The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate for Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, on Monday said his government will probe past PDP administrations in the state, with a view to retrieving all stolen monies belonging to the state.
Addressing supporters who trooped out to support him in Ukwa East and Ukwa West local government areas of Abia State, where his campaign train briefly pulled to a halt, Otti swore that he would not just take over the reins of power in the state, on May 29, 2019 and allow people who had looted the state’s treasury go home and enjoy their loot.
“We will probe them”, Otti fired, as the crowd cheered excitedly. “We will not let them go with our money. They must return all our money that they have stolen. If they don’t, we will ensure that they are jailed”, he vowed.
According to a statement by the director media and publicity of the Alex Otti Campaign Organisation, Kazie Uko, the APGA governorship candidate said the problem in Abia State was due to the fact that “hungry and wretched” people were allowed to hijack political leadership in the state, saying, “Now they have appropriated our common wealth for themselves and their families. What we now hear is Papa Ukwu (godfather) said, Opara Ukwu (godson) said and Mama Ukwu (godmother) said”.
Otti proclaimed that Abia people will no longer accept governance by proxy. “Okezie Ikpeazu should start writing his handover note, that is if he ever has something to hand over. He has failed the Abia people, even with the stolen mandate that was given to him in 2015, by his godfather. We are sending him packing, come May 29, 2019”, he declared.
He added: “Our leaders are not intelligent. If they were, they would have paid workers their salaries; they would have paid the pensioners their monies; they would have repaired our dilapidated roads and provide infrastructures and other basic amenities for the people; they would have cleared the state of wastes that are threatening to submerge it”.
He warned the Ukwa people to be wary of PDP agents who are going around the state, deceiving people with the offer of money, agricultural seedlings and non-existing jobs, only to steal details of their voter’s card, so as to disenfranchise them. “When we revealed their plot to rig the 2019 election in Abia State, they abused us and called us names. But you heard when INEC came out the other day and announced that they were buying voter’s card. If they give you money, collect it from them, after all, it’s your money, but don’t give them your voter’s card or PVC number”, he admonished.
He thanked the crowds of supporters for supporting him and APGA in 2015. He further solicited for their support in the coming election. He told them that APGA was very resolute this time and will not allow any party to steal the mandate so given, promising that APGA will defend its victory.
Before attending the rallies, Dr. Otti, his wife, Priscilla and his entourage, the deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Uche Eme-Uche, Senatorial candidate, Chris Nkwonta, Ukwa East/West Federal House candidate, Eze Nwoloki and the State House candidate for Ukwa East, Elvis Wabara had visited some eminent personalities in Ukwa Land, including the former Nigeria’s Consul-General to South Africa, Ambassador Okey Emuchay and the group of traditional rulers in Ukwa, led by His Royal Highness, Eze Ikeawuchi Ekeke.