The Phoenix Rises

Alex Otti

The prominence of our story is in the dreams of our fathers, the resilience of our mothers and the adventurous disposition of our young people. 54 years ago, Ajie Ukpabi Anthony Asika, then Military Administrator of the Old East Central State, set out to build a standout hospitality outfit to announce our unending faith in the promises of the future. The vision of Enyimba Hotel in 1972 was in complete defiance to the social setbacks and economic anxiety of the time; it was a rallying cry to our people to look to the future with boundless optimism, confident that this city, like the mythical phoenix, will rise from the ashes of its ruins and thrust itself into the borderless skies to the marvel of those who once wrote it off.

 The dream of a magnificent hotel overlooking the Aba River had its foundations in hospitality but there was more: it was a summon to the can-do-mindset of our people; an invitation to look beyond the misery of the hour, to follow the opportunities of the day, unyielding in the conviction that no adversity is strong enough to crush the spirit of a determined people — that what had been lost in the civil war pales into insignificance when measured against what lay ahead. Foundation for the hotel was laid in 1975. As Asika left as Administrator, work stopped on the hotel only to resume again under Governor Sam Mbakwe in 1981 and finally stopped with the termination of the 2nd republic.

Five decades and four years have passed since the foundational outlook of the structure that would eventually be called Enyimba Hotel was first put together. Apparently, it has endured years of exposure to the elements and intrusion by uninvited and unwanted guests. However, like a mighty oak, this elegant edifice continues to stand firmly, unmoved and undestroyed by the passage of time and the hostility of a constellation of forces. This project, it will interest us to note, towers beyond 7 storeys of uncompleted suites and hallways; it tells with metaphorical accuracy, the story of Aba through the lens of time. This structure essentially captures the undying force of Enyimba City, its power to evolve and the grandeur of its ambitions. We have gathered this afternoon as witnesses to history, to curate a story that would live eternally in the annals of time; Aba is back. Enyimba is rising and the dream that was once stalled, shall now rise to meet the glory of the skies.

Nothing speaks to Enyimba’s rise and ascent as the project we just commissioned at Ovom, about 400 meters away from this ground. To imagine that the entire stretch was written off, not-too-long ago, points us to the errors of pessimism because in truth, no situation is entirely irredeemable.

For those who wonder why we are not erecting billboards to announce our achievements, the expressions on the faces of the landlords, residents, business owners, school children and artisans within and around Ovom this afternoon offered a telling answer because the records of our achievements are clearly written, not on beautiful graphic images that litter the highway, but in the hearts, minds and lived experiences of ordinary people. By focusing solely on development initiatives that improve the daily business experiences of our brothers and sisters, our administration has effectively banished the old political tradition of excessive self-promotion. Abia is getting better with each passing day and the credit for the massive transformation that has happened here and in other parts of the State since May 29, 2023, belongs to all of you for refusing to believe the lie that the fault was in our stars — for not giving up, even when hope was seemingly evaporating. You are the heroes of the New Abia for it is you who empowered us to build a new system, one that prioritises sincerity over deceit, purpose over greed and compassion over cold indifference.

On Enyimba Hotel, I would like to congratulate the leadership of the Greater Aba Development Authority, GADA, especially the Director General, Architect Uche Ukeje and the Chairman of the Board, Ide John Udeagbala and the entire network of partners, especially the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), for leading the charge to revive what has always been a beautiful dream, one that weaves the peerless brilliance of our fathers with the bespoke orientation of the modern times. It seemed impossible at first considering the many false starts and failures that attended recent attempts at completing this project but here we are, filled with expectations — confident that the disappointment of living with a stalled dream has now come to an end.

You have seen enough to know that whence we set our sight on a project and come together for a flag off ceremony, it becomes inevitable that the project must be delivered and commissioned for public use on time. Port Harcourt Road, Ohanku Road, Omenuko Bridge, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi-Abiriba Road and Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard are only but a few examples of the many bold projects that were delivered to the consternation of those who previously doubted our resolve; just like the reclaimed Ovom erosion site and its network of adjoining roads. A few years ago, the situation at Ovom was seemingly hopeless but in less than 2 years, we filled a 42-metre gorge that stretched over 600 meters, enough to contain an 8-storey building. With rigid pavement technology and necessary control measures, we have not only ended what could have been an interminable disaster, we have also forestalled a recurrence of an environmental nightmare of such magnitude in the vicinity. To the glory of God, what was once a dead zone has emerged as irrefutable evidence of Aba’s renaissance and return from the nadir of despair. The cost of the project was enormous but as we have demonstrated time and time again, no price is too steep to pay to protect lives and property in any part of the State.

As we push forward to actualise the vision of our fore fathers which begun under the watch and direction of Ukpabi Asika, it is fitting that we spare a moment to acknowledge the immense contributions of visionaries like Dee Sam Mbakwe, Governor of old Imo State who laid the foundations and pulled all the stops to fast-track the delivery of Enyimba Hotel project. It is regrettable that Dee Sam’s goal was aborted by the unfortunate and tragic political development of the 1980s which effectively torpedoed the delivery timeline. On this most auspicious afternoon, we are obliged to also thank the leadership and members of ACCIMA for the efforts made over the decades to keep the dream alive. In the same vein, we also owe it to history to acknowledge the commitments of multiple stakeholders in the Aba business and social ecosystems to see to the completion of the edifice in the years that uncertainty loomed large. Today, we remember titans like Nze C. O. Maduako, Chief Leo Ike Okoye, Chief Dr. S. C. Okolo, Chief Sam Ejimofor and Lord Chief Dike Udensi. These fathers as we have heard in an earlier chronicle partnered with ACCIMA to reclaim and salvage what had become a failed project by the mid-1990s. We may try but it would be impossible to fully capture our debt of gratitude to these business leaders who pooled personal resources to keep hope alive at a most difficult period. These city guardians and others like them, entrepreneurs and builders of note, embody the resilient energy of this metropolis. We are happy that some of them are still with us but what can be taken for granted is that even death cannot erase the footprints of giants in the sands of time.  Currently, we are considering a list of proposals on how best to honour and preserve the legacies and memories of the men and women whose fire of faith in the eternal destiny of this city never went dim, even in its darkest hours. We owe it as a duty to remind the present and future generations of the exploits of those who walked this path before us.

