The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, says he is desperate to be governor so as to make the state better than what it is currently.
Otti said Abia is broken, decaying and could easily be classified as a failed state by all indices of development.
The front running LP standard bearer spoke Tuesday at a special townhall meeting in Umuahia with some governorship candidates of the various political parties in Abia for the March 11, 2023 election.
Otti easily stood out with his deft and incisive handling of the issues raised and delivery of his vision for Abia, at the event, organised by the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia; Justice Development & Peace/Caritas Foundation (JDPC) and Catholic Action of Nigeria (CAN), Umuahia Diocesan Chapter.
The candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Young Peoples Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) shied away from the meeting, held at an event hall of the Catholic Cathedral, Mater Dei on Azikiwe Road.
Only candidates of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Bishop Sunday Onuoha; Action Alliance (AA),
Onyekwere Akym Uche and Mascot Uzor Kalu of Action Peoples Party (APP) attended alongside Dr. Otti, out of the 18 political parties vying for the office of the governor of Abia State.
Responding to a question on a twin allegation by opponents of being desperate to govern Abia and helping former Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji to launder funds, while he was a chief executive officer of a bank, the renowned economist and founder of Signature Bank Nigeria described it as a wicked attempt to besmirch him.
“Why didn’t T.A. Orji give me ticket in PDP, if I was his business partner? Otti queried.
He continued: “T.A. Orji was the singular reason that the mandate I won in 2015 was stolen. He went physically to the collation centre because he was the sitting governor and overpowered the returning officer to admit a fake result written in Government House.
“So when you come and peddle this kind of garbage, it gives an impression that people don’t know what they’re doing.”
On being desperate, he said there is nothing governors are enjoying that he has not enjoyed.
He, however, countered: “But I’m desperate, if you want to say that, to reclaim this state. I’m desperate to rebuild the state. I’m desperate to pay pensioners. I’m desperate to take us out of poverty. I’m desperate to create jobs for our people. I’m desperate to industrialise Abia State. I’m desperate to create at least a thousand SMEs.
“So if that’s what desperation means, yes, I’m desperate. And if you’re not desperate, I sympathise with you.”
Otti spoke about his plan ro create wealth for the people of Abia State, pay workers and pensioners, who are being owed several months and years of salary and pension arrears, within six months of assuming office as governor of the state.
He said it was immoral for Abia government to continue to owe workers and all those who have laboured for the state, adding that the indebtedness had contributed to the economic retrogression of the state because a lot of people have been cut off from the demand decision as they cannot afford to spend money by buying things.
This, according to Otti, has a downward spiral effect on the supply and production chains, leading to unemployment and ultimately insecurity in the state.
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