Tag: Otti

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has vowed that no kobo from the resources of Abia State will be stolen under his administration.

 Otti stated this at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Headquarters, Ayaba Umueze, Aba while declaring open the 4th Pastors’ Kids Association Convention 2024 with the theme, ‘Advancing The Gospel In A Digital Era.’

 The governor emphasised that corruption and stealing are forbidden in his government, and he challenged all to live by example in their little corners.

“In our administration, corruption and stealing are forbidden. So, when you see or hear people making noise in the media, it’s because they are unable to continue to feed on resources that belong to all of us and I can assure you that under my watch, Abia resources, not even one kobo of it will be stolen,” he stated.

Otti urged  pastors’ children to remember the sacrifices their parents made and stand firm any time they are confronted with challenges.

Read Also: Abia begins clearing of destitute from streets

“I challenge all of you in your little corner, lead by example, and don’t also worry if people criticize you.”

 The State Chief Executive who described the theme of the event as apt, called on the congregants to extend the discussions to how to resist the attraction of artificial intelligence, robotics, and other digital innovations that give impetus that man does not need God.

He said that there was the need to explain to people that God gave man limitless wisdom.

 “So, I’m calling on all of us to extend this discussion on how to repeal and resist that attraction to digital technology that gives impetus to the belief that man doesn’t need God because that wisdom to create was already given by God,” Otti stressed.

 In his speech, the President, the Eastern Nigerian Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Bassey Udoh stressed the need for total membership involvement in advancing the gospel of Christ through digital media.

Udoh, who underscored that digital evangelism is effective in reaching a larger number of people, urged Christians to utilize all social media platforms to advance the gospel of Christ.

“With social media, you can reach anybody, anytime. Anywhere, anyhow and with that, nobody will be left out”.

“When we do this, we would have fulfilled the Bible’s mandate,”  Udoh stressed.

In his address, the President, Pastors’ Kids Association of the Eastern Union Conference of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Justice L.T.C Eruba noted that God has been blessing the offspring of those who served him diligently, noting that Governor Otti, who is a pastor’s son, today is the only Adventist pastor’s son all over the world that is a sitting Governor.

He said that the governor was doing great in infrastructure, financial discipline, and other areas of governance in the State and prayed to God to continue to guide him.

The event attracted members of the State House of Assembly, Chief of Staff to the Governor among other government functionaries.

Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Otti has said that he will demolish the Government House.

He disclosed this while explaining the reason he has not been operating from the Government House in Umuahia, the state capital.

Speaking at the Arochukwu LGA Headquarters, while commissioning some projects executed by the Mayor of the Local Government, the governor said the Abia Government House is currently in a state of dilapidation. 

He, however, said that before December this year, he would bring down the building and make it befitting of a Government House.

“Today, l am not operating from the government house in Umuahia because there is no government house. Everywhere is dilapidated and decayed.

“The option would have been to use the money I used to pay pensioners to begin to retrofit the government house.

“But, I felt that we could operate from anywhere while doing the most important things first.

“And I am proud to report that before the end of this year, we are going to break down those dilapidated buildings and we’ll put up structures that are befitting for our people who are enlightened like Abia people,” Otti stated.

Otti said that the projects executed by the council Mayor were in line with his vision for Abia State, explaining that everything his administration is doing, whether in health, road infrastructure, or others is always the best.

Read Also: Foreign mercenaries involved in planned protests, says IGP

“If you look at the projects we are doing, the road projects, the school projects, the healthcare delivery projects, and every other project.

“It’s either they are done to the best and highest standards or we won’t do them at all. We didn’t cut corners. I want to say a big thank you to God, particularly for making us be in a position to serve him at this time.

“The State Chief Executive appreciated the achievement recorded by the Mayor and said that the Mayor is supporting his vision.

“I want to also thank him for working so harmoniously with other Mayors and for supporting us.”

In his speech, the Mayor of Arochukwu, Mazi Joe Ezearo said that reconstructions done in the council headquarters were testaments to the unwavering support of Governor Alex Otti to the council.

The Governor of Abia State Dr. Alex Otti says his administration is committed to partnering with serious-minded companies towards achieving a digital and technology-driven economy for the State.

Otti stated this while addressing a delegation of investors from the West India Asian Cable Company (WIACC), a broadband company led and introduced to the state by the General Overseer of Omega Ministries, HRM Apostle Chibuzo Gift Chinyere.

The governor while describing broadband technology as key to the economic prosperity of the state, said that his administration already had a robust plan for the infrastructure in the state, adding that apart from the commissioning of the Geometric Power Plant, he is gradually addressing some of the infrastructural issues that were hitherto discouraging investors from coming into the State.

He noted that the Geometric Power facility with 188 megawatts capacity was expandable as his discussions with the CEO of the company a few weeks ago centered on the need for the company to expand power across and beyond the State.

