Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has vowed to deliver more democracy dividends to Abians now that the legal distractions around his victory have been cleared.
Otti who made the promise while reacting to the affirmation of his election victory by the Supreme Court on Friday, said the judgment of the apex court had renewed his resolve to give Abia people good governance.
He thanked Abians for standing firmly behind him while the legal battle lasted.
This is as the Governor, extended the olive branch to those who took him to court, urging them to sheath their swords and come up with ideas that will bring about positive development to the state.
Otti who was flanked by his wife, Mrs Priscilla Otti; and Government officials in his Ngwa country home, said he was determined “to restore the dignity of the Abia man.”
According to him, his desire is to ensure that Abia is reckoned with positively in the league of states in Nigeria.
Otti thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remaining firm in his resolve that the judiciary should be independent, noting that his non-intervention in the judiciary has brought about positive results in the country.
“I want to thank His Excellency, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for remaining firm to the resolve that the judiciary should be independent.
“If he did not do that, perhaps, some of the judgments and verdicts that were given today may have been different.
“I want to encourage him to continue in that light. I believe that his non intervention in the judiciary has produced positive results in the country today.
“A few places where people were getting ready to burn down places today has sheathed their swords because the rule of law prevailed,” Governor Otti noted.
He equally applauded the judiciary for remaining firm by not allowing the people’s will to be truncated by desperate politicians, maintaining that by so doing, it has proved that it is indeed the last hope of the common man.
Otti thanked his opponents especially those that did not go to court for being supportive as well as anointed men of God for their prayers.
He urged his opponents to join hands with him and develop Abia.
“I want to invite everyone including my opponents who were in court with me to say now that the battle is over, you have no choice but to sheath your sword.
“I invite you to come with every idea you have, let us sit down and discuss because the most important thing is Abia state.
“Anybody that has anything to contribute to the positive development of Abia State is welcome, irrespective of your political leaning, irrespective of your ethnic leaning, irrespective of your religious leaning, we are one and the same people.
“From now on, division cannot be allowed in Abia State. We are all in one boat, anybody who wants the good of our State should join us in this boat and the boat is large enough to accept and receive everyone,” he enjoined.
The Abia state Governor who used the forum to congratulate his colleague Governors who also won their cases in court, called on the people of Obingwa to jettison the outdated and fraudulent means of elections manipulation that they have been known for years now.
Governor Otti thanked God for the victory. He also thanked the Abia people for standing solidly behind him in the effort to rescue the state from mal-administration.
Otti appreciated Nigerians who according to him, have embraced his governance model and have at different fora said positive things about what his administration is doing in Abia State.
