Tag: Alex Otti

  • Governor Otti Saves Stranded Abia Students in India

    Governor Otti Saves Stranded Abia Students in India

    By   Milcah  Tanimu

    Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has come to the aid of Abia students studying at SRI SAI University in India, who were abandoned by the previous administration. The announcement was made by Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, during a press briefing at Government House, Umuahia, following the latest Executive Council meeting chaired by the Governor.

    The State Executive Council discussed the situation of the abandoned students and Governor Otti approved the payment of their fees, enabling them to continue their studies at the Indian university.

    In related news, Governor Otti appointed Njoku Ukoha Njoku as the new Chief Press Secretary, replacing Kazie Uko, who has served since May 2023. Prince Kanu stated that the change is part of the Governor’s strategy to enhance his administration’s media team. He praised the new appointee, Mr. Ukoha, for his extensive experience in advocacy and media management, and his passion for writing.

    Additionally, the Governor has approved bursary payments for Abia students in various law schools across Nigeria and secured accreditation for 19 courses at Abia State University, Uturu.

  • Gov Otti Suspends All Transport Levies In Abia

    Gov Otti Suspends All Transport Levies In Abia

    The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has suspended all transport levies imposed on commercial drivers in the state.

    This was contained in a statement by the special adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Wednesday.

    He stated that the directive was in line with the campaign promise of the governor to sanitize methods of revenue collection in the state and stop all kinds of extortion, intimidation and harassement of motorists.

    The statement read, “The governor has directed the immediate suspension of all kinds of transport levies payable to Abia state government and imposed on Tricycles (Keke), Buses, taxis and other commercial vehicles plying Abia roads.

    “This suspension takes immediate effect, and will remain until government reviews these levies and makes public its arrangements for the smooth, organized and transparent collection of such transport levies in a manner it would not lead to extortion, intimidation and violation of rights and privileges of Abia residents.

    “The government believes that the present method is archaic and very harmful to the lives of the people and the economic well-being of the state, and thus should not be allowed to continue.

    “In the light of the above decision, the governor has asked all those involved, directly and indirectly to please discontinue forthwith, or face the wrath of the law, as security agents have been briefed and directed to apprehend and bring to justice anyone found violating this directive”.

  • Gov Otti Vows To Start Paying Salaries, Pensions On 28th

    Gov Otti Vows To Start Paying Salaries, Pensions On 28th

    The new governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has promised to commence the payment of May 2023 salaries and pensions to all civil servants and retirees in the state within the next few days.

    In his speech after his inauguration on Monday, Otti expressed dissatisfaction with the distinction between the so-called “core” and “non-core” civil servants, adding that from June 2023, all salary and pension obligations of the state would be settled by the 28th of every month.

    Otti, who was sworn in at the Umuahia Township Stadium as the fifth democratically elected governor of Abia State, said all civil servants and retirees in the state shall, from this month, earn their legitimate entitlements as and when due.

    He also revealed plans by his administration to reform the civil service in the state, saying he will prioritise the workforce for efficiency and professionalism.

    According to the newly inaugurated governor, the Abia State Civil Service shall run differently under his administration.

    Otti explained that as part of measures to unmask ghost workers in the civil service, the state government will embrace technology.

    The move, he stated, is to “determine those who had been genuinely employed and those who are actively stealing from the public treasury.”

    He added, “Merit shall take prominence and only those who demonstrate requisite diligence in the discharge of their duties shall remain in the service. Technology will be used to support the Civil Service in the State.

    “We propose to use technology to enable all Abia State employees, including myself, to work from anywhere to achieve operational efficiency and enhanced productivity.

    “There shall be no room for corrupt practices and the full weight of the law shall be deployed in tackling all cases of indiscipline or any act that brings the service into disrepute.

    “We shall be reviewing some of the most recent appointments and promotions made by the previous administration to ensure that persons recruited and promoted have the relevant qualifications and are suitably deployed.”

    In their separate remarks, a former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, expressed optimism that the governor would perform and hit the ground running.

  • Kano Judge Denies Nullifying Alex Otti’s Victory In Abia

    Kano Judge Denies Nullifying Alex Otti’s Victory In Abia

    A Federal High Court denied nullifying the candidature of the Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, who contested the election on the platform of the Labour Party, LP.

    The court, however, said it nullified the election of the Kano LP candidates that contested the 2023 general election.

    Recalls that Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim had filed an application asking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winners in Kano and the 35 states of the Federation, including the FCT, Abuja.

    However, following the mixed reactions that have trailed the judgement, Justice Nasir-Yunusa affirmed that the candidates in Abia who took part in the just-concluded general elections were not parties in the suit.

    Nasir-Yunusa said the court declared only the primary election of the Labour Party in Kano State null and void.

