Removal Of Alex Otti’s Billboards: PDP Led Govt Wants To Set Abia On Fire – DG Warns | WATCH VIDEO ATTACHED BELOW
The Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti’s Campaign council has warned of looming dire consequences owing to the continued removal and destruction of it’s principal’s advert billboards from strategic areas in Abia state.
The campaign council accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led Abia state government of sponsoring the removal of Otti’s campaign billboards using the Abia state Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA) after ten million naira fee was paid for it.
Addressing journalists in a press conference in Umuahia on Thursday, the Director General, Alex Otti Campaign Council, Honorable Iheanacho Obioma (Chomen), noted that all efforts made to resolve the matter amicably has proven futile adding that ABSAA’s General Manager, Mr. Anthony Otuonye claimed that the billboards were removed based on instructions from the state government.
“Few days ago, the flex of our newly installed billboard around Umuikaa junction was removed by Abia state government through the General Manager of Abia state Signage and Advertisement Agency (ABSAA), Mr. Anthony Otuonye on the grounds that the PDP has no presence there and thus would not allow an opposition party to mount a billboard there”.
“Dr Alex Otti paid ten million naira required from every governorship candidate. The vendor also paid ABSAA General Manager the sum of one million, two hundred thousand naira which he collected and approved the installation of the billboard, before he turned around and removed it less than 48-hours after it was installed .
“Otunonye displayed unbridled arrogance and primitive ego when he told us that the government would be angry if we were allowed to mount our billboard there.” the campaign DG said.
Honorable Iheanacho Obioma added that Otuonye has remained adamant even when security agencies including the Department of state services (DSS), charged him to do the right thing so as not to disrupt the peace of the state. According to Honorable Iheanacho Obioma , Otuonye resolved to threatening the life of the billboard vendor recruited by Dr. Alex Otti.
Alex Otti campaign council also revealed that their principal had gotten all required consent from Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) to put up a billboard with the slogan “Ndi Abia weep no more help is on the way…..” which the Abia state government have now tagged ‘inciting/hate speech’.
The council called on ABSAA and the Abia state government to do the needful by reinstating the billboards already paid for in its approved location or face the consequences.
“while we continually appeal to men of good conscience and those who desire peace in Abia state like us to call the Okezie Ikpeazu led government to order, it’s important to remind us that our patience and tolerance is not unlimited, therefore as bonafide Abians we would be left with the option of applying all legitimate measures to assert our rights which are being flagrantly violated by the government in power” the council added.