News
Alex Otti: A disaster foretold?
Attention: Mr, Alex Otti, the Vendetta Governor of Abia State
By Eze Chikamnayo
Dear Otti,
As you know, I did not vote for you and will NEVER be a part of your hypocritical Government because of my conviction that you lack the candor, capacity, commitment, capability and broad mindedness required to successfully steer the ship of Abia in this critical point of our metamorphosis as a nascent state.
That was why I described you as an “Otellectual” in one of my earlier interventions wherein I argued vigorously that you are daft, crude, uncouth, uncivilised and that given the abysmal results of your previous outings, you were not going to add any more value to the peace and prosperity of our Dear citizens apart from your usual recourse to self-aggrandisement and vain glory.
Then, typical of your impulsive character, you got into a fit of unwarranted rage because of your lack of Democratic temperament and respect for dissenting views and started threatening me with all sorts. Of recent, you are also said to be seeking to misuse our Courts as instruments for the intimidation of the very people you seek to govern with the active connivance of Umeh Kalu, SAN, who many widely believe is shockingly denigrating the integrity and responsibilities associated with his high legal pedestal.
From all indications, your alleged strategy is to SHAME, BLAME AND SILENCE your Predecessors and all Abia Politicians and Stakeholders while perfecting your vicious plans to transmute into a dictator, emperor, “ezeonyeagwalam” and quasi sole administrator surrounded by imported stooges and zombie surrogates – ninety five percent of whom flew in from outside Abia.
You might have noticed that since the political accident that pushed you to power, I deliberately and quietly moved to the sidelines to give you ample opportunity to reveal your true nature to doubting Thomases.
Sadly, Mr Otti, you are unravelling too quickly!
Recent developments between 29th of May and now shows that, if Abians, like myself, continue to keep quiet, you, will possibly destroy whatever modest gains our dear state has made as a united entity.
Under your watch, Mr Alex Otti, in less than 60 days, Abia State has received over 20 Billion Naira from the Federation Account. Added to the over 2 billion realised from Internally Generated Revenue and the 24 Billion Naira Stamp Duty paid via Union Bank, an unprecedented total of over 45 Billion Naira has accrued to your government. YET, UPTILL NOW, YOUR GOVERNMENT IS BEREFT OF DIRECTION AND DEFINITION. All we hear daily is the SHAME and BLAME game – a deliberate, diversionary tactics ostensibly orchestrated and promoted to hoodwink, deceive and suffer our people.
During the Gubernatorial Elections, you took advantage of the perennial plight of sick pensioners for your crude campaign of calumny. Today, with Billions at your beck and call, you’ve continued to play “hanky-panky”, denying these our senior citizens their entitlements. Could it be that you have shortchanged these helpless senior citizens? Why couldn’t you, the self-styled messiah, at least release the little money required to pay Pensioners one full month arrears despite the humongous inflow instead of the paltry 1/4 of their monthly money that you grudgingly approved? The sight of the same Pensioners who wore white apparels to your Inauguration adorning black berets and robes to your Finance Ministry in protest of your duplicity is both interesting and instructive.
Hypocrisy and double speak is gradually becoming a cardinal principle of your administration. Out of the almost Sixty Days into your tenure, you have spent over 30 days outside Abia, oscillating like the pendulum between Lagos and Abuja while the state is left desolate.
Unfortunately, you have betrayed cluelessness despite your “Beijing race” of more than eight years.
Mr Alex Otti, Sir, you sacrilegiously imported an Accountant General and handed over the sacred Treasury of Abia State to a total stranger. When Abians shouted, you quickly employed her on level 16 to boss some civil servants who were already graduates and in the service even while she was still a student thus destroying the morale of dedicated, hardworking staff. Meanwhile, due process was not followed.
The callous, arbitrary and wicked suspension and or sacking of Statutory Boards, Permanent Secretaries , Heads of Parastatals and other innocent citizens on the frivolous allegation of allegiance to previous administrations is unconscionable, brutish and absolutely barbaric.
How do you justify the sudden retrenchment of over 7,000 Abia workers for no reason? While other states are employing and coming up with strategies of lighting the burden of current economic realities, you, Alex Otti, is busy sacking Abians in these perilous times?
You deceptively campaigned that Abians should WEEP NO MORE, but today, sorrow, tears and blood are the unfortunate grim companion of the thousands of families whose livelihoods have been destroyed by your wicked decision to suspend, sack and or sacrifice their bread winners on the filthy alter of political expediency.
Recently, you got all Local Government Treasurers and Heads of Service to sign an indemnity clause with banks to sweep all funds meant for respective LGAs back to designated State Accounts of your choice!
Your parochial idea is to harass everyone into silence while alleged massive fleecing and round-tripping is going on.
