Abia State government has reminded the Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti to patiently wait for May 29th, when the incumbent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu will hand over to him to takeover the mantle of leadership in the State.
Abia government led by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was reacting to a statement credited to Alex Otti of Labour Party by his Special Adviser, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
The statement alleged that some agents of the Abia State Government and some civil servants are engaged in what they called “Employment Racketeering”.
The statement also described the so called employments into the Civil Service as ILLEGAL.
Responding to the statement, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Ikpeazu’s Chief Press Secretary tells Otti to be patient. Adding that it’s understandable that he has been trying to be governor of the state since 2015.
The statement also exempted governor Ikpeazu from having any knowledge of employment racketeering.
“While making it abundantly clear that the Abia State Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu is not aware of any form of Employment Racketeering in the Abia State Public Service, it is also important to remind Dr Alex Otti that there is a government fully in place in Abia State with Executive Powers to run the affairs of the State.
“It is absolutely preposterous and outrightly anachronistic for the Media Team of the Governor Elect to use the word ILLEGAL to describe the activities of a government that is legitimately in office.
“Assuming, though by no means conceding that the State Government offered employment to Abians, what is illegal about it?
“Dr Otti should take it easy. We understand that he has been trying to be Governor since 2015. His hurry is understandable but he must know that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu remains Governor of Abia State until midnight of 28th May, 2023. Within this period, the Governor is still enabled by all laws in this country to exercise the full powers of his office, including the power to grant employment waivers into the State Work Force, if he so desires.
“What Dr Otti can do, at best, is to review such Executive Actions after he is sworn in on the 29th of May. Anything else from him at this time is of no effect whatsoever.
“Dr Otti will have 4 full years at the first instance to exercise the powers of the Governor of Abia State, from 29th of May, 2023. He should wait for his time.
“Dr Otti should also be reminded that every Governor Elect is a potential former Governor. At most and if God permits , he will spend 8 years in office and while still in office, his successor will be elected too.
“Our advise is simple. May 29th is almost here. Please be patient. If you waited since 2015 till now, you can wait for another 2 months.
“When a new administration is elected into office, they will inherit both assets and liabilities because government is a continuum. What a new Governor chooses to do with what he inherits will define it’s administrative strategy.
“Abians are eagerly looking forward to seeing the administrative expertise of the Governor Elect.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu is still the Governor of Abia State and he will continue to do the needful till his tenure expires, by effluxion of time, by midnight of May 28th, 2023.
