The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has said the years of bad governance in Abia State will soon be a thing of the past.

Otti vowed to instill good governance in the state if elected governor come February 2015.

He made the declaration at a reception organised in his honour by the Umunneochi community on Thursday at the Unity Square in Nkwo-Agu Amuda, Isuochi where a mammoth crowd gathered to receive him.

The APGA gubernatorial candidate in the state decried the state of roads and other infrastructural facilities across Abia, promising that his government will construct motorable roads in Isuochi and other parts of the state if elected, adding that road construction is part of his master plan for a comprehensive development of Abia State.

The master plan, he stressed, will also focus on human capital development to fully tap the brain of a large pool of intelligent and hardworking people that need just the basic necessities of life to bring out their best and succeed.

“What Abians need is good schools, water, good roads, employment opportunities, good and friendly environment for their businesses to thrive. All these we will give you if you vote for APGA in all the elections in the state which include the governorship, House of Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senate.

Otti, however, stated that the presidential election would be the only exception, stating the votes should go to President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

Otti advised the people of Isuochi not to be deceived by the gimmicks of the incumbent governor to anoint a successor who will not only be a puppet that will do the master’s bid, but also help in taking Abia State 20 years backwards.

“I don’t have any problems with a candidate being anointed but where the anointing is coming from a person rather than the people is what I have problems with. Especially considering the woeful performance in the past seven and half years by the incumbent governor and as such, lacks every moral right to anoint a successor.

“Even the so called anointed candidate failed in the only assignment that was given to him to keep Aba, our commercial nerve centre clean as the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) deputy chairman. How do you think he will be able to take Abia as a whole to the next level?, Otti queried.

The APGA flag bearer stated that the only condition under which evil will triumph over good is for good men to keep quiet, saying that Abia will be a failed state if we allow ‘them’ for the next four years.

He urged the people to endeavor to collect their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) at their local government headquarters or register afresh for those yet to do so since the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) window is still open, “because that is the tool they can use to make a case for change that you desire, that’s the only way you can attract development to your doorsteps.”

Prior to the reception, Otti had paid a courtesy call on the Umunneochi traditional rulers led by, Prof. Sunday Igweru Nwankwo (Ezedigbo 1 of Umuakwu), where he pledged to improve on their welfare and that of their people.

He used the opportunity to introduce other APGA aspirants such as Chief David Ogba Onuoha (Bourdex) for Senate, Abia North, Dr. Ejike Oji for Umunneochi/Isuikwuato constituency, Federal House of Representatives and Prince Ikedi Ezekwsiri for Umunneochi Constituency in the State House of Assembly.

The APGA candidates pledged to attract meaningful projects to their constituencies which will benefit the people now and in the future.

In their earlier remarks, the traditional rulers described as humiliating the meager salary of between N7,000 and 16,000 some of them are placed on by the current government in the state compared to a N120,000 their colleagues in other South-east states are receive.

They lambasted the incumbent governor of the state for not keeping to any of the promises he made to their people when he was campaigning for re-election in 2011 and pledged to give Otti and the other APGA candidates all the necessary support they need to succeed.

Otti concluded his last official outing of 2014 with visits to some prominent citizens of Abia North senatorial zone including, Chief Johnson Chukwu, the Ugwueke of Bende and the former Nigerian Chief of General Staff, Ebitu Ukiwe.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/abia-guber-race-otti-pledges-good-governance/198192/