For the project we have come to flag off, it may interest us to note that we thought long and hard to draw up a structured public-private partnership arrangement that would make Enyimba International Hotel truly special when its doors open for business. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to announce that we have welcomed a global hospitality brand, Radisson Blu, to drive the delivery of this project and our rationale is clear: the vision-bearers set out to build a prestigious, landmark hospitality business; it is therefore certainly not in our place to dilute, or detract from the dream that gave this structure its foundational appeal. Ultimately, we are going to deliver an international 5-star hotel right here in Aba — one that speaks to the aspiration and foresight of those who broke the earth here 54 years ago. Thankfully, we have secured the commitment and partnership of a giant player in the global hospitality business to enable us achieve what our forebears intended. The choice of Radisson Blu was intentional; after experiencing their signature hotel and Convention Centre in Kigali a few years ago, we insisted on getting them into the room where the choice of a preferred partner was made. Thanks to one of our brothers, Hon. Chuka Odom, former Commissioner in this state and one-time Federal Minister who intervened, Radisson Blu was invited and the rest is now history.

Over the next 12 months, our team shall work closely with the civil engineering partners to deliver a 120-room facility, one that would be befitting of Aba’s rising stature as a major commercial and industrial destination in West Africa and beyond. Also to be delivered within the same period is a best-in-class convention centre to cater to the needs of businesses and public sector organisations seeking to find the perfect blend of novelty and class for their events. The Radisson Blu Enyimba International Hotel will be run with an eye on value for customers, shareholders and all other stakeholder groups. The outlook is that 18 months after the business welcomes its first customer, the demand would escalate so rapidly that the only option would be to kick off the construction of another 130-room facility within this same vicinity. We are projecting that over the next 4 years, this venture will grow to a 250-room 5-star hotel, catering to local and international guests and events.

In the last 33 months, we have made strategic investments to bring the Aba business environment in good alignment with the demands of a 5-star hotel ecosystem. I am aware that many had struggled to understand the lag in execution since we first made the commitment to revive and complete this project in 2024. The explanation, however, is a straightforward one; in addition to taking time to draw up a robust operating agreement with partners, we were also conscious of our limitations at the time with respect to developing a suitable ecosystem for a top-of-the-class hospitality outfit.

Over the last 2 years, we have done nothing but prepare Aba to become a prime destination for business travels and events. We have since changed popular perceptions about this city by the magnitude of investments in road infrastructure development, urban sanitation, security, health and the general network of systems that individuals and organisations consider when making travel decisions. We understand that there are little to zero sentiments in business so it was clear to us that nobody would willingly travel to destinations that are characterised by filth, poor road network, deficient social services and widespread insecurity. We may not have hit the bull’s eye on every decision-parameter but clearly, the conversation has shifted. Aba has not only emerged as one of the cleanest urban destinations in the country, it has also become one of the most orderly, secured and peaceful towns in the region.

Evidently, the question is no longer whether a 5-star hotel can thrive in Aba, it is now whether there will be enough spaces to meet demands, even outside the peak seasons. What is likely going to happen as soon as the doors of Enyimba International Hotel are opened is that the industry standard would move northward, service levels would improve across board in response to competition, new players would move in to cater for different customer groups and create jobs; connected industries, especially entertainment, would grow and inevitably, new investments on multiple frontlines would develop, further boosting the economic output of the city. It is therefore safe to say that we have come to ignite a spark that would reset the Aba business compass over the next decade. I appreciate that a few players in the industry may be a little anxious but here is the good news: this is an invitation to adapt and make the most of the emerging opportunities in the ecosystem. For sure, the days of mediocrity is coming to an end but what would, however, be a constant is that for every business that makes efforts, there will always be a subset of the market to serve. The truth we now have to inevitably embrace is that the bar will continue to move and it will not be restricted to any particular ecosystem, it will affect all of us.

The best response to what now seems inevitable is not to resist; the most rational response would be to evolve. At any rate, it is not just the businesses that need to learn and relearn, the emerging Aba will also demand much more from all of us. As individuals, our sense of stewardship will fundamentally shift to reflect the spirit of the age.  A strategic metropolis like Aba can only thrive on the commitment of the residents to the prompt discharge of their civic obligations. Payment of taxes and other statutory revenue will no longer be optional; it will now become the most important requirement for plugging into the network of opportunities that this city offers. Let me reiterate a call I made at the beginning of the year where I reminded us that the time has come for us to begin to view taxes as an investment in our individual businesses because that is exactly what it is — committing a portion of what you earn regularly to further expand your advantages and capacity to earn more through new layers of social infrastructure.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this is our project, I now invite us to offer all the required support to make it a reality. Let me, as I conclude, thank all of you for honouring us with your esteemed presence, especially our partners from Raddison Blu and several other dignitaries who travelled from far and near to be with us for this epoch-making event. May God bless and lead us safely to our various destinations. •The above is the text of an address presented by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Enyimba Hotel premises Aba following the successful commissioning of the Ovom land reclamation and road projects and the flag off of a new round of civil engineering works at Enyimba International Hotel and Convention Centre.