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  • Otti reassures citizens of commitment to health care services

    Otti reassures citizens of commitment to health care services

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti has reassured citizens of the commitment of his administration to provide health care services in the 17 local governments.

    He spoke during the reception of the survival thanksgiving service for the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Umuahia.

    He said he would ensure equipment of primary health care centres to promote accessible and affordable health care services.

    Read Also: Akintola Williams’ demise marks end of an era, Gov. Abiodun says

    The governor, who said he was determined to fulfil his campaign promises, including health care delivery and care for the elderly and vulnerable people, added that his administration would lift the people from poverty.

    He thanked God for sparing the life of Akpara and congratulated him on his survival.

    The commissioner thanked God for His mercies, which led to his survival from a motor accident.

    He narrated his ordeal and how God used Keke operators and his driver to save his life.

    Akpara described those Keke operators as heroes of the survival thanksgiving service and thanked Governor Alex Otti and all who came to identify with him.

  • Tribunal: Otti, Ahiwe, Emenike know fate October 6

    Tribunal: Otti, Ahiwe, Emenike know fate October 6

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti, the candidate of Labour Party (LP); and two others, Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and High Chief Ikechi Emenike of the All Progressive Congress (APC), will know their fate at the election petition tribunal sitting in Umuahia on October 6.

    Judgment has been fixed for that day in a petition challenging the declaration of Dr. Otti as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.

    The Nation reports that Emenike had approached the court to seek Otti’s sack over allegations of non-resignation of his membership before joining the LP.

    He also alleged that Otti’s name was not in the Labour Party’s register before his nomination as the party’s standard-bearer in the poll.

    Also joined in the petition was the candidate of the PDP, Ahiwe; that of the Young Progressives Party, Nana Nwafor and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Speaking to reporters, Otti’s lead counsel, Abiodun Owolekoko (SAN), said his team was optimistic that the judgment would favour his client.

    Read Also: Uzodimma names 7 PDP defectors as advisers

    However, counsel for Emenike, Tochukwu Maduka (SAN), claimed that the defendant’s lawyer failed to provide the Labour Party register where his name appeared.

    He said his team prayed the court to cancel Otti’s votes, as well as those of the PDP and YPP candidates; and declare his client the lawful winner of the election, having scored the highest of lawful votes in the election.

    Lead counsel for the PDP, Prof. Paul Anaba, said his team agreed with the petitioner to sack Otti, but noted that the PDP would benefit from the petition because the case of non-resignation as the chief of staff to the former holds no water in the eyes of the law.

  • NLC declares support for Governor Otti over civil service reform

    NLC declares support for Governor Otti over civil service reform

    The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Abia state chapter has declared its support for Governor Alex Otti-led government over the ongoing workers verification exercise and other reforms being carried out in the state.

    In a statement jointly signed by the state chairman, Nweke Pascal Iheme, and the state secretary, Emma Alozie, and made available to journalists in Umuahia, NLC commended the governor for demonstrating a commitment to reposition the civil service.

    The NLC also applauded the governor’s pledge to clear the backlog of salary and pension arrears before the end of the year.

    The statement read: “His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti has demonstrated his commitment to reposition Abia Civil Service and the welfare of the workers and the pensioners, a commitment which he assured will be achieved before the end of the year.”

    The NLC, however, expressed concern over the invitation of many MDAs to appear for verification on the same day, a situation they said has brought avoidable hitches and frustration on the side of the workers and appealed that the number should be reduced.

    Read Also: NLC to begin two-day nationwide warning strike Tuesday

    The labour union, therefore, called on the government to extend the deadline for the verification exercise while appealing that the MDAs should appear on separate days so that workers wouldn’t be subjected to avoidable suffering.

    It would be recalled that Governor Otti had on the day of his inauguration restated his earlier promise to clear several years of accumulated salary and pension arrears being owed Abia workers and pensioners on or before the 31st of December 2023.

    He subsequently directed that the necessary verification and reforms be carried out so that no genuine workers would be short-changed.

  • Otti debunks planned protest over Abia tribunal judgement

    Otti debunks planned protest over Abia tribunal judgement

    The governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has described as both false and fake, the alarm raised by the leadership of the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); that the state government was planning to embark on a protest over the expected decision of the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in the state.