Read Also:Onuigbo lauds Gov Otti over compensation for proposed site of Federal Secretariat

“In terms of infrastructure, I think we have a robust plan infrastructure-wise. We may have had our issues in the past and in Aba alone, the Geometric facility has the capacity of 188 megawatts and it’s expandable, and the discussion we had last week with the CEO of Geometric Power is to the fact that we need to start doing something to expand the capacity from Osisioma into everywhere in the State and beyond.

“So, reaching Owaza will be a piece of cake and Ukwa West where the Industrial park is located is part of the jurisdiction of Geometric Power. So, I am encouraging The Power Company to increase their generation beyond the present LGAS.”

Otti said that he was working towards achieving an Abia where people will sit in the comfort of their homes and earn a living, leveraging on the opportunities offered by Google, Amazon, and their likes.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has ordered the reversal of all command promotions made by the former governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, over the past nine years.

This directive, announced through a statement by the State Head of Service, Ngozi Obioma, is part of an effort to reform the state public service.

The action aligns with the provisions of Public Service Rule 1.

The governor’s directive, as outlined in a letter dated July 4, takes effect from July 1.

The memo reads: “Sequel to the unwavering commitment of the present administration to reform the Abia Public Service in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rule, I wish to convey the directive of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti on the above subject.

Read Also: Soldiers’ killing: Alex otti increases bounty to N30m

“Consequently, all Command Promotions granted in the past eight (8) years before the inception of the present administration, to both individual Public Servants and the entire workforce (in April 2023) are hereby cancelled.

“All the affected staff are hereby directed to reverse to their former rank and salary grade level before the Command Promotions under reference.

“Such staff will henceforth progress through the normal promotion processes as enshrined in the Public Service Rules and Regulations.

“This is aimed at restoring normalcy and seniority in the service, as well as the sanctity of the service which was eroded over time.

“Accordingly, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Ministerial and Non-Ministerial Departments are directed to ensure strict compliance with this directive, and forward to the Office of the Head of Service corrected copies of their 2024 Nominal Rolls in both hard and soft copies, reflecting the reversion.

“This circular is with effect from 1st July 2024.”

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia on Wednesday inaugurated a 100-bed Sustainable Development Multipurpose Hospital in Obeaja, Ugwunagbo Local Government Area.

Speaking during the ceremony, Otti said that health occupied a major position in Abia Government’s rebuilding agenda adding that the hospital would enhance efforts made to improve access to quality healthcare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 100-bed capacity hospital is a Federal Government’s health intervention programme executed through the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The governor commended the federal government for prioritising completion of the hospital and for renaming it from the erstwhile Mother and Child Hospital to Sustainable Development Multipurpose Hospital.

Otti also thanked the federal government for delivering and transitioning the management of the hospital to the state government.

He said: ”I will like to thank you for your commitment to see to the completion of this project.

”Also the assurance that you gave that the state government will take over the management of the hospital.”

Otti said that the state government would provide additional land for the Federal Government to build the hospital’s doctors’ quarters.

According to him, the government’s intervention programme which highlighted the importance of SDG 3, emphasises the need for government and stakeholders to strengthen the campaign against maternal and child mortality.

”It is interesting to hear from Her Excellency that our maternal mortality rate has reduced from a 1,047 that it used to be in 2020 to the 531 it was in 2022.

”If I were to quote her, she says it has gone down to 136 presently, that means we are doing well but we’re not there yet, we still have a long way to go but we have moved.

”The current numbers are not here yet but I can assure you that by the time the numbers will start coming out, we will be getting downward to actually less than 80.

”This is because Abia government is very deliberate, intentional and focused on healthcare delivery,” he said.

Otti said that the state government would provide 24 hours security and set up a facility management team that would ensure the hospital remains in good working condition.

In her remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that the project was conceived by the administration of the former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Orelope-Adefulire said that the facility was built to meet the healthcare needs of people of the area.

She said that similar projects had been executed across the country under the SDGs to improve the well-being of citizens.

Orelope-Adefulire described the hospital as an intervention which aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

She highlighted the federal government’s commitment to prioritising key interventions with multiplier effects on eradicating multidimensional poverty in the country.

In her address, the Wife of Abia Governor, Mrs Priscilla Otti, described the hospital as a testament of government’s unwavering commitment to improve healthcare in alignment with SDGs.

Mrs Otti, represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adaeze Emetu, expressed confidence that the facility would enhance access to healthcare services and improve health outcomes.

In his remark, the Transition Committee Chairman of Ugwunagbo LGA, Mr Nosike Ihesiaba, described the hospital as a welcome development.

