The candidate of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance (APGA) in the 2019 governorship election in Abia State, Mr. Alex Otti,
on Tuesday rebuffed the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu's invitation to bring his ideas
and join the present government to develop the state.
Otti, who mounted a legal challenge against the
outcome of the poll up to the Supreme Court, which eventually affirmed
Ikpeazu's victory, said the governor was insincere in seeking to partner the
opposition.
He made known his rejection of Ikpeazu's hand of
fellowship in a statement signed by his media assistant, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma,
to formally react to the judgment of the apex court which ended his quest to
nullify the outcome of the 2019 Abia State governorship poll.
Otti said he would have gladly accepted to work
with Ikpeazu "if the governor was ready to accept and implement noble
ideas."
He noted that it was evident that the governor was
not disposed to progressive ideas hence "his statement was a comical
adumbration to hoodwink the gullible into thinking that he is sincerely
reaching out and ready to work with those who don’t agree with him."
The former banker turned politician recalled that
he had always advised Ikpeazu's administration on the right approach to
governance "but all we receive in return are insults and name calling.
"For instance, we had in the past advised and
pleaded with the Ikpeazu-led government on issues that bother on the welfare of
the people, but on each occasion, we were replied with insults and defamatory
attacks laced with executive recklessness and arrogance.
"We had also advised the governor against
mortgaging the future of Abia people by his penchant for local and foreign
debts. Again, we were attacked and vilified for speaking up."
The APGA governorship standard bearer in both the
2015 and 2019 poll further explained that his own idea of joining hand with the
government was at variance with what the governor actually wants from him.
According to him, "If Ikpeazu’s understanding
of support is the old system of joining them and clapping for them and singing
their praises, we are sorry to disappoint him. We are not cut out for sycophancy.
We shall never bow to Baal."
On the rather ‘unfavourable’ Supreme Court judgment
of January 8, 2020, Otti said it has in no way dampened his spirit and those of
his supporters in their quest for a better Abia State, assuring them that
"our spirit is high, and our resolve stronger."
He insisted that Ikpeazu and his party, PDP, did
not win the 2019 Abia State governorship poll, noting that they got an escape
route through the defective Electoral Law on which the court relied on to
resolve the dispute in favour of the defendants
"The court dismissed our appeal mainly on technical
grounds that revolved round the Electoral Act, and not on the basis of lack of
evidence or inaccuracy of our facts," Otti noted, adding that "we were
also not surprised that Abians received the judgement with graveyard silence
and sorrow while the governor and his allies celebrated the verdict, expectedly.
"However, in keeping to our democratic
disposition as law-abiding citizens, we have accepted the judgement with
equanimity, devoid of anger and bitterness. We also urge Abia people to accept
the temporary setback and remain peaceful and law abiding," he said.
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