….Ukiwe, TA Orji, Sanusi, Datti, others grace event
From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his former deputy, Ude Oko Chukwu were conspicuously absent on Monday in Umuahia during the inauguration of the new governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti.
This is even as Otti has declared a state of emergency on refuse in the commercial nerve centre of Aba and the state capital, Umuahia.
Addressing people of the state after taking his oath of office, Otti said going by the mountainous refuse in Aba and Umuahia, he was declaring a state of emergency in those two cities.
While directing the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to commence the immediate evacuation of refuse in the affected cities, he promised to appoint within the next 24 hours someone from his team who would coordinate the operation.
Otti who stated that Abia was in quagmire and blamed the situation on mismanagement of the State’s resources and deep corruption, made it clear that his was a time to rebuild Abia.
He emphasized that unlike in the past, the rich resources of Abia State would be used to transform the State and assured that no part of the State would be left in his developmental policies even as he informed that education, agriculture, health and security will receive good attention.
He promised to holistically tackle infrastructure challenges in Aba, noting that a major construction company would be awarded the contract for the reconstruction of roads in Aba and Umuahia which had been in deplorable conditions.
Otti, bemoaning the condition of Abia workers and pensioners who are owed several months of salary by the outgone administration, promised to pay May 2023 salaries of Abia State workers and entitlements immediately.
He abolishing the dichotomy between core and non- core civil servants even as he announced that 5,000 new teachers would be recruited into the State school system.
The new governor equally promised to review the last appointments and recruitments made by the immediate -past administration of Okezie Ikpeazu.
Otti promised to engage the services of qualified contractors and seasoned technocrats in execution of projects, saying the days of delivering shoddy jobs were gone.
He said he will not allow his private life to affect his official duties while also promising to be magnanimous to members of opposition parties even as he solicited their support.
Otti warned that the days of stealing or diverting government funds into private pockets were over as every money released for projects would be utilized for the purpose it was mapped out.
“My administration will come after corrupt persons who looted the State resources, through legal means. We have a treasure that has been ravaged”.
Otti said May 29, 2023 was the day Abians have been waiting for, when they were freed from their bondage.
“Let us not live under the illusion that the worst is over. We have only won a preliminary battle But we are certainly going to our promised land because we have resolved that we will no longer serve Phoraoh”, he said.
After the stadium event, Otti retired to the residence of Prince Benjamin Apugo where he held a brief discussion with the Oparaukwu/Ochiagha Ibeku.
Those who attended the inauguration included the Vice Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Ahmed Datti , National Chairman of Labour Party, Julius Abure, Senators Theodore Orji, Ike Nwachukwu, Victor Umeh, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Mohammad and others.