…Promises more developments
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, has said that he would submit himself for audit after the end of his administration.
Otti who made the disclosure during a town hall meeting for Abia North senatorial zone at Ohafia Council headquarters, said that he was not afraid of probe.
He also asked his appointees to get prepared for probe, saying that any honest leader should not be afraid of probe.
The Governor wondered why some people are criticising him for engaging an audit firm to scrutinise the accounts of the state under the previous administration.
Otti declared that his emergence last year marked the end of political slavery vowing that “never again shall Abia return to Egypt.”
He said that he came to change the narrative and deliver democracy gains to the grass roots.
Otti declared that the era of sharing money among few individuals around the corridors of power and their boot lickers was over.
The Labour Party Governor vowed that under his watch Abia’s resources would be used to work for the people and not be shared among politicians.
“In the past, Abia money was shared among those close to Government, and their cronies. But unfortunately for them, things have changed.
“This is not a government that shares money but a government that uses money to work for the people.”
Otti who said his administration had made tremendous impacts in less than one year assured that the state would witness greater transformation in the years ahead.
“We are just in the early days of our programmes. In the next 12 months there shall be more developments.”
He expressed satisfaction with the performances of the Mayors of the 17 Local Government Areas in the state, saying they have justified their appointment.
“I thank our Mayors for doing so well in less than six months, and I assure them of every support they need,” Otti said, adding that massive infrastructural development are going on in all the LGAs.
He specifically applauded the Mayor of Ohafia LGA for the massive renovations in the council headquarters.
Otti thanked the people of Abia North senatorial district for their continued support for him, recalling that he had never failed election in the zone.
He rather said that unpatriotic elements from outside the zone had, in the past, stollen his votes, but noted that such era was gone.
“Every kingdom has an expiry date. The kingdom of bad governance in Abia State expired on 29th May, 2023. The journey for a new Abia has just begun.”
The Governor who said he had every community in the state on his mind, hinted that he would commence tour of every LGA by next month, and later visit communities to identify the needs of the people.
He explained that the essence of the zonal town hall meeting which is part of the activities lined up to mark his first anniversary celebration, was to feel the pulse of the people and get their assessment of his administration.
Otti promised not to betray the confidence reposed in him by the people.
Speaking earlier on behalf of his colleagues from the district, the Mayor of Ohafia LGA, Chief Bourdex Onuoha Ogba, thanked the Governor for allowing LGAs access to their funds to embark on developmental projects.
He described Otti as God-sent who has so far demonstrated that he came on board to open the democratic space in Abia.
People from all five LGAs of Umunneochi, Isuikwuato, Bende, Ohafia and Arochukwu, trooped out in their numbers to receive the Governor.
Otti later inaugurated a number of building projects undertaken by the Ohafia Mayor inside the Council headquarters.
The town hall meeting will be held in Umuahia and Aba before May 29.
Otti is also to inaugurate seven newly completed roads by his administration as part of activities to mark his One Year in Office which he had announced, would be in low key.
