ABIA: Why I Didn’t Attend Alex Otti’s Inauguration – Enyinnaya Nwafor Clarifies 

ABIA: Why I Didn’t Attend Alex Otti’s Inauguration – Enyinnaya Nwafor Clarifies

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), in Abia State, Engineer Enyinnaya Chima Nwafor has debunked insinuations that the Abia State governor, Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party, refused his (Nwafor’s) partnership proposal.

Refuting the claims made by one Promise Uzoma Okoro (PUO), Engineer Nwafor in a statement signed by his media spokesperson, Ben Udechukwu, stated that he has never sought any form of partnership with Dr. Alex Otti or the Labour Party in Abia State or elsewhere.

He urged Abians to disregard “misguided and propaganda propelled individuals like PUO”, adding that “the New Abia we fought for had no place for miscreants masquerading as Journalists.”

Speaking on why he failed to show up at the inauguration of governor Alex Otti on Monday, Nwafor explained that the governor duly invited him to the event, however, he failed to honour it due to a domestic injury that affected his left arm.

Nwafor maintained that he is proud of the role he played during the 2023 governorship election to “ensure that Abia is freed from the stranglehold of unconscionable leaders who plundered our common wealth”.

According to Nwafor, he and Otti communicates on how to move Abia state forward and any speculation that he has an issue with the governor, should be disregarded.

Although Nwafor was absent at Otti’s inauguration, his running mate, Dr Chima Anyaso, state chairman of the YPP, Mr Nelccin Chiemezuo, and other supporters of his, were physically present.

READ THE STATEMENT BELOW:

RE: ALEX OTTI REJECTS PARTNERSHIP WITH ENYINNAYA NWAFOR OF YPP

…height of irresponsible JOURNALISM

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by one Promise Uzoma Okoro (PUO) and forwarded to several other social media groups. The false, malicious, ill – conceived, blackmail inspired and malignant report was to the effect that Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State rejected partnership with Engr. Enyinnaya Chima Nwafor (Nana), Gubernatorial Candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), Abia State in the just concluded elections.

We feel pained that the efforts of democrats which Engr. Nwafor was at the forefront did not sweep out completely, misguided and propaganda propelled individuals like PUO. The New Abia we fought for had no place for miscreants masquerading as Journalists.

In the interest of well meaning Abians who have reached out on the need to keep the records straight and in the true character of Nana, who would never oblige any poorly trained journalist to associate the name of Abia Governor with barefaced lies, we unequivocally state that

1. His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State personally called Engr. Enyinnaya Chima Nwafor (Nana) and through other channels of communication invited Nana to Dr. Otti’s inauguration as 5th elected Governor of Abia State.

2. Further to the regard and courtesies, His Excellency Dr. Otti directed his Protocol Officers to follow up with reservations and other issues. Nana planned to attend the inauguration ceremony, until he had domestic accident that affected his left arm.

3. Any discerning mind who read through the Governor’s Inaugural speech would have noticed that the Governor invited all Abians to partner with him to build Abia of our dreams. It is therefore preposterous for any sane person to single out Engr. Nwafor, using the Governor’s name to advance lies regarding a phantom personal partnership.

4. Engr. Nwafor is proud of the roles he played to ensure that Abia is freed from the stranglehold of unconscionable leaders who plundered our common wealth. Anybody who knows Nana very well would appreciate that he takes glory mostly in ventures that are thankless, reward free and not aimed at satisfying personal aggrandizement.

5. Nana has never, either by himself or through any kind of proxy sought to enter into any form of partnership with Dr. Alex Otti and or the Labour Party in Abia State or elsewhere.

6. Engr. Nana as a champion of selflessness, true patriot and compassionate Abian values Abia and Abians so much that it will be utterly inordinate to trade their interests for any personal gain.

7. We do not pay attention to crass ignorance, otherwise we would have told PUO and his sponsors that it makes them more irresponsible to brag about who is poor or a billionaire. Nana lives a modest life and will refuse to be dragged to the level of daredevil braggarts, many of who have never done anything aside government patronage.

8. It is too early to drag the name and office of the Governor of Abia State into mudslinging, blackmail and cheap propaganda, traits Abians have since dropped in the gallery of antiquities.
9. We advise busy bodies and merchants of infantile lies to desist forthwith as Abia needs every sanity it can get at this time.

Though God has given Abia a new lease of life, we need to be more emphatic, asking God to touch the hearts of unrepentant blackmailers and propagandists to rest so that God will continue to bless Abia and Abians without let or hindrance.

Ben Udechukwu
Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to
Engr. Enyinnaya Chima Nwafor (Nana)
30.05.23