March 24, 2024

The governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has debunked the claim that the decision of the Abia State House of Assembly lawmakers to outlaw the payment of pensions to the past governors and deputies of the state was targeted at his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

The Nation reports that the decision of the Abia State House of Assembly lawmakers to ban payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies has since generated controversies as many, especially those close to the immediate former governor of the state had opined that it was both a witch-hunt and attempt by the incumbent administration to deny ex-governor Ikpeazu the benefit of enjoying the privilege that other former governors and their deputies enjoyed within the eight years Ikpeazu was the governor of the state.

 The Chief Press Secretary to Ikpeazu, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka had in a statement issued on behalf of his former boss, disclosed that his boss had not received any pension arrears from Otti in the last 10 months.

A statement that has generated a lot of controversies in the state.

But in a statement issued by Dr. Otti’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, Governor Otti maintained that his predecessor was not targeted as many had made to believe.

According to Ekeoma, the repealed law was in the interest of Abians, contrary to the rumours being peddled around by the cronies of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) led government.

Ekeoma in the statement said “Our attention has been drawn to a release issued by the immediate past- Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu through his Spokesman, Onyebuchi Ememanka, wherein he manifested unprovoked anger against the present Abia State government over the decision of the Alex Otti led-government to repeal the Abia State Law of No.4 2001 which made provision for the payment of pension to former Governors and former deputy governors.

 “Dr. Ikpeazu alleged that the report of the repealed law was “mischievously sponsored and couched to give the false impression that he is amongst the former governors of the state currently receiving a pension from the state government.

“The release went further to advise the Otti led-government ” to face the business of governance and desist from engaging in needless media sensationalism.

“As a responsible government, we owe Abians a duty of putting the records straight at all times so that we wouldn’t be accused or judged wrongly on the basis of falsehood being peddled by those who are being hunted by their past misdeeds against the people. 

“We, therefore, state that, at no time did Abia State government or her spokespersons issue any statement mentioning Dr. Ikpeazu or any former governor with respect to the repealed law. 

“The law is a state policy that would outlive every governor and deputy governor. It is not targeted at any individual or individuals. 

“The infantile release and the tone thereof suggest that Ikpeazu is angry over Otti’s decision to repeal the law which has since attracted massive accolades and support from the people. 

“Ikpeazu didn’t need to remind Abians that he “has not received a dime as pension since leaving office” because he is not in a position to pay himself.”

 “Of course, Governor