Abia: Don’t Appoint ‘Suspect’ Billionaires As LGA Chairmen, Group Warns Gov Otti

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups has warned Governor Alex Otti of Abia state that his plan to appoint billionaires in the state as Local Government Caretaker chairmen will be counter-productive.

The group urged him to jettison the plan, saying some of those the governor is planning to appoint to the 17 councils may have integrity problems capable of casting a slur on his administration.

The former banker and governor during an event at the Aba Sports Club unveiled his plan to appoint billionaires as Mayors of the 17 council areas.

Governor Otti, three days ago appointed foremost Industrialist, Ide John Udeagbala as the Mayor Of Aba City, to drive home his point.

Reacting, the rights body said some of the names being mentioned for such positions are unfit for the positions, it demanded the state government conduct integrity test on such persons.

According to a statement signed by its chairman, Johnson Uzor Emeh, and Secretary, Veronica Ijeoma Nwogu, the group hinted that one of the candidates being considered has a certificate forgery allegation hanging on his neck.

The State House of Assembly has already been petitioned to investigate the unnamed candidate, the statement said.

Part of the statement said: “Recently, there is a viral video where you emphasized that billionaires will be appointed as chairmen of local governments.

“Your Excellency, we brought this to your notice because we are aware of your hard earned integrity and mage going by your antecedents. We will not like anything that will bring your reputation and that new Abia under your watch to disrepute. We struggled hard to ensure that the old order in Abia was chased away.

“The new Abia can’t thrive if we keep quiet when we notice some flash points of the old Abia.

“The rumours of appointment of these suspected persons are gaining ground. The rumours may be occasioned by your utterances eulogizing some of these billionaires who are under investigation of fake certificate and financial misappropriation in the last administration.

“We wish to reiterate that appointments as LGA chairmen should be based on integrity, notable antecedents, sound morals and good administrative acumen and a certain level of education and the fear of God to change the status quo. Most of these billionaires have looted public funds , forged certificates and are involved into many nefarious activities known to the society. So, just being wealthy without a critical look on their source of wealth will bring Abia back to the old days.

“We use this medium to demand that any appointee with allegations of corruption and fake certificate should be thoroughly investigated. It will not be good if such matters are not swept under the carpet.

“Recall that everyone is celebrating Prof. Nnenna Oti , the Vice Chancellor of the FUTO  because of her courage to do the right thing during your election. She displayed integrity and capacity which should be our guiding principle in the new Abia, not on wealth. We are also confident that you will see the merit of this letter and not on the wealth and financial status of the writers.

“Truth is constant and will always be. We will always call your attention to issues that may hinder your mission to realize the new Abia of our dream.”