    Otti in a statement issued by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma on Saturday accused the PDP of being jittery and fabricating such reports with the intent of misleading the general public.

    This is even as the governor’s adviser also accused the PDP of reportedly going around the country looking for ways to use financial inducement to sway judgement in their favour.

    According to Ekeoma, Otti whom he noted has high confidence on the team of his lawyers was focused on delivering a democratic dividend and addressing the decay PDP’s several years of misgovernance left the state in.

    Read Alo: Otti to Abia civil servants: Days of truancy, lateness to work over

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Abia State Government has been drawn to a release issued by the Abia State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) wherein the party alleged that Abia State government and the Labour Party were planning to mobilize their supporters to stage a protest in order to influence the outcome of the Abia Governorship Tribunal petition filed by the PDP candidate.

    “PDP went further to allege that the government and the Labour Party were also planning to cause mayhem should the outcome go against them.

    “While restraining ourselves from joining issues with the PDP and their corrupt leaders whose situation has become very pathetic due to lack of access to public funds hence the resort to this scurrilous infantile strategy of misleading fabrication, it’s important to put the records straight by stating that it’s the PDP and their leaders that have made the world to know that there’s even a case at the tribunal through their endless propaganda and misleading reports which they churn out on a daily basis to hoodwink and misinform unsuspecting members of the public.

    “Governor Alex Otti and the Labour Party have been focused on governance while his lawyers pay attention to what happens at the tribunal.

    “Even though the Labour Party is the ruling party, we have conducted ourselves with decency and decorum by refusing to unleash hoodlums in and around the tribunal premises like the PDP and the former government did during their tenure.” 

    “Facts on ground can clearly prove that the PDP and its army of thugs have been the ones constituting nuisance through their actions and utterances, on the wrong assumption that their poor siege strategy would stampede the justices to hand over undeserved victory to them.

     “This plot is dead on arrival.

    Again, we have it on good authority that the PDP and their candidates have been carrying money around the country looking for who to bribe to compromise the judges without luck.

     “Again, if the false alarm was also to ward off our supporters who may henceforth want to be at the Tribunal while the PDP and their hired noisy supporters continue to besiege the court and give false impression of their popularity and acceptability, then they have also failed, because our supporters will peacefully remain at the tribunal to observe proceedings as required by law.

     “The Alex Otti led-government and the Labour Party are too big and too responsible to contemplate causing mayhem in a state they govern and strive to restore sanity after PDP’s years of horrendous pillaging and plundering.

     “Since we understand PDP’s modus operandi and can predict that this false alarm was to give a false lead that would divert the preying eyes of security agents away from them while they conclude their plans and execute their nefarious plot of causing mayhem in Abia, we therefore call on security agents to swing into action in order to nip whatever plot they may have in the bud.

     “Finally, we call on Abia residents and Abians all over the world  to continue to ignore the opposition PDP and their agents of destruction who are bent on causing a breakdown of law and order over their deserved defeat at the polls.

     “Governor Alex Otti will continue to prioritise the welfare and well-being of all Abians irrespective of political, sectional and religious differences while ensuring the protection of life and property of all Abians.”

  • Otti to Abia civil servants: Days of truancy, lateness to work over

    Otti to Abia civil servants: Days of truancy, lateness to work over

    The governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, has warned that his administration would no longer tolerate truancy, lateness to work and all other behaviours that are capable of sabotaging the effectiveness of the civil service in the state.

    Otti who spoke at the International Conference Center in Umuahia, the state capital, at the inauguration of the new Abia Orientation Agency further warned teachers who encourage examination malpractices would soon be dealt with.

    He said that the new Abia has no room for corruption, saying that receiving and offering bribes would be unacceptable in his government.

    He added that the new Abia State Orientation Agency represents the boldest attempt by the state government at hitting the reset button from the “mediocrity” that the incumbent administration met on assumption of office.

    The governor said: “In the new Abia, we don’t expect people to litter, throw out refuse in unauthorised places or block drains that eventually lead to flooding. We expect our people to function in sparkling clean environments. The new Abia has no room for corruption. Receiving and offering of bribe is unacceptable in the new Abia.

    “In the New Abia, it will be an anathema for any traditional ruler to confer chieftaincy titles on individuals with questionable wealth or for religious leaders to abuse their ecclesiastical authorities by engaging in conducts that are incongruent with the tenets of their faith as expressed publicly.”