Voters in a democracy are not supposed to be profiled and punished for freely exercising their franchise. That you, Mr Alex Otti is selectively persecuting Abians simply because these innocent citizens had one thing or the other to do with previous administrations is unprecedented, unproductive, unpalatable and unpardonable.
You appointed a Director to become the Head of the entire respectable Civil Service comprising of Permanent Secretaries. This abomination is a novelty in absurdity only found in your so called “NEW ABIA.”
Mr Otti, you will recall how you exploited the age-long dichotomy between mainstream civil servants and staff of Parastatals during the campaigns. You promised to abolish same on assumption of office and pay ALL WORKERS on the same day. Who would believe that after all the noise, your lackeys now preach to Parastatals to generate their own salaries from non-existing subventions.
Today in Abia you have fought with the leaders in the whole 8 Markets in Abia, civil servants, NURTW, politicians from all the parties, selected church leaders etc. You have even extended your fight to traditional rulers by subjecting them to humiliating “verification”.
Haba, Mr Otti, what exactly do you think you are doing?
Abia State is tensed up like never before. By branding majority of Abians as thieves, treating them with disdain and contempt while withholding Local Government workers salaries for two months in the pretense of looking for ubiquitous ghost workers in this era of economic downturn, you are being sadistic and mean to say the least.
Let it not be that you are dumping all these monies in fixed deposit accounts for pecuniary reasons! Abia is too big to be emasculated and pocketed by one diminutive demon!
Abians want to see a Government that is sensitive and empathetic not a self-righteous bigot dishing out unrealistic directives that undermine the welfare of the common man.
Mr Otti, also recall that with over two months left in the Constitutional mandate of your Predecessor, you brazenly gate crashed into Port Harcourt Road with purported Contractors from Julius Berger. Today, three months after that provocative show of shame, there is no sign of Julius Berger in Ohanku, Obohia and Port Harcourt Road as you had boasted.
What you did was to hurriedly rush to Aba to dictate the award of contracts for few meters of axillary roads in a face saving gimmick. The so called contracts awarded did not pass through any competitive bid or advert neither was it done with the requisite approved design from the relevant Ministry. In fact, it is widely believed that you used them to settle your ongoing legal obligations.
Where on earth is the transparency you promised Mr. Alex Otti?
Where exactly is the place of rule of law under your watch? You are behaving like an emperor running an opaque government characterised by intimidation and blackmail.
The unbelievable crisis you instigated in the Abia State House of Assembly smacks of utter disrespect for the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which you swore to uphold especially as it concerns Separation of Powers.
Accompanied by gun-welding security operatives, you invaded the hallowed chamber of the ABHA in a gestapo style operation and personally supervised an abracadabra where 10 magically becomes greater than 11. The foisting of a jellyfish Speaker and all such anomalies has been allegedly drawn out as part of your subjugation script.
Instead of building consensus, you are breeding confusion. Instead of fostering unity, you are fanning the embers of war. Your divisive inclinations and the discriminatory nature of your appointments and policies are clear signals that you are not out to lovingly govern our people but to witch-hunt perceived imaginary enemies.
For clarity, kindly note that the last administration provided the financial platform for your government to thrive. The last administration left the following world bank assisted programmes:
- $50m RAMP facility now ready and available @ CBN for the immediate transformation of our rural roads.
2. $263m ADFB Loan ($115m ready for use even from today…same facility you callously fought against in your desperation for office!
These funds are meant to provide infrastructure and help open Abia to the world. You should bring them out immediately and honestly apply them for the common good instead of chasing shadows.
Before I round off, Mr Otti, how do you explain to discerning citizens that after criticising your predecessors, you have abandoned the three official government accommodations in Aba Lodge, Old Government House and New Government House Complex and diverted most official business to your Nvosi Country Home? Even the new official vehicles bought for Exco Members are supplied to and parked in your private residence! Where then do you derive the daring audacity and morality to pontificate for Abians when you hardly practice what you preach? Where then is the transparency you mouthed?
I repeat, Abia is now more insecure than it has ever been since 1999.
Last weekend, you travelled to Borno in a private jet to attend a wedding ceremony while the whole of Umunneochi LGA was in turmoil. Kidnapping and abduction which was reducing considerably have spiked again since you took office on May 29th. The money you are using to junket around with private jets from Maiduguri to Sokoto allegedly in search of reprieve for your tribunal case is enough to make Umunneochi LGA and Abians to breathe again especially in the areas of peace and security.
Mr Otti, What of the many bullet proof vehicles you bought for yourself and the N500 million Naira monthly security votes you are said to be taking? Are these exactly your own idea of cutting the cost of governance?
Yet you refused to pay due allowances to our House of Assembly Members while planning to buy them Innoson vehicles! Are you really not a hypocrite?
Yes, you promised to reduce the cost of governance but now you are doing exactly the opposite. Even in midst of current realities, your convoy is over 13 vehicles. This is not the Peter Obi’s model of governance which you promised.
