Past Abia governors must render account, says Otti

•Governor-elect to tackle security, unemployment

Abia State Governor-elect Alex Otti yesterday unfolded an anti-corruption agenda, saying that previous governors should render proper accounts and show proofs of prudent spending.

He said the era of graft and theft in public life has ended in the Southeast state, adding that, henceforth, public funds would be judiciously utilised for the common good.

The banker-turned politician reflected on the rot in the state, noting that the collapse of industries has led to youth unemployment and insecurity. Urging the people to exercise more patience, he said his administration will resolve the power crisis and create an enabling atmosphere for industries to thrive so that they can generate employment.

Noting that these are challenging times, he said governance is not a tea party. He said: “This is the time for the common man to be in power. It will not be a tea party. Those who can’t read the balance sheet should not even aspire to be governor. It is a challenging time. We need creative people in government and not those who will always go to Abuja, cap in hand, to look for money.

“I reflected for over eight months before I joined the race. I was shocked by the infrastructural decay, lack of roads and the rot in Abia. We need well trained, well equipped and focused administrators. There is nothing on ground in Abia. Evem Government House does not exist. Youths are unemployed.”

Otti, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) spoke with reporters in Lagos on the recent Court of Appeal Judgment on the Abia governorship election and the preparations for the final litigation in the Supreme Court.

Noting that anti-corruption battle is the order of the day, he said all those who have occupied public office should be made accountable through a thorough investigation of their tenure.

Otti stressed: “Everybody should be accountable. People can be asked to render accounts of their stewardship. It can’t be business as usual. There is no issue of blood tonic again, whereby money is doled out to the elite. I won’t share the collective patrimony of the Abia people to privileged indigenes. Government money that has been filtered away must be returned.”

The governor-elect chided a legal luminary and one-time senator from the state for protesting the verdict of the Court of Appeal on the disputed poll, saying that they have not conducted themselves as statesmen. He alleged that the lawyer’s opinion on the ruling that he has not read was beclouded by partisanship, adding that he was paid to do a dirty job.

Otti also berated the senator for a shortfall in patriotism and decency, stressing that he opted to protest on the streets because he lacked a meaningful job and source of income.

The APGA candidate accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of creating tension in Abia, following its defeat at the poll. He maintained that the poll was rigged in favour of the PDP candidate, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, adding that the tribunal upheld his forged victory because the judges misunderstood the case.

Exuding confidence, the APGA flag bearer said the Supreme Court will give a ruling that will be favourable to the people of Abia. He added: “I believe the Supreme Court will uphold the judgment of the Court of Appeal. The major issues are clear. The PDP isolated three local governments to perpetrate electoral fraud. They removed the voter’s register and engineered violence to scare people.

“I was leading with over 60,000 votes in the 14 councils. The results from the three local governments were forged. PDP leaders stormed the collation centre and intimidated the returning officers. They reversed themselves and collated the results they had cancelled.”

Otti said the allegation that he picked his running mate from his native Central Senatorial District, clarifying that the deputy governor elect is from Ohafia, North District. He said his choice was consistent with the spirit of the 1999 Constitution.

He also said the allegation by the PDP that he influenced the composition of the Appeal Court panel was unfounded, stressing that the President of the Court of Appeal set up the panel. He added: “The PDP stole the mandate. That is why they wanted to create controversy over the composition of the panel.”

Reflecting on the electoral battle and the attempts on his life by suspected foes, he said: “There have been attempts on me. In Abuja, I was in a place. God told me to leave. I left. They invaded the place and kill my orderly. But, my Jehova God will always protect me.”