Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
With a few days left to the inauguration of newly elected heads of governments across the country, a frontline civil society group in Abia state, Coalition For Abia Unity, CAU. has called on Abians irrespective of party affiliations to queue behind the incoming administration of Dr Alex Otti to ensure a total emancipation of the state from the shackles of maladministration, ineptitude and mismanagement of the state’s resources.
This is even as its life patron Dr Tom Otuka has noted that the victory of Labour Party’s Otti represents the victory of all men and women of good conscience, desirous of a paradigm shift in the narrative of the state.
The CAU led by its Chairman, spokesperson Chief Uzor Chukwu made the appeal during a courtesy/ thank you visit to its life patron, Dr Otuka at his country home in Ndoki Ukwa East local council of Abia state at the weekend.
The vocal civil society group, noted that God having answered the collective prayers of the oppressed and marginalized people of the state through the instrumentality of Dr Otti’s victory, it then behoves on the people to ensure that the state does not return to Egypt, noting that the success and or otherwise of the incoming regime will depend much on the amount of support from the people.
“Our mission today is to appreciate you and other progressive stakeholders for your unflinching support before, during and after the general elections. It is on record that the CAU led the way in exposing most of the shenanigans by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, led Abia state government in thwarting the will of the people. We exposed their clandestine recruitment of about 10,000 Special Assistants, their attempt to hijack the federal government free feeding programme and manipulation of local councils’ leadership for the purpose of rigging the election.
“We want to thank you and others for your support, without which we may not have achieved much. Although, the elections are over, we want to appeal for your continued support, especially to the incoming regime, so that we can consolidate on the gains so far made in the liberation of the state,” the CAU stated.
Responding Dr Otuka a chieftain of the Action Peoples Party, APP, in Ukwa and prominent leader of Ndoki ethnic nationality, noted that although some of them found themselves in different political camps, they were guided and goaded more by the need to free the state from the exploitative tendencies of the PDP, adding that win or lose the liberation of Abia with the victory of Dr Otti is victory for them in opposing political camps, promising to assist in any noble capacity in ensuring that Abia reaches the promise land.
“For the records I have written an open letter to the Otti’s inauguration committee, wherein I tasked the incoming regime on some of the things to do to ensure success and rekindle the hope and trust of the people. l harped on the need to block leakages and waste with a view to improving the internally generated revenue, the urgent need to rehabilitate all moribund but potentially employment and revenue generating outfits, the building of a sea port in Ubaka Ukwa to provide an alternative to our Igbo business men and women currently facing hostile business environment outside massive infrastructural development, and inclusiveness in policy formulations and executions. We are ever prepared to make further sacrifices to ensure a better Abia,” Dr Tom Otuka promised.
