Abia monarchs wade into verbal war between Governor Otti, Reps’ Deputy Speaker
Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers has waded into the verbal war between Alex Otti, governor of the state and Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker, House of Representatives.
At a Press Conference by the Abia Royal Fathers in Umuahia led by Eze Linus Ntoh Mbah, chairman of the the Council said: “Gentlemen of the press, we, the members of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers led by the Chairman, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mbah wish to address you today on the ongoing war of words between His Excellency, our son and dear Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR and his brother and our son, Rt. Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives.
“Our attention has been drawn to the disagreements and brewing crises between the duo of Governor Alex Otti OFR and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
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“As royal fathers in Abia State, we cannot keep mute and allow the war of words to snowball into uncontrollable crises, which may affect the State negatively if it continues.”
The Abia Royal fathers said it was on this premise that they, as custodians of culture, called for a ceasefire on the ongoing acrimony and unnecessary outbursts.
“We also enjoin Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to refrain from making public statements that he cannot substantiate.
“We are therefore compelled to appeal to Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to apply caution and refrain from making statements that may pitch His Excellency the Governor against Mr President and the people of the state.” It is on record that no Governor in Abia State has demonstrated the political will to fix Abia State than Governor Alex Otti OFR, CHIOMA NDI AΒΙΑ.
“Just within 2 years and few months in office, Governor Otti has dealt with many dilapidated road infrastructure, cutting across the three senatorial zones of the state. He has retrofitted many abandoned health facilities in the State as well as embarked on renovating and functionalizing primary health centres in all the political wards in the State.
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“We are equally aware of his efforts in the education sector, which is unprecedented. He is not only renovating 63 schools, but has employed over 5,000 teachers and is getting ready to recruit another set of 4,000 teachers.
“He also made basic school free and compulsory for children”, said the Royal fathers.
They further noted that Governor Alex Otti has achieved much in the security of the people, and also catered for the welfare of workers and pensioners, among other things too numerous to mention.
They concluded that, based on what the Governor has done, it is obvious that it is difficult for anyone to believe that the governor is not doing enough with the statutory allocation he gets from Abuja, contrary to what Kalu said
“These temperamental and unstatesmanly outbursts from the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is not acceptable by Abians and is hereby condemned.
“Politicians are hereby warned sternly to desist from inciting Abians against our most performing Governor, Dr. Alex Otti OFR. Politicians should equally wait till 2027 to talk about their electoral cum political businesses and, should not use their ambitions to put Abia State into political turmoil.
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“Abia is a peaceful state, and we would not tolerate any act of verbal violence that may possibly plunge the State into political crises, even before 2027. Meanwhile, the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers uses this medium of addressing journalists in the State to pass a vote of confidence on Governor Alex Chioma Otti OFR. We also urge him to sustain his good works in Abia State.”
Their Statement was jointly signed by:
His Royal Majesty, Eze Sir Linus Nto Mbah KSM, KSS. Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers.
His Royal Majesty Eze Nelson Achilefu Nmerengwa 1st Deputy Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers.
His Royal Majesty, Eze Franklin Nwosu 2nd Deputy Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers.
His Royal Majesty, Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu 3rd Deputy Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers.