    “This court lacks jurisdiction to make an order for the issuance of certificate of return.

    “They are at liberty to seek redress in the appropriate division of the court,” he said.

  • Alex Otti Reacts To Nullification Of His Candidature By Court

    Alex Otti Reacts To Nullification Of His Candidature By Court

    Abia Governor -elect, Dr , has urged Abians not to panic over his purported sack by a Federal High Court in Kano.

    Recall it was reported earlier that Otti’s candidature and other Labour party members in Abia and Kano states were nullified on grounds of not being in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 electoral act. The judge ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries renders the process null and void.

    Reacting to the ruling, Otti stated that arrangements for his swearing- in on May 29 is on full gear as planned. He told Vanguard that the antics of the enemies of democracy cannot truncate the will of Abians.

    Labour Party Chairman in Abia State, Hon. Ceekay Igara, said the court’s “pronouncement is laughable.” He said the decision of the court would have no significance in the coming inauguration of the Governor-elect.

    Igara noted that only the election tribunal is bequeathed the power to sack a democratically elected person. He said;

    “That court pronouncement is laughable. Everybody should go about their normal activities. It is only the tribunal that can remove Alex Otti. It is not just a court that will remove someone who was duly elected. Infact I am going to gear up activities for the inauguration”.

  • Court Nullifies Candidature Of LP’s Alex Otti, Others in Abia, Kano

    Court Nullifies Candidature Of LP’s Alex Otti, Others in Abia, Kano

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, presided over by Justice M N Yunusa has nullified the candidature of the Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti and all the candidates of the Labour Party in Abia and Kano States.

    The court ruled that their emergence was not in compliance with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

    A copy of the judgement delivered by the court was obtained Friday morning by DAILY POST.

    The Court in Suit No FHC/KN/CS/107/2023 filed by Mr Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim against the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ruled that the failure of the Labour Party to submit its membership register to the INEC within 30 days before their primaries renders the process invalid.

    “The party that has not complied with the provisions of the electoral act cannot be said to have a candidate in an election and cannot be declared winner of an election; this being so, the votes credited to the 1st defendant is a wasted vote,” the Judge ruled.

    The Labour Party had accused a “breakaway group” of the party led by acting National Chairman Lamidi Apapa of approaching a court in Kano State to seek the nullification of the party’s recent electoral victories.

    The LP’s acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, who raised the alarm in a statement, said “The Labour Party has been informed of an illegal attempt by a breakaway group in the party led by Lamidi Apapa to misguide a Kano state High court to invalidate all the elections won by the Labour Party in the just concluded general election.”

    The party spokesman alleged that “the suspended National Legal Adviser and a key member of the disgraced Apapa group, Samuel Akingbade Oyelekan, on Wednesday while the Presidential Appeal Tribunal was sitting in Abuja with all attentions focused on it, clandestinely sneaked out of Abuja to Kano state where he in collaboration with some members of the other political parties asked the court to invalidate all the elections won by the Labour Party, particularly, the national assembly in the 36 states and FCT on the ground that we didn’t submit register of voters to INEC.”

    He added that Akingbade, who presented himself as representing the Labour Party, did not oppose the motion, thus forcing the helpless judge to reserve judgement for Thursday, (yesterday).

  • I won’t award contracts in secrecy — Otti

    I won’t award contracts in secrecy — Otti

    Abia Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, has said that he would not award any contract in secret but transparently follow due process and make every process bare to members of the public.

    Otti who spoke through his Special Adviser Media, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, after an assessment of the dilapidated Port Harcourt Road Aba with a team of engineers from Julius Berger Construction Company, said that his administration would always be accountable to the people.

    This is coming barely one week after the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr Lars Ritcher, visited Otti in his Nvosi country home.

    The Governor-elect who expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of the strategic road said his administration would engage reputable ‘Grade A’ construction companies to fix Abia roads.

    He explained that he decided to bring in Julius Berger to assess the road in fulfilment of his campaign promises, adding that discussions are still ongoing for the formal engagement of the construction giant to fix the road.

    ” During the campaigns, Otti promised to bring reputable construction companies to Abia to build our roads. This is what he has done by bringing Julius Berger to inspect the condition of the road. Discussions are going on.”

    Otti decried the condition of the 5.9-kilometre road which has totally collapsed at many points, thus making it impossible for vehicles to connect from Alaoji axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

    ” During the inspection, we trekked from No 1 Port Harcourt Road to Alaoji end. We saw the tragedy that has befallen our people. Now that Julius Berger has first-hand information on the road, we expect to do the needful in a matter of weeks.”

    Asked if Otti who is yet to be sworn in as Governor, had awarded any contract, he said:”We are not going to award contracts in secrecy”.

