Joe Akwarandu, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has given insight on why he appointed men of substance and affluence as Transition Committee Chairmen (Mayors) in the state.

Otti who gave the explanation while responding to a question during a media parley in Umuahia, said his goal was to engineer competition for development among the LGAs.

The Governor who also promised not to tamper with funds meant for Councils in the state, said the Mayors would be held accountable for the development of the LGAs.

He further explained that it would not be easy for responsible bourgeoisie to begin to tamper with council funds.

“Our Mayors are not those looking for food to eat.

Meanwhile, the Governor has re-stated his resolve to wipe off the accumulated pension arrears in the state before the end of December as he had earlier promised during his inaugural speech.

The Governor assured that “the promise stands” irrespective of the cost.

“My promise to clear pension arrears by the end of the month still stands. Whatever it takes, we want to take it down so that by 2024 we start on a clean slate,” Otti assured.

He said he came on board to end the sufferings of the masses, promising the workers’ welfare will be a priority under his watch.

The Governor also promised that “in the weeks ahead, an announcement will be made regarding workers’ welfare in view of the biting economic hardship.”

He explained that contrary to media reports, he did not abandon the New Government House to operate from his private residence.

He accused those behind the report of mischief and misleading the public.

According to him, he decided to operate from his private residence to save cost for the state as neither the Old nor New Government House was habitable.

He said that instead of spending scarce state resources to renovate the Government House for his personal comfort, he decided to deploy the funds to other better uses for the good of all.

Otti described the New Government House inaugurated by his predecessor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu at the eve of his handover as “the biggest deceit.”

He claimed that his predecessor inaugurated an uncompleted building.

The Governor questioned why it took his predecessor eight years to ‘complete’ the New Government House initiated by Senator Theodore Orji, only for him to hurriedly inaugurate the same at the twilight of his exit from power.

“I visited the facility two days after assuming office and what I saw confirmed my fears. That building was commissioned without completion.

“It was a deceit of the highest order. The construction began with Senator Theodore Orji. So, why didn’t Ikpeazu complete and pack into it? Why did he have to wait until close to his exit before completing it?

“Yes he did a fantastic job on the ground floor but the other floors are not ready for occupation. The whole environment also was not ready to receive a Governor.

“I came back to the Old Government House and found out that both the Governor’s office and Governor’s lodge are not in good shape.

“Some engineers who assessed it brought a bill of N550 million for its renovation, and I said, ‘even if I had such a staggering fund, I would rather deploy it to other good uses.”

Governor Otti, however, said he would renovate the Old Government House and Governor’s lodge depending on the availability of funds.

He noted that he had commenced gradual renovation of some parts of the Government House including the Banquet Hall, Deputy Governor’s lodge, and Presidential lodge.

The Governor, however, did not show any enthusiasm in investing resources in the New Government House any time soon saying he was “not sure it was a well-thought out decision to move the Government House to the new location.”