Governor Alex Otti described traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in the rebuilding agenda of his administration.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Abia State Governor Alex Otti on Tuesday met with traditional rulers in the state at the Government House, Umuahia, urging them to assist the government in its efforts to rid the state of crime.
Also present at the meeting with the principal officers of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers were 17 LGA chairmen and secretaries.
Otti said the traditional institution would play a key role in his fight against insecurity.
The governor, who said his administration has zero tolerance for insecurity, stated that he would not fail to make tough decisions and take actions against traditional rulers whose domains are used as criminal hideouts.
“Our administration shall be very tough with criminals and those who support them in whatever way and for whatever reason. I am aware that our political choices may have differed in times past but the season of politics is long gone.
“The focus now is on governance and we shall treat as an adversary, anyone who constitutes himself into a stumbling block in our determined efforts to recover from the losses and missed opportunities of the past. We must all guard against being used by dishonest political actors and persons with entrenched interests to sabotage government’s programmes or agenda in any part of the state,” the governor cautioned.
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He assured that his administration would remain open to their informed counsel as well as continue to engage them as major stakeholders and custodians of the culture and tradition of the people.
Otti, who described traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in the rebuilding agenda of his administration, restated his commitment to building a new Abia and intimated them that his government would pay serious attention on education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure among others .
In their responses , the Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabekee; the second Deputy Chairman, Eze Harry Ugoala, third Deputy Chairman, Eze Godfrey Onwuka and Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu assured the governor that the monarchs in the state would give him maximum support to enable him succeed.
The traditional rulers, who congratulated Otti on his election and inauguration, noted that the expectations of Abia people are high but expressed confidence that he would live up to expectations and prayed God to bless him with wisdom, knowledge and sound health.
