From Steve Oko, Umuahia
The 2019 Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu lacked indept knowledge of the real economic challenges bedeviling the state.
Otti who stated this while reacting to the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Ikpeazu’s victory also claimed that the Governor was bereft of the magic wand to address the economic woes of the state and place her on the path of growth.
The APGA flag bearer who had gone to the apex court to challenge Ikpeazu’s victory also disagreed with the judgment but said he had no choice other than to accept it.
Otti in a press statement by his Media Aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, accused the Supreme Court of encouraging impunity and electoral fraud through subjective rulings.
“Even though we do not agree with the Supreme Court which seems to be encouraging impunity and brigandage with its pronouncements, in keeping to our democratic disposition as law abiding citizens, we have accepted the judgement with equanimity, devoid of anger and bitterness. We also urge Abians to accept the temporary setback and remain peaceful and law abiding”, Otti said.
Otti who insisted that Ikpeazu was not the popular choice of Abia electorate at the poll maintained that the governor is using the wrong approaches to address Abia’s economic challenges.
The statement read :”Results on ground show that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has not shown deep understanding of the economic challenges confronting Abia State, hence his failure to audaciously confront and defeat the fundamental problems retarding development in Abia.
“Scratching the surface of the Abia problems is like treating an ailment without diagnosis; it would hardly work. The humongous and unresolved salary and pension arrears which fall within elementary demands of governance, is a clear example of the Ikpeazu’s calamitous miscalculations.”
Otti accused Ikpeazu of insincerity with his (Ikpeazu’s) appeal to the opposition to join hands with him to develop the state, saying that if the governor is genuine about the call, the state would have long moved forward.
“We have heard Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu call on us to bring our ideas and join him to develop Abia. We would have been very happy if the governor was ready to accept and implement noble ideas, but very sadly, he doesn’t, hence his statement was a comical adumbration to hoodwink the gullible into thinking that he is sincerely reaching out and ready to work with those who don’t agree with him.
” Even before his call, we had been giving pieces of advice every now and again but all we receive in return are insults and name-calling. For instance, we had in the past advised and pleaded with the Ikpeazu led government on issues that bother on the welfare of the people, but on each occasion, we were replied with insults and defamatory attacks laced with executive recklessness and arrogance.
“We had also advised the governor against mortgaging the future of Abia people by his penchant for local and foreign debts. Again, we were attacked and vilified for speaking up. If Ikpeazu’s understanding of support is the old system of joining them and clapping for them and singing their praises, we are sorry to disappoint him. We are not cut out for sycophancy. We shall never bow to Baal”.
Otti who said he would love the governor to succeed in office “for the sake of the suffering Abia masses”, advised him to severe from “praise singers” if truly he wanted to be remembered by posterity.
“We want Okezie Ikpeazu to succeed as governor for the sake of the suffering Abia masses, but for Ikpeazu to succeed, he must purge himself of sycophants and retrogressive political termites whose concept of politics revolves around winning an election through brigandage and looting the resources of the people with reckless abandon.”
Otti however, appealed to Abians to support genuine efforts of the Ikpeazu -led government to move the state forward, expressing faith that, he would one day get the opportunity to “redeem” the state.
” While calling on our people to support all genuine policies and actions of government, we enjoin Abians to remain faithful, resilient and very supportive in our sincere quest to redeem our state.
“Our journey may have been delayed, but we are sure of our destination, especially when our spirit remains high, and our resolve stronger than ever”, Otti declared.
