Alex Otti, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, governorship candidate in Abia State, has declared that the state was in deep trouble over the alleged recklessness and mismanagement of public funds by the Governor Okezie Ikpeazu-led government in the state.
Otti made the declaration during the gubernatorial debate organized by Abia State Election Debate Team held on Tuesday in Umuahia, the state capital.
He opined that for Abia State to be salvaged from the current developmental backwardness allegedly orchestrated by the twenty years of PDP misrule there was need to allow competent people take over leadership of the state
According to the APGA chieftain, “Abia State is in trouble. Abia State is in comatose. So, it is like a man who is on life support and the doctor shows up, and says he wants to know from where the doctor comes.
“We need to cure the state. We need to deal with the problems of the state. And it goes beyond where somebody comes from ancestrally or where he comes from by birth.
“We are looking for competence. We are looking for people who are trained. We are looking for people who have skills. We are looking for people who have track record of performances.
“We have seen four years of PDP government in Abia State, we are not impressed.
Meanwhile, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Emeka Uwakolam, has promised that he would run an open and inclusive government if elected as governor come March 2019.
He decried lack of transparency in the present administration in Abia State, pointed out that he would quarterly render account of any money spent
Uwakolam, who made his plans known, on Tuesday, while speaking at a governorship debate organized by the Abia state Election Debate Team in Umuahia, assured that his government would allow local government councils works freely without interference.
The APC candidate also pledged not to tamper with the funds meant for local government councils for the development of the grassroots.
His words, “Let us be fair to Abians. Let us be just to Abians. Whatever we are doing as government, let us remember that the people that entrusted these power to us, are the Abians.
“And what determines equity is what we do with the trusted positions that we are given. That is why I keep talking about honesty. There is nothing we can do in this state if we are not sincere to ourselves.
“Number one, I said, some people underplayed it. There must be conscious efforts to enthrone a leadership of the Almighty God in this state, so that the lights of God should shine on this state, so that we will witness bearable development.
“Until we have done that, there is a lot of story of government officials going to some places swearing an evil oath. That is handing over Abia to devil. Until we bring back this state to God, there may not be any meaningful development, first and foremost that what intent to do.
“Secondly, I intent to be honest with Abians. Every money that enters into hand, I will use it judiciously, as a man that is trusted. I will render an account. Like for instance, I don’t know what the governor earns. I will be very open to every Abians.
The lawyer added, “I will make sure, I give account every quarters of the year and everybody under me as commissioner will also do so. For local government administration, I will never touch their kobo”.
In his speech during the debate, the PDP gubernatorial candidate and the incumbent, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, reiterated the commitment of his administration in industralized the state.
He said, “I want to say without any fear of contradiction that no government before mine, had done what we have done in these past past four years despite distractions.
“Beyond that, we are leveraging in SME promotion. We are heading to industrialization, and we are going to run strongly in agriculture.
“Our vision is very clear and that is the only way for the of the youths in Asia State”.
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