Obi will be in Aba for our campaign flag-off, Otti assures

The governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP) in Abia State for the 2023 election, Dr. Alex Otti, has re-assured the people of the state, who are eager to catch a glimpse of the LP presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, that he will be in Aba on Thursday, November 10.

Otti said the reassurance became necessary following an announcement earlier in the week by the Abia State Government frowning at the use of public facilities in the state for political campaigns.

The LP gubernatorial hopeful will be flagging-off his campaign for the 2023 election on Thursday, at the football pitch of Ngwa High School, Aba.

The school is owned by the Aba-Ngwa North Diocese of Anglican Communion, which is said to have handed over the pitch to the Alex Otti Campaign Council (AOCC), having paid the necessary fees.

“I invite you to come to Ngwa High School, Aba, tomorrow (Thursday) for our flag-off. Peter Obi will be there,” an excited Otti said with certainty, while addressing a group of stakeholders in Ohia, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

Meanwhile, the AOCC in a statement issued Wednesday and signed by its State Coordinator, Hon. Iheanacho Obioma, restated that the campaign flag-off will be going on as scheduled, saying that the government announcement was a deliberate plot to create doubt in the minds of Abia people who sold on the Alex Otti mandate.

The statement reads in part: “That the venue of the Proposed Rally does not belong to Abia state government, rather to a private religious institution, Aba-Ngwa North Diocese of Anglican Communion which had since given us the necessary approvals after payment was made and received.

“That the school is presently on midterm break which is one of the things taken into consideration before the date was chosen. We do not expect Abia state government to be aware of this because they have no interest in the affairs of the school.

READ: Abia Govt moves to stop Obi’s visit, frets over Otti-Labour Party campaign flag-off

“That the owners and management of the facility who have better knowledge of the vicinity and who had exhibited moral obligation to protect the welfare and wellbeing of their students than Abia State Government understood that our rally will pose no threat of any kind to the facilities and students whose classrooms are far away from the venue of the rally before giving their approval.

“Just a few days ago the PDP held similar rallies at Osusu Amaukwa and Umuakatawom primary schools respectively in Obingwa while schools were in session. Does this not show hypocrisy and double speak by the same government?

“Our party had applied to use the Aba Township Stadium (Enyimba Stadium) but the state government turned down our request on the grounds that the pitch is a synthetic turf and thus will be destroyed if we hold our rally there.

“Our Governorship Candidate, Alex Otti has repeatedly proven his love for education hence he runs the most professionally organized and sustainable Undergraduate Scholarship Scheme for indigent students in Abia, unlike the present government that continues to superintend the de-accreditation and destruction of our academic institutions, therefore the government’s insulting pretence of love for education and welfare of Abia students is both hypocritical and provocative.

“If the Ikpeazu led government had any respect for our students and teachers, nor attached a modicum of importance to the welfare of Abians, the governor would not have abandoned protesting workers and pensioners to go to Benue to dance like one who won a championship trophy.

“We wish to advise governor Okezie Ikpeazu to distance himself from his overzealous aides and allies who are encouraging him to resort to violence as a strategy to enthrone his anointed candidate. Such advisers and allies do not mean well for the governor because they do not understand the implications and consequences of their action.

“The government’s false alarm and the negative publicity it is giving to our planned rally is a well thought out fraudulent strategy aimed at causing confusion amongst our supporters with the intention of scaring them away from the rally. It’s a repeat of the devilish 2015 campaign strategy of the PDP, which failed then and will fail again this time.

“Finally, while calling on our members, supporters, and indeed Abians from all walks of life to ignore the rants from Abia State Government and come out en-mass on Thursday at Ngwa High School to give our Presidential Candidate a rousing welcome, we wish to assure everyone of their safety and security.”