Abia: APC Group backs Otti’s move to recover looted public properties
By Chijindu Emeruwa
A pro-democracy group in the fold of Abia state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Youths for Justice and Developmental Governance (YPDG), on Saturday, backed the decision of the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti to probe the activities of the immediate past administration led by former state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
Recall that Otti had on last week Tuesday, inaugurated a five-man judicial panel of Iniqury chaired by Honorable Justice Ikwuoma Duruoha-Igwe(rtd), to recover all looted government properties and public funds.
The event took place at the banquet hall of the State Government House in Umuahia, the Abia capital, was attended by the Abia Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Professor Kenneth Kalu, and many other notable government functionaries.
Earlier, the Youths for Justice and Developmental Governance,(NYFDG), while baring its minds on the Abia governor’s action in a statement on Friday, decried continued outbursts by former aides and political appointees of the immediate past administration led ex-governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu.
The group insisted that the past government of the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to justify the unanimous mandate entrusted in him by the majority population of Abia electorates in the last 25 years without tangible legacy projects on ground despite receiving huge federal allocations, and other proceeds from internally-generated revenues (IGR), external borrowings, including funds from international donors for enhancement of education and health sectors in Abia schools and University and polytechnic.
According to the YJDG, “Are we to talk about several agricultural loans, and other numerous entitlements that ran into billions of naria, which the past government received, and did not get to farmers meant to encourage them in mechanized system of agriculture or farming to ensure food productivity, food sufficiency and food security. The PDP and her past governors in this state need not to be told, because any outgoing administration make accounts to the incoming government, in respect to handling of the common resources of the state.
“This particular decision is in best interest of Abia state. He displayed uncommon courage and dodgedness. We laud Governor Otti’s recent decision in setting up a judicial panel of Iniqury to recover all looted government- owned properties and funds by former aides and political appointees of the ex-Abia governor. It is a welcomed development and wise decision by Dr Otti.
The Nigerian youth body also faulted a claim of embarking on political vendetta and witch-hunting against perceived political detractors as the reason the state governor set up the judicial panel of Iniqury to recover properties and funds allegedly looted by political appointees who served under immediate past Okezie Ikpeazu’s government in Abia state.
While applauding Otti on the display of courage and dodgedness in constituting a five man judiciary panel of Iniqury to recovered stolen items and public funds allegedly looted under the immediate past administration in the state, the socio-political organization noted that the governor’s action would entrench
effectiveness, efficiency and responsiveness in the administration of state resources.
The Youths for Fairness and Developmental Governance also noted that it would instill discipline in the state’s workforce, and also engender prudence and transparency in the administration and allocations of our common resources.
The Abia APC youth organization therefore urged the populaces of the state to ignore evil antics of the disgruntled opposition elements targetted to malign and pull down Governor Otti at all costs in order to gain political power and enrich their close allies, close political and business associates and few number of select faithfuls at detriment of the people of Abia state.
While defending the governor’s action, the Youths for Fairness and Developmental Governance, further encouraged Governor Alex Otti not to relent in the ongoing efforts of his administration in rebuilding the state for economic greatness and infrastructural growths.
Conclusively, the Youths for Justice and Developmental Governance, called on the citizenry to render their maximum support and cooperation to the new Government in Abia state as it rolled out actionable agendas and economic blueprints to enhance development in the state.