Ihesiaba commended the state government for efforts in promoting socioeconomic growth in rural communities in all the 17 LGAs of the state.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Ifeyinwa Uma-Kalu, expressed the confidence that the facility would provide comprehensive care, especially for women and children who often face most challenges in healthcare systems.

Uma-Kalu described the facility as another milestone towards ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all.

Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Hospital Management Board, Dr Odochi Azubuike, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to improving the health indices of the citizenry.

Read Also: President Federation Cup: Otti lauds Abia Warriors despite final  loss 

Uma-Kalu said that the facility had been fully equipped to provide antenatal care, management of child diseases and general medical services.

In an interview with newsmen, the Deputy Transition Committee Chairman of Ugwunagbo LGA, Mr Kelvin Chijioke, described the facility as “a first of its kind” in the area.

Chijioke said that he was delighted over the siting of the hospital in the Ugwunagbo and the benefits accruable to the people.

He said that communities in the area would take ownership of the health facility to ensure that it fulfills its purpose optimally for the benefit of everyone it serves.

(NAN)

Abia state governor, Alex Otti, has awarded scholarship to the university level to children of the three policemen that were killed in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

This is even as the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state led by Rt. Hon. Allwell Asiforo described the killing of the policemen as a rude shock.

He asked the governor of the state to rejig the state’s security architecture.

Three policemen attached to Azuka Police Station off Ikot Ekpene road, were attacked and killed at Opobo junction on Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway at the weekend while they were on a stop and search operation, leaving two other colleagues who sustained gun shots critically wounded as they battle for survival in the hospital.

Governor Otti made the vow during a visit to the families of the two deceased policemen in their various homes and the two wounded officers.

Governor Otti assured them that Abia state government would be supporting the families for their upkeep.

Addressing the press, Otti said: “First of all, we want to commiserate with the families, the police authorities, the commissioner of police in the State, and then, of course, the Inspector General of police for this very sad thing that happened in the evening of yesterday”.

“This is a time to reassure the security agencies that the State is behind them. And, then also reassure Abia citizens that the State is equal to the task and we are not going to let this go away without identifying and bringing to book all those who are directly or remotely involved”.

“It’s very unfortunate. We felt after all we have done including rounding up some of the people that were involved in the last attack, this would not happen again. For it to happen so quickly, we have also met and we have decided to change strategy”.

He urged the people not to panic but to go about their normal businesses, assuring them that the State would do everything to protect them.

“The people know that this government will not rest on its oars. And, everybody should go about their businesses. We don’t want people to panic, we don’t want people to get discouraged, we are equal to the task and this is a wake-up call.

Read Also: NDLEA intercepts N7.35bn codeine consignments in  Port Harcourt

“Security agencies have also intensified all their efforts to ensure that this does not happen again”‘, Governor Otti reassured.

Asked whether he was suspecting the enemies of the state to be behind the attack, he said: “We do not want to speculate but like you rightly asked, it is reasonable to suspect that the enemies of the State, particularly those who don’t want to see any good or want any good for Abia people maybe somehow connected with this.

“That’s a suspicion, but we believe by the time investigations are over and all the intelligence that are being gathered are put together, we will know exactly where this is coming from.

“But like one former Head of State once said, for an insurrection to prevail over a government, then something is wrong.

“We believe that our government is not going to succumb to this kind of blackmail. And, we are going to fish them out wherever they run to.

Governor Otti was accompanied on the visit by the State Commissioner of Police CP Kenechukwu Onwuemelie; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba PhD, the Mayor of Aba North, Ide John Udeagbala the Mayor of Aba South, Hon. Uche Nwaogu, SSA to the Governor on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe among other government officials.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has challenged Governor Alex Otti to specify the ninety roads he claimed to have renovated within a year, as mentioned in his recent address to the state’s citizens.

The party has also called on Otti to provide an estimate of the costs for these road projects and evidence that the contracts were awarded in compliance with the Abia Public Procurement Act.

In a statement signed by PDP Acting Publicity Secretary Elder Amah Abraham, the party urged Otti to list the rehabilitated roads so that the people of the state can verify them.

The statement stressed that genuine governance is founded on transparency and accountability in governmental operations.

It highlighted how previous PDP administrations in the state adhered to due process in awarding contracts and publicly disclosed the roads they constructed.

It said: “The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn yet again to one of the many incorrect and unverifiable claims by Governor Alex Otti, which only serves to perpetuate his Nazi-style propaganda methods meant to confuse and deceive the good people of Abia State.

“This time, Gov Alex Otti claimed to have rehabilitated 90 roads in the last one year, during his last address to Abians.

“The Abia PDP challenges Governor Alex Otti to produce a list of the said 90 roads he rehabilitated and the costs associated with the road contracts, as well as show proof that due process and the provisions of the Abia Public Procurement Act were followed in the award of the contracts. The government of Governor Alex Otti has never published the cost of any road except to confirm our information on the Port Harcourt Road Aba project, which was re-awarded at the whopping cost of N30b, and that continues to attract public outcry due to its variance with conventional road costs of that nature.

