Why Governor Alex Otti decided to honour late Senator Jaja Wachuku at 108 has stirred national attention. The reasons may surprise you. Read full story.
The Abia State Government’s decision to celebrate the 108th posthumous birthday of late Senator Dr. Jaja Anucha Wachuku was not a routine ceremonial gesture, it was a deliberate historical intervention by Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, aimed at correcting decades of national neglect and restoring the dignity of a forgotten founding father.
Governor Otti on Wednesday led top political leaders, traditional authorities, and members of the Ngwa nation to Mbawsi, Isialangwa North LGA, where he unveiled the fully rebuilt home, library, and tomb of Nigeria’s first indigenous Speaker of the House of Representatives and first Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti revealed that his decision was triggered by deep personal reflection and research he undertook in 2023.
“I began to read more about Jaja Wachuku, and by the time I was done, I realised that we, as a society, had not done well by him,” Otti said.
According to the Governor, the rediscovery of Jaja Wachuku’s role in shaping Nigeria’s democracy, foreign policy, and legislative foundation convinced him that Abia State had a moral duty to reclaim its history.
Rather than mark Wachuku’s death anniversary, Otti intentionally chose to celebrate his birthday, describing it as a symbolic statement about life, legacy, and enduring national relevance.
“Any society that fails to recognise and celebrate its heroes will soon disappear,” the Governor declared.
The Governor explained that rebuilding Wachuku’s long-neglected residence, library, and tomb was not about politics or symbolism alone, but about institutional memory and national education.
He disclosed plans to immortalise Jaja Wachuku by naming a major public institution after him, an idea widely supported by lawmakers and elder statesmen present.
“The more I read about him, the prouder I became. Something great will be named after him,” Otti assured.
Several senior political figures, including Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe, Nkechi Nworgu, Bob Nwanunu, Labour Party leaders Darlington Nwokocha and Ginger Onwusibe, praised Governor Otti for what they described as a rare act of historical justice.
They jointly appealed to the state government to ensure Wachuku’s legacy is permanently entrenched in Nigeria’s civic education and public institutions.
Abia State Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, PhD, stressed that the Governor’s action was driven by principle, not political calculations.
“If this were politics, His Excellency would not be visiting widows of leaders like Dee Sam Mbakwe. This is about honour, not advantage,” Ajagba said.
Leaders of Ngwa extraction, including Chief Theo Nkire, Chief Eric Opah, and Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, described the gesture as unprecedented, saying it restored pride to Ngwa land and rewrote Abia’s place in Nigeria’s historical narrative.
The event climaxed with the laying of wreaths by Governor Otti and his wife, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, in the presence of senior government officials, traditional rulers, and political leaders.
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