial city, vowing to transform it in record time if elected.
This comes on the heels of his endorsement as the governorship candidate by a coalition of stakeholders of the Market and Ward 9 Aba North Local Government Area, at his Umuru, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government country home.
The Ariaria Market group, which paid solidarity visit to Otti, stressed that its decision to back him was based on their conviction that he would provide good leadership and address development challenges in Abia if elected.
Similar expression of enthusiasm and support came the way of the APGA candidate during his Ariaria Market tour.
In the course of the exercise, Otti, a former group managing director of Diamond Bank, interacted with the traders who threw their weight behind his aspiration, informing him, however, of some of their concerns about the February 2015 polls.
One of the traders, Obinna Innocent, particularly tasked the APGA flag bearer on the need to secure his votes during the contest. Expressing similar concern, another trader, Mrs. Ogechi Duru also decried the state of the international market and Aba in general, urging Otti to keep his promises if elected. She said the traders totally believed in him and his Master plan for Abia State.
In his response, Otti assured the traders and other supporters of his belief in President Goodluck Jonathan’s ‘one man, one vote’ philosophy, promising that their votes would be protected.
He, however, reminded them that they also had a major role to play in ensuring his success at the poll. He advised those who had not collected their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to do so at their various local government headquarters, saying it was the main tool they needed to change Abia for the better.
The highlight of the visit was Otti’s march through Aba Shopping Centre Road with his campaign team, where he addressed a crowd of supporters.
The Ariaria visit was not the first time the APGA candidate had stressed his commitment at transforming Aba. He had during his official declaration for the governorship, pledged that he would create a Ministry of Aba Affairs and develop the city to a level that it would comfortably be referred to as the ‘Japan of Africa’.

APGA guber candidate, Otti, storms Aba, pledges good governance