    Otti who made a speech titled “Towards a New Path”, said that his government was ready to build a new governance architecture that would respond quickly to the needs of the people of the state.

    He stated: “While we shall continue to fix roads and other civil engineering structures that are critical to our social and economic development agenda, we have come here to remind ourselves that no society can witness development in the long run unless its values align with the outcomes it seeks to achieve.

    “I would be the first to concede that leadership is a major factor in determining how far and fast a society is transformed; but at the same time, it must also be noted that even the most inspirational and committed leaders would be utterly helpless when the followers cannot rise to the demands of social transformation.

    “Good roads, quality healthcare, standard schools, adequate security in our neighbourhoods and communities and other social services are desired by everyone in almost every community. However, you would agree with me that none of these would materialise in an environment where individuals and businesses do not pay their taxes promptly and correctly.

    “While we shall continue to fix roads and other civil engineering structures that are critical to our social and economic development agenda, we have come here to remind ourselves that no society can witness development in the long run unless its values align with the outcomes it seeks to achieve.

    “I would be the first to concede that leadership is a major factor in determining how far and fast a society is transformed; but at the same time, it must also be noted that even the most inspirational and committed leaders would be utterly helpless when the followers cannot rise to the demands of social transformation.

    Read Also: Otti: I will be prudent with available resources

    “Good roads, quality healthcare, standard schools, adequate security in our neighbourhoods and communities and other social services are desired by everyone in almost every community.

    “A new era is now upon us and we must put away the old garb of greed and selfishness, poor attitude to work, clannishness and instincts that promote mediocrity over meritocracy and excellence. Our challenge going forward shall be to determine how we can individually contribute to the building of our dream New Abia.

    “It is important to come to a consensus that not much will change in our cities if we keep dumping refuse indiscriminately. Abia will remain what it was before now unless we resolve collectively that in public and in private, we shall only play by the highest standards of ethics and sound judgment.

    The Director General Abia Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo in his speech, promised that the agency would work towards achieving the goals and purpose for the establishment of the agency.

  • ABSU VC commends Governor Otti for restoring industrial harmony in varsity

    ABSU VC commends Governor Otti for restoring industrial harmony in varsity

    The vice chancellor of Abia State University (ABSU), Prof. Onyemachi Ogbulu, has lauded the governor of the state, Alex Otti over his interventions and restoration of industrial harmony in the university.

    Our correspondent reports that staff of the university had embarked on several months of industrial action over months of salary arrears, an action that also affected the student population of the school.

    The Nation had also reported that it took the swift intervention of the governor of the state, to mediate and ensured that both teaching and non-teaching staff of the university were back to work.

    Ogbulu, who spoke during the 41st Matriculation Ceremony of the university, noted that the prompt and swift interventions of the governor in what he described as critical areas of needs of the university helped the state institution to navigate “the rough terrains of university administration and education in Nigeria.”

    He expressed the hope that the university with the continued support from the governor would witness remarkable transformation that will make it compete favourably with other contemporary universities.

    Read Also: Otti: I will be prudent with available resources

    Speaking further, Ogbulu who stated that he was committed to ensuring that the school produces quality graduates under his watch, charged the over 4000 matriculating students shun every act that could jeopardize their studentship.

    He said: “We expect all matriculating students to pursue their academic career here in the university with good conduct and seriousness, considering the sacrifice you and your parents may have made to get this level.

    “Do not join cult groups or be involved in any cult related activities. Do not be involved in examination malpractice, use of hard drugs, indecent dressing and any other act that is capable of de-marketing the university.

    “The administration under my watch has a deep understanding of the centrifugal rolebformal qualitative education play to the proper molding and development of great nation builders, hence we are fully committed to the production of high quality graduates here in the university every session.

    “We boast of scholars of international repute as lectures, while our graduates continue to occupy juicy and exalted position in government and corporate world.”

    The ABSU VC who also said that his administration has zero tolerance for any form of intimidation, harassment, molestation or exploitation of students by staff and students assured that the management would go all the way out to bring perpetrators of such acts to book.

    This is even as he charged the students to eschew fear of victimisation, adding that they should use the available channels in the university to draw the attention of the Vice Chancellor to such crimes.