Mr Alex Otti, Abians are angry, disappointed, despondent, depressed and dying because of your failure to live up to your own promises.
They said that you were nicknamed “Senior Wicked” during your days at Ngwa High School. Even outside Abia, some call you MMAHADUM because of your stiff – wickedness.
Could this draconian appellation be a true reflection of your personae?
Abians are watching and sooner than later we will all come together to help you understand that Abia belongs to all Abians regardless of your personal feelings about any individual or group.
A word is enough for the wise.
Chikamnayo, lawyer and third-term commissioner, writes from Umuahia
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 presidential election, is peeved at the decision of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordering the de-registration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), saying the move is a heavy blow and dangerous to Nigeria’s democracy.
Justice Peter Lifu, who made the order, based on an action brought by National Forum of Former Legislators, agreed that the parties, including Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), failed to meet the requirement for continued existence in Nigeria.
But Obi, who left the ADC coalition to join the NDC, incidentally, based on what he explained resulted from the multiple court cases hanging on its neck, expressed his disenchantment, in a statement by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR), on Monday.
Signed by Ibrahim Umar, its spokesman, the group quoted the former Governor of Anambra State as decrying the growing damage to the nation’s sacred institutions on the altar of politics.
Stressing that the rise of nations depended on stronger institutions devoid of political influences, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, wrote on his X platform: “When the controversy surrounding the removal of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, unfolded, I expressed a concern to a friend: that the greatest damage might not be immediate, but the message it sends about the sanctity and independence of our institutions to the world.
“Strong economies are built on trust. Investors can manage security risks, policy risks, and even market risks. What they fear most is uncertainty in the rule of law and a judiciary that is perceived to be vulnerable to political pressure.
“Today, many Nigerians have lost confidence in systems that should protect them. Businesses increasingly request that their contracts be governed by foreign jurisdictions because they have greater confidence in those institutions than in our own. That should concern every patriot.
“We must never sacrifice our sacred institutions on the altar of politics. Nations rise when institutions are stronger than individuals. The Federal High Court judgment ordering the deregistration of the ADC and other political parties is just one of those activities that further reduces the common man’s trust in our legal systems. It should be reversed.
“I pledge that we will restore the dignity, independence, and integrity of the judiciary. The common man must have a voice. The business community must be protected from legal uncertainty and intimidation. Justice must be impartial, accessible, and respected by all. To our judges, legal luminaries, senior advocates, and lawyers: this is your moment. Rise, defend the rule of law, take back your country! A new Nigeria is POssible.”
Not even Lamine Yamal’s second half introduction could help Spain break through the defence of debutants, Cape Verde, in their first ever meeting, as the ongoing World Cup event produced another one of the stunning results on Monday.
Yamal, the Barcelona superstar just recovering from a near two-month hamstring injury, was brought into the game in the second half to zest up the one-time world champion, but failed to break down the Cape Verde’s dogged defence.
Spain’s in the game played in Atlanta, one of the cities hosting the three-nation Mundial, displayed the same dismal outing, which saw them offering far less than the quality, which saw them lifting the trophy for the first time in 2010.
The European champions, which have not won a knockout game ever since, failed to dominate the African side, replicating their less than impressing outings and their eventual exit in 2018 and 2022 editions, even with the claims of coach Luis de la Fuente that the squad was the best in the competition, Spain were considered among the pre-tournament.
Neither Yamal nor Nico Williams, who also was hit by an injury-disrupted season at Athletic Bilbao and was not introduced until the 87th minute, were able to rise to the occasion against the 500,000 people African side, ranked 67 in the world, which is making their debut on the global stage.
In stark contrast to the searing temperatures faced by some other sides, Atlanta’s state-of-the-art air conditioned stadium meant there was no excuses for the slow tempo of Spain’s build-up.
Indeed the mid-half hydration break was met by boos with fans frustrated at the break in play despite the cool conditions.
The only serious move from the European champions only came at the sixth minute to half-time, when Marc Cucurella, fresh for sealing his move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, sent over a teasing cross that Ferran Torres turned onto the crossbar and Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha got back on his feet to turn Mikel Oyarzabal’s looping header over the bar.
Even after the break, the Blue Sharks, were also able to hold back from the onslaught as they did in the first half, where Vozinho, managed to make another superlative save against Aymeric Laporte’s header just before half-time.
Despite the excitement from the crowd after he was introduced, Yamal, billed as one of the stars of the tournament, failed to create any magic with his first touch being the set-up of a decent opening for fellow substitute Mikel Merino which was too close to Vozinha.
In fact, Cabo Verde billed to take on Uruguay in Miami, nearly snatched a famous victory in the final minute of the 90 when Dani Borges planted a header too close to Unai Simon, who saved the occasion, to prevent the former world champions, billed to face Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on Sunday from humiliation.
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