    ” When it’s awarded, Abians will know everything including the cost and the millage. There will be nothing to hide because Government should be answerable to the people.

    ” But the most important thing is that Julius Berger and another reputable grade one construction firms are coming to handle projects in Abia.”

    Otti who said that Port Harcourt Road “is very strategic” to the economic survival of the state, vowed to give it and other key strategic roads in the commercial city a facelift.

    ” This road is very strategic to our people. So many people have buildings here but unfortunately, they have been abandoned due to the deplorable condition of the road. Residents of adjoining roads are also affected.

    ” Otti considers it a top priority to begin with Port Harcourt Road while discussions are on-going on other roads. Julius Berger will handle strategic roads including Obohia Road. Otti has made a firm promise to use grade A reputable companies to execute road projects that will stand the test of time.”

    On whether Otti’s administration would pay compensation for demolished buildings on the road, Ekeoma who noted with concern the fate of the owners of the affected buildings, said Otti would dialogue with them.

    ” There will be a holistic analysis of what happened concerning demolished structures along the road.

    ” Based on what we gathered, a lot of houses were demolished without any compensation to the owners. Most of the demolished buildings are far from the road. Ordinarily, you have no reason to demolish the buildings but because Government was not thorough, articulate and humane.

    ” It should have sat with the contractor to know whether those buildings actually encroached on the road. They didn’t take those things into consideration but went on a demolition spree.”

    Otti who regretted that some of the owners of the affected property had died out of frustration, said he would like to ” interact with them to know what to do to ameliorate their sufferings”.

    Meanwhile, some residents and business owners around the area expressed delight that at last, there is hope in sight, saying that the reconstruction of the road will revive economic activities in the area.

    One of the traders at Cristal Park Junction, Mrs Glory Chukwujekwu, said that cost of transportation had soared since the road went bad, disclosing that a bag of orange which initially was charged N200 now costs N700 by tricycle operators.

    She said that generations unborn would not forget Otti if truly he fixed the road.

    Another resident, Madam Onyekachi Odinaka, a provisions store owner, said that so many residents had relocated from the area following the sorry-state of the road.

    She said that the only few Indigenes who had no option had stayed back as most strangers had relocated back to the city centre.

    Mrs Odinaka who said the people voted for a change, appealed to Otti not to dash their hope after lifting it.

    Vanguard Correspondent observed that the prestigious National High Should Aba which is on the road had been overgrown by weeds just as many of the buildings on the road had been deserted obviously for lack of motorable access road.

    It was also observed that ponds had accumulated in some portions of the road.

    Although the road is a federal road, Abia State Government had awarded contract for its renovation but apart from water drainage in some parts of the road and sights of many demolished buildings, there were no signs that work was going on on the strategic road.

  • Abia Labour Party chieftain calls for collective support for Otti”s government

    Abia Labour Party chieftain calls for collective support for Otti”s government

    By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

    A chieftain of the Labour Party in Abia State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu, has called on all Abians to lend their support to the incoming administration of Dr. Alex Otti.

    Okwuonu, who was the State Deputy- Director, Alex Otti Campaign Council, said that” it takes two to tango”, adding that Dr. Alex Otti needs the support of all Abians.

    He wants Abians from all political divide to collapse party differences and join hands in salvaging Abia.

    ” What should occupy the mind of every Abia at this point is how to move the state forward.

    “Governance is not a solo business rather a team work. At this point, all hands must be on deck”, he said.

    Okwuonu said that there is enormous work to be done in Abia which requires collaborative efforts.

    He reiterated his stance that Otti will perform creditably well because he is highly prepared for the task.

    “I have said it severally that Dr. Alex Otti is well prepared for the job and will deliver on mandate. He(OttI) is a perfect example of where governance meets with a highly prepared man,” Okwuonu noted.

  • Jostling for the soul of Abia

    Jostling for the soul of Abia

    By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

    Less than two months to May 29, when incoming administrations are expected to take over from the outgoing ones, there is raging battle between the incoming administration of Dr Alex Otti and outgoing administration of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu(PhD) of Abia State. This situation is posing serious concern to followers, analysts and watchers of Abia politics who are worried that this may affect a seamless and harmonious transition. An analyst is of the opinion that” the fight is too early and uncalled for and may affect the capacity of the incoming government to deliver on its mandate.

    At the center of the fight, which has generated exchange of intense media blows from both camps, is the purported Court Exparte Order freezing the state accounts with various financial institutions.