  • Otti: I will be prudent with available resources

    Otti: I will be prudent with available resources

    Abia State Governor Alex Otti yesterday promised prudent management of the available resources, for the benefit of the people and development of the state.

    He made the promise in a statewide broadcast to begin the 32nd anniversary of the creation of the state.

    He urged residents to support his administration’s “Rebuilding Agenda”, to further drive socio-economic development in the state, by diligently paying their taxes and other statutory fees.

    “I pledge to remain prudent in the management of your resources and do hereby assure you that accountability and responsibility shall remain central to my administration.

    “Your resources shall be used to work for you and I pledge to continue to play my part.

    Read Also: Otti lauds Abia women’s roles in nation building

    “May I also invite you to do your own part because getting it right is a collective obligation.

    “We have set up series of systems that support smooth and seamless payments across digital platforms for formal and informal sector payments,” he said.

    The governor appealed to the civil servants to “recommit themselves to being diligent in their duties and support the reform initiatives of the government.”

    He also reaffirmed government’s commitment to prompt and regular payment of salaries.

    He said his administration remained committed to securing the lives and property of the people.

    According to him, relevant resources have been committed to building a robust system, called “Operation Crush”, to tackle crime.

    Otti said the government was determined to make the state safe and secure in order to improve its rating on the ease of doing business for accelerated socio-economic growth.

    He urged the people to support government’s security initiatives by reporting suspicious movements or persons within their neighbourhood to security agencies.

    “Security is everyone’s business,” he said.

    He hailed the legislative and judicial arms for the support and cooperation they had shown to the executive arm.

    He said the executive would continue to work hard to deepen its relationship with the other arms of government.

    Otti said the government had engaged multilateral organisations and agencies to strengthen the primary health care services in the state with a view to improving health care delivery in rural communities.

    He also said government was determined to improve health indices in Abia by reducing maternal and infant mortality, prevalence of common diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and renal conditions, through prevention and early detection.

    He said the government had approved appropriate funding to match its commitment to improve the standard of education.

    “Education for us is the future and it is our goal to see that every child gets the opportunity to be taught and mentored.

    “This is so as to take advantage of the opportunities that abound in the 21st Century economy, which favours mostly the skilled and properly educated,” he said.

    The governor said the state government had started rehabilitation of roads in Aba to improve vehicular movement within the city.

    He said strategic plans and programmes had been evolved for the transformation of Aba, considering the importance of the city in the development of the state.

    “The current administration is unwavering in its commitment to refine governance processes as well as systems for efficiency and transparency in the state.

    “We are working on a raft of reforms that will streamline procurement processes in the public sector, to cut out abuses.

    “The new framework will give genuine businesses operating in Abia a pathway to enjoy patronages from the government, as part of government’s initiative to support and grow local businesses,” he said.

    He further said the government would introduce major reform initiatives to strengthen institutions and enhance their capacities to meet his administration’s development agenda.

    He said measures and mechanisms had been put in place to coordinate as well as interface with global and regional institutions, to enable Abia make the most of intervention funding opportunities for critical projects in the state.

    The governor said through collaborative efforts between the government and citizens, the ideals of the founding fathers would be actualised, to enable Abia take its pride of place in the comity of states.

    “Actualising this potential has become a sacred obligation, a duty we owe the next generation and we cannot afford to fail for that will be the ultimate betrayal,” Otti said.

  • Otti vows to defeat PDP in 2019

    The Abia State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for 2019, Alex Otti, has appealed to his co-contestants to join forces with him to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in 2019.

    Otti, who spoke at the party’s secretariat while receiving his Certificate of Return from the National Chairman, Victor Oye, urged them to bury their grievances in the interest of the party’s growth.

    He said: “I appeal to everyone who participated in this process to understand that it is the wish of God that happened. I welcome them and appeal to them to join us to ensure that we get to that place God has destined for us.

    “Yes, it is not unexpected that when people go into a contest, and lose out there will be bitterness and hurt, but we must also realise that in a contest, only one person wins. And because one person has won does not mean others did not do well.

    “Abia is blessed with resources, both human and material, but because of the prevalent environment in the last 20 years, people have not made judicious use of these.

    “But I intend to bring the right environment for people to efficiently and effectively use the resources that they have. I intend to bring infrastructural development because if you go to Aba and most part of Umuahia today, everywhere looks like a refuse dump. But I don’t think it is too much for government to commit to cleaning the environment.”

