No Traditional Ruler Is To Be Subjected To Biometric Verification In Abia – Otti’s Aide Refutes Rumours

Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the executive governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti, has refuted rumours that the state government has plans to subject traditional rulers on the state to a Biometric Verification exercise.

Ekeoma in a statement released on Tuesday, noted that the rumours of  biometric verification for monarchs are being peddled by oppositions.

The governor’s aide explain that the governor through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, only carried out manual enumeration of traditional rulers to ascertain their exact number “which would guide government in its welfare packages for the Traditional institution”.

Ekeoma assured that “the Alex Otti led-government would continue to be intentional in taking actions and decisions that would have lasting positive effect on the state and its people”.

The statement read;

Kindly disregard the FAKE news being peddled by some opposition elements that Abia Traditional Rulers are to be subjected to Biometric Verification Exercise.

In a bid to ascertain the exact number of Traditional Rulers and their Autonomous communities which would guide government in its welfare packages for the Traditional institution, the Alex Otti led-government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs decided to carry out a MANUAL ENUMERATION of all Traditional Rulers.

This hitch-free exercise which has already excited the affected Traditional Rulers does not involve any form of Biometric and does not require them to gather anywhere, rather each is required to fill a form that would contain his Biodata and other important information.

It’s understandable why the opposition is trying to distort the facts of this exercise; they were not used to being thorough to the point of appreciating the importance of data, neither did they pay attention to the welfare of Traditional Rulers and their communities when they were in power.

The Alex Otti led-government would continue to be intentional in taking actions and decisions that would have lasting positive effect on the state and its people.