By Ubani Newman
Anyone who watched the factional Abia governorship candidate of APGA, Mr. Alex Otti on Channels Television some days ago and how he fumbled at the national TV will testify that Alex Otti is clueless over several important issues related to recent developments in Abia State to talk of governing the State. A critical analysis of his abysmal outing shows that it is the poorest outing of a governorship candidate ever witnessed in Nigeria in recent times.
His outing exposed him as a double faced man and one who lacks basic knowledge of Abia State, a State he claims, he wants to govern. This outing at the Channels TV made Abians know for real that he is a pathological liar, who has always claimed to come from Isialangwa South, as he, for the first time admitted his Arochukwu origin. To say the least, Mr. Otti messed himself up during the interview at channels TV.
He proved his grave ignorance by his outright denial of everything Governor Ikpeazu has done in Abia, which the Channels TV correspondents has even seen with their own eyes during their several visits to Aba. Of course, he was embarrassed and shocked that some of the Channels TV crew who interviewed him had been to Abia themselves and are witnesses of the new developments that has taken place in Abia under the able leadership of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Ph.D, a man with divine mandate.
Thank God for that interview!
Otti’s shameless blunders were many, one of which was his comment on the Abia State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), which he said that “One of the problems of Abia State is poor Internal Revenue Generation. In 2016, they generated 13 Billion Naira. By 2017, they moved it up to 16 Billion. That’s very poor”. He didn’t know the IGR status of the State. He was too ignorant and naive, hence he completely avoided talking about the level of IGR that Governor Ikpeazu met on assumption of duty as the Governor in 2015. There is no gain saying the fact that Otti is very much aware that as at the time Ikpeazu came on board, monthly IGR receipts in Abia State stood at an average of 500 million Naira. Going by his calculations, if by 2016, we had crossed the 1 Billion Naira mark, that is over 100% increase of the IGR. Otti should commend Governor Ikpeazu for this feat.
Otti, from Arochukwu LGA revealed his level of gullibility when he said that Late Chief Mbakwe, former Governor of old Imo State built Golden Guinea breweries which, actually, was built by Late Sir Michael Iheonukara Okpara. It is important to educate Mr. Otti that both Golden Guinea Breweries and Modern Ceramics were built in the 60s by late Dr. M. I. Okpara, the former Premier of the Eastern Region whereas, Late Mbakwe became Governor in 1979.
To make the matter worst, Otti revealed how he intends to ground Abia treasury: by using Abia funds to open a Bank. One wonders how he would think of that when the last and only bank he managed has failed, so he intends to ground Abia State.
For real, Otti wants to deceive Abia electorates, hence, he chose his running mate from the same Arochukwu/Ohafia federal constituency he hails from and claimed that zoning or charter of equity is a PDP arrangement only. A drowning man like Otti is claiming that he has only heard about Enyimba Economic City but believes the federal government was deceived into approving it close to elections. That shows the kind of person he is. He is not aware that the Enyimba Economic City has been designed to give more than 700 thousand employment in the next ten years.
Indeed, what was expected to be an intellectually engaging and robust outing from Otti on the television spelt doom when it became clear that everything Otti said he is planning to do has either reached advanced stage or even concluded by Governor Ikpeazu; ranging from power, promotion of Made in Aba, Industrialization to Infrastructure among others. So, what difference is he intending to make assuming his faction of the already dead APGA was to clinch governorship position in the State?
Every Abian is a witness to the fact that Governor Ikpeazu has delivered on his campaign promises in line with his five pillars of development of the administration.
In infrastructure, more than 70 roads has been built and many are ongoing. The beauty of these constructed roads are that they have stood the test of time. Some of them built within the Governor’s first 100 days in office have not even developed potholes. The first ever flyover in the State at Osisioma-Aba is being constructed, three bridges has been constructed. It is on record that, in Education, model schools and over 300 classroom blocks has been built, and Free school meal initiative is extended from Primary 1 to 3 to all levels of primary school pupils thereby making all the pupils benefit from it.
Governor Ikpeazu has, through his trade and commerce initiative, changed the narratives of empowerment/entrepreneurship and has returned Aba to its former glory. The first set of 30 youths has gone to learn automated shoemaking in China and others are been trained in other several skill acquisitions, including, modern carpentering, garment production and modern brick laying among others .
In Agriculture, Poultry cluster has been established. More than two million palm oil seedlings has been raised by Ikpeazu’s administration, mushroom production farm established and funds has been attracted to boost participation in agriculture. These and many others has been done by Governor Ikpeazu’s administration.
Governor Ikpeazu has also partnered with
Federal Government to supply uninterrupted power to Ariaria market. The Governor also helped Geometric Power Ltd to get fresh investment from Ruyi Group of China to start delivering steady power supply to Aba.
Another serious lie by Mr. Otti was his claim that Governor Ikpeazu is deceiving Nigerians with made in Aba promotion and called it a “mere propaganda”. Thank God for one of the anchors on the programme, who himself is one of the crew that visited the State and saw things for themselves. Maybe Otti is not aware that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo also visited and interacted with the people involved in Made in Aba promotion. It was after his interaction with Aba manufacturers that he signed an Executive Order as an Acting President, to help them boost their business. Even, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, met with Aba manufacturers and artisans, who are beneficiaries of the Made in Aba products. So, Otti’s description of Governor Ikpeazu’s promotion of made in Aba as mere propaganda was quite unfortunate!
Conclusively, Otti’s adoption of Governor Ikpeazu’s five pillars of development as his manifesto affirms that he has nothing different to offer Abia people hence should be disregarded.
Abia people are very much comfortable with the administration of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and are poised to return him in the March elections. It is better for one to trust a man who has performed creditably than one who wants to deceive Abia electorates with lies. Governor Ikpeazu has accepted that he has not done everything, certainly, he has done much and would consolidate in the second tenure. Let’s support the progress minded Governor of Abia State.
Otti has shown the colours he is made of and Abia people cannot trust him with their votes.
UNU,
14/01/2019
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