  • Otti picks Abia APGA gov ticket

    Dr Alex Otti has won the governorship ticket of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State.

    Otti, who garnered 574 votes out of 619 accredited delegates during the governorship primary of the party in Umuahia at the weekend, won the election in which he was the sole candidate.

    His opponent had chosen to hold a parallel primary.

    The returning officer and national welfare officer of the party, Carol Dike Okoroafor said the exercise was devoid of any rancor.

    Otti thanked party members for once more reposing implicit confidence on him like they did in 2015, assuring their votes and mandate will not be stolen again.

     

  • Otti to EFCC: Probe past, present Abia govts

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Alex Otti, urged anti-graft agencies to probe past and present governments in the state to unravel the alleged “disappearance of billions of naira accrued to the state”.

    Otti addressed reporters on Victoria Island in Lagos on alleged financial mismanagement by succesive administration in Abia State.

    The politician condemned the National Assembly’s approval of $200 million loan for the state from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

    He said the Okezie Ikpeazu administration had left many Abia workers miserable with the eight months’ salary arrears owed them, despite several billions that have accrued to the state.

    He urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to beam their searchlights on Abia and begin urgent investigations to unravel what he called the mystery behind the state’s ruins, despite all the money it got in allocations, Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), bailouts and loans.

    But the Abia State government faulted the Otti’s allegation, describing it as baseless

    Otti said: “There is absolutely no doubt that the Ikpeazu/PDP-led government does not mean well for Abia State and its people. The consistency of negativity of the government, especially in the management of the people’s commonwealth has assumed a provocative and insulting dimension, hence the need for all men of good conscience to collectively raise their voices in saving the state by calling Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his collaborators to order so that they don’t plunge Abia and Abians into long-term financial and economic chaos.

    “I demand that the National Assembly should review its decision, taken few weeks ago, and quickly withdraw or reverse its approval of the $200 million loan. Many funds given to the Abia State government by the issuing body are bound to disappear, going by its crazy record of financial recklessness. Besides, the capacity to repay this humongous loan has not been demonstrated in any way or form, irrespective of the outdated document, titled: Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project, dated October 2015, which was the only document placed in front of the Assembly for the loan.”

    The governorship aspirant said the state government should tell Abia residents where the billions given to it for development went.

    He said the House of Assembly should set up a panel to investigate the financial activities of the Ikpeazu administration and ensure that anyone found culpable in the obvious financial crimes halting the development of the state will pay the price.

    Otti said: “The Federal Government should henceforth prevent Abia State government from assessing any form of loan from within or outside the country until it accounts for the funds already received.

    In a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary Enyinnaya Appolos, the government described Otti’s allegations as “baseless and unintelligent”.

    The statement said: “Ordinarily, clueless allegations from a character like Otti do not deserve any response. But for the sake of the public, who may be misled by the Federal Government’s acclaimed dangerous ‘misinformer’, it is necessary to state the facts.

    “Assuming without conceding that Oti is smart, as a supposed former bank chief, it should be taken for granted that he will be a master of financial numbers. But since he started his desperate quest to become Abia State governor by all means with the objective of clothing himself with underserved immunity from prosecution, he has serially exposed himself at the state and national level as a man who thinks he knows but actually knows nothing about financial numbers.

    “For the records and without mincing words, Governor Ikpeazu is open to any probe of his administration’s management of the state’s financial resources by any constituted authority of the state or Federal Government. Mr Otti is, therefore, enjoined to feel free to visit any relevant institution and offer information on any aspect of the management of Abia resources under Governor Ikpeazu…

    “A review of the contents of the document he circulated reveals a man who is either plainly ignorant or full of deceit, as even the introductory paragraphs of his statement contained outright lies, half-truths, contradictions and conjectures.

    “Mr Otti was part of the status quo he derided in Abia from 1999-2015; obviously, while he benefitted from the system, he forgot to organise press conferences to call for a probe of the state’s account, including the Federal Allocation Committee (FAAC) account that he ensured was moved to Diamond Bank when he became the MD.

    “Little wonder Otti will easily forget the N2 billion loan he ill-advisedly arranged for MOCERAM, Umuahia, that later became a burden on the succeeding administration while the factory remains moribund to date.