“In this case, we challenge Governor Alex Otti to take a cue from the national leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, on whose back Alex Otti rode to victory, who always says, “Go and verify.

“Governor Alex Otti must release the list so that Abians can verify it. And this is what he must do if he wants Abians to take him seriously.

“It should be recalled that in 2019 candidate Alex Otti confirmed during a debate that he received a list of road projects done by the Ikpeazu administration, verified independently, and confirmed the number and length of the projects.”

The party further stated that the people will not believe Gov Alex Otti’s claims about rehabilitating 90 roads, as they cannot see the roads.

“In the last year, Abians have become used to the unrepentant character of the Governor and his aides, who are in the habit of telling lies at all times, even when it is unnecessary.

Read Also: Clear salary arrears, PDP tells Governor Otti

“The immediate consequence is that Abians now disbelieve whatever comes from their desks until they verify those claims.

“Abians are fully aware that the previous PDP administration was in the habit of making public its claims about road construction by publishing the names of the roads it constructed, and always followed due process in the award of contracts. That is the true essence of governance, which rests squarely on transparency and accountability in the conduct of government business.

“Abia PDP calls on elders of the State, the Labour Party, and all well-meaning Abians to prevail upon Governor Alex Otti to make public the list of the 90 roads he rehabilitated and the costs; otherwise, we will take it that he has lied to Abians as usual, and this pattern is truly disgusting and unacceptable to the good people of Abia state.”

The Abia chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called upon Governor Alex Otti to settle outstanding salaries owed to state employees promptly.

The PDP emphasised that the state receives ample funds from the Federal Allocation Accounts Committee (FAAC) to cover both overdue salaries and other essential state obligations.

The party also demanded that Otti furnish detailed information regarding salary payments to employees of Uturu, Abia State University (ABSU), and other state workers.

They insisted that any pending salaries should be settled without delay.

In a statement signed by Elder Abraham Amah, the acting state publicity secretary for the PDP, the party noted its awareness of a press release from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), questioning Governor Otti’s claims of having cleared university lecturers’ salaries.

The PDP urged the governor to refrain from politicizing salary issues affecting its members, many of whom are facing financial hardship.

The PDP asserted that ASUU’s response to the Governor’s claims was expected, highlighting concerns over Otti’s handling of issues affecting lecturers and other institution workers crucial to Abia State’s workforce development.

It said: “The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn to a press release issued by the Abia State University branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, wherein it refuted claims by Governor Alex Otti, that he has cleared salaries of workers of the state-owned university and warned the Governor to stop politicizing the issue of salary payment to its members who are under heavy financial burdens.

“According to ASUU, the true position is that the salaries of ABSU workers are not up to date, and have been paid haphazardly, even as many are yet to receive many months’ salaries. Worse is the unexplained deductions ranging between N8,000 and N53,000 that were made at source from the accounts of the few who have received their salaries.

“The rebuttal by ASUU did not come to us as a surprise, and we know that Abians are not surprised too because they are getting used to the penchant of the present government to dish out lies couched in Adolf Hitler’s Nazi-style destructive propaganda to deceive the people.

“The Abia PDP is deeply concerned that the governor will resort to treating lecturers and other workers of an institution that produces the workforce for Abia and surrounding States with such levity and insensitivity.

“It has become typical of the Alex Otti administration to push out half-truths and unfounded lies just to defend its directionless policies and inability to fulfil the promises it made to the people during the campaigns. At every turn, the present government has shown itself as an enemy of workers. A few days after he assumed office, he sacked all the permanent secretaries, and more than 15,000 workers and embarked on endless verifications that have left many workers unpaid for more than one year.

Read Also: Otti pledges support for establishment of oil refinery

“The case of pensioners is worse as he claimed to have cleared their 9 or 10 years pensions. The senior citizens deserve to be treated better and must not be lied to or used as an alibi to fritter the state’s resources.

“The case of the staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital, ABSUTH, Aba, is more pathetic and we lack the superlatives to qualify their condition which has forced many of them, especially consultants to seek greener pastures overseas, leaving the remaining with huge workload that is not commensurate with their status and the epileptic payment of their salaries and allowances.

“As we write, ABSUTH is a shadow of itself as the caregivers are disenchanted with the Governor who has failed to fulfill his campaign promises.

“Abia PDP calls on Governor Alex Otti to come clean on the issue of salaries of staff of ABSU, and other workers in the State and ensure that the outstanding salaries are cleared with immediate effect, because the receivables from the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC, is more than enough to clear the outstanding salaries and do much more for the good people of Abia State.”