Otti warns of dire consequences of government insensitivity in Abia State

 

• Says we’re all vulnerable

 

BY JOEL OGBU

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 election in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that given the prevailing security situation in the country and particularly the insensitivity of the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government towards the welfare of Abia people, everyone in the state, no matter how highly placed, has become vulnerable.

Otti’s frightening declaration was captured in his state-of-Abia-address as the state government celebrated 28th anniversary of the creation of Abia State without any tangible developmental achievements to showcase.

While calling on the elites and well-meaning citizens of the state to rally together and prevent Abia from sliding into anarchy, Otti said: “We must prove to our people that some of us are worthy of being called elders or statesmen.”

“We should not think or pretend to be too safe in our comfort zones, because the sweeping security challenges confronting the country have proven that everyone, no matter how highly placed, is vulnerable, directly or indirectly, thus we must strive to prevent our state from sliding into anarchy which bad leadership brews at the long run.

“The just celebrated 28th anniversary should awaken the consciousness of responsibility and pro-people responsiveness of every son and daughter of Abia and inspire a new progressive lifestyle required to reposition our dear state of Abia for the good of all.”

Otti, who is currently contesting the outcome of the 2019 gubernatorial election, observed regrettably that some elders and senior citizens in the state had through their silence, or support of connivance, encouraged the leadership mess that have plunged Abia into the present socio-political and economic chaos.

“I humbly plead with you in the name of God to pause, ponder and reflect about the state you would be leaving behind for your children and grandchildren.

“You and I may have acquired the material wealth that would last us a life time, but keeping silent and standing idly by in the face of the atrocities ravaging Abia, is one sin every one of us must avoid to die with,” he admonished.

He said he had resolved to more than ever before, dedicate his time, energy and whatever material things God had blessed him with to fight for the restoration of an Abia that would meet the expectations of the founding fathers.

“To our vibrant, visionary and resilient youths, I urge you to remain firm and unshaken.

“To the few who have become willing agents of destabilisation and destruction, may I remind you that, you were not created to be thugs for those who accidentally found themselves in power. Your energy should be put to good use, even as we strive to reclaim our state and engage you meaningfully.

“To our starving civil servants and dying pensioners, your labour shall not be in vain,” he promised.

He decried a situation where workers in many state government owned institutions are being owed up to 15 months salary arrears while pensioners are owed 32 months pension arrears, after government had received over 30 billion naira in bailout fund and Paris Club refunds, not to mention the hundreds of billions of naira that have accrued to the state as federal allocations and internally generated revenues, saying that this defeats every pretence of sincerity and seriousness on the side of the Okezie Ikpeazu led government.

“No unmotivated workforce can give a healthy output,” he fired.

“To add insult to injury, the government, in an unpatriotic bid to abandon its responsibility, has brought a destructive dichotomy that is alien to our civil service by introducing what it calls ‘Core and Non-Core’ civil servants,” he added.

However, while greeting Abians on the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state, Otti said the day should have been a very special one in the life of every Abian and should have been celebrated amidst pomp and pageantry, inspired by the great progress and phenomenal achievements recorded as God’s Own State.

“Sadly, as I took record of events in different parts of the state, listened to the agonising reactions of our people, and read posts and comments of frustration and disappointments on social media, I was undoubtedly convinced, that once again, our people marked the day with sadness and sobriety,” he regretted.