Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti has inaugurated the Board of Abia State Independent Electoral Commission, ABSIEC, chaired by Professor George Chima.
The Governor also swore in Dr Cliff Agbaeze, a former Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture as the new Commissioner for Agriculture.
Dr Agbaeze replaced former Agric Commissioner, Professor Monica Ironkwe who recently resigned her appointment.
In the same vein, Otti inaugurated the Auditor General of the State, Mrs Ngozi Eke Ogbonnaya.
Speaking at the ceremony held at Government House, Umuahia, Gov. Otti said that his administration “is founded on competence, accountability and responsibility and as such appointees are expected to give their best in the service of the State.”
He said: “To whom much is giving, they say, much more is expected. It is a challenge to be appointed in this administration. Why do I say so? because this administration is founded on competence, accountability and responsibility.
“The demands of your office would be very very heavy. The expectations of our people is very very high but I have no doubt that you are going to live up to your calling,” Governor Otti declared.
Governor Otti while noting that their appointments came freely to them without anyone requesting money from them made them to understand that his administration has zero tolerance for corruption.
“Our administration is an administration that has zero tolerance for corruption; absolutely zero tolerance to corruption,” Governor asserted.
The Governor informed the new appointees of the high demands of their offices and said that they have not come to impress anyone but to serve the people.
While inaugurating the Board members of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission ( ABSIEC), the Governor, charged the members not to bow to the pressure of compromise as such will amount to suicide.
“Particularly to the Board members of ABSIEC, you will come under heavy pressure. People would want you to compromise. They will bring money to you. They will promise you heaven on earth but you must know that the very day you succumb, you would have committed suicide and will just be a matter of time before you find your way out. I do know that all of you are going to excel in this assignment,” Gov. Otti said.
He noted that they are the best among their equals and expressed the hope that they will bring their wealth of experience to bear in their new assignments.
In their responses, the new Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze and the Chairman, ABSIEC, Professor George Chima, thanked the Governor for finding them fit for the task and pledged to discharge their new assignments creditably.
They described it as an honour being part of the team of the number one Governor in Nigeria and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Other Board members of ABSIEC sworn in include Dr. Kelechi Okere, Mr Joseph Akara, Mrs. Ekele Queen Ahuchaogu, Ms Bertha Ehumadu, Mr. Nkemdirim Kalu and Onyemachi Elekwa as Secretary.