    Since then, the media spaces have known no peace as both parties have engaged in sucker and counter sucker punches. Abia State Government was the the first to throw the punch through its Commissioner for Information, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo. In a release, the state noted that its attention has been drawn to what it desribed as”a mischievous, contrived and careless Court Exparte Order purporting to shut down the Government of Abia State through the freezing of all its accounts in various financial institutions”

    The release further reads”This thoughtless move by misfits ostensibly acting a mendacious script written by a cowardly cacophony of overzealous political turncoats is aimed at grounding the Government and in so doing instigate civil unrest in Abia State.

    “As always, close allies and lackeys of the Governor – elect, Chief Alex Otti and their Media accolytes have been openly celebrating this mutinous , devilish and deliberate act of subterfuge thereby lending credence to the belief in some quarters that this is a judicial coup d’etat: targeted at subverting the Government and or it’s institutions in a manner not provided for in the Constitution. As we all know, no arm of government has a lawful right to ground the other for any reason whatsoever.

    “Moreso, a newly elected Governor should know that he was elected for 4 years and cannot interfere in the Administration of an incumbent ! Respect for rule of law and constituted authority is a prerequisite for being a Democrat. Talking from both sides of the mouth , sending conflicting signals, saying one thing publicly to appear sanctimonious while copiously being fingerered as the one actively instigating the opposite behind the scenes and all such acts of duplicity are not the temperament required for such an exalted office”.

    Chikamnayo noted that” ironically, as people who are primarily out to settle personal scores, elements within the Labour Party are now spurning this statesmanship of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu while making statements that butress the notion that they have been merely seeking office to selectively cheery pick key opposition political players for vendetta and persecution”.

    He(Chikamnayo) is worried that id the situation lingers,”sooner than later, the atmosphere of peace and security carefully sustained, enjoyed and even taken for granted by some Abians will suddenly evaporate – giving way to a new wave of killings and persecution under the gestapo style of an imperial impetuous leadership This disaster, foretold by all well-meaning members of the Abia Community is now unravelling , albeit too quickly, before our very eyes”.

    In a swift reaction, Otti”s camp, through the Governor-elect”s Media Adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma, denies involvement in the act.

    According to Ekeoma,”The Abia Governor-Elect, Dr. Alex Otti is neither insensitive nor cowardly. He is not known for acting through subterfuge and thus could not have initiated such an action in secrecy, and in a manner that would affect the welfare of Abians, especially workers.

    “For accusing Dr. Alex Otti falsely in a bid to misrepresent him and mislead the public, the governor-elect will now get involved to get to the root of the matter, since the outcome would affect his administration which takes effect from May 29, 2023.

    “Abia state government should be bold enough to tell the world that those they entered into fraudulent contract with and tried to shortchange before leaving office were responsible for the litigation. Is it a difficult thing for the failed Okezie Ikpeazu led-government to publish the court documents for the world to see?”

    Some quarters are highly bothered and are not comfortable with the allegations that some contractors are responsible for freezing the accounts. They are of the opinion that this smells a rat of Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti’s camp of being privy of transpired. They are of the opinion that such speculations are not palatable coming from a camp accused of masterminding the actions.

    What generates more sensitive concerns among well-meaninh Abians is the allegation that the incoming government is on vendetta. Majority opinions are calling on the incoming government to a retreat if the allegations are founded or prove the state government wrong id the allegations are unfounded through its subsequent actions as to retain the confidence of the Abia populace.

    All the same, whether the incoming Dr. Alex Otti’s government is on vendetta or not, remains a puzzle which unfolding events can only resolve.

  • Otti will do well because of his level of preparedness – Okwuonu

    Otti will do well because of his level of preparedness – Okwuonu

    By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

    Chieftain of the Labour Party in Abia State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu has expressed strong optimism that the Government- elect, Dr Alex Chioma Otti will do well because he is prepared for the position.

    ” There is no atom of doubt about the performance of Dr Otti because he is adequately prepared for the job. When a man is adequately prepared for a task, there is no room to bother if he is going to deliver or not,” he said.

    Okwuonu, who is the State Deputy Director of Alex Otti Campaign Council, said that the campaign team toured round the state and this provided them the opportunity to appreciate the problems bedeviling the state

    According to him, Otti as a technocrat will assemble like minds the change the narratives in the areas of infrastructure, health, economy agriculture, among other areas that require intervention.

    Okwuonu said that the spontaneous joy that greeted Otti’s victory is a strong signal that God ordained his ambition to rule Abia State.

    He said”like it is often said that’destiny delayed is not destiny denied, God does His things at the right time to prove a purpose”.

    ” I believe strongly that as a seasoned technocrat that he(Otti) is going to deliver on the mandate and the expectations of Abia people”

    He added that Otti’s manifesto is a strong pointer that better days are ahead for Abia indigenes.

    Okwuonu therefore called on all Abians to lend the necessary support to the Governor-elect to ensure a resounding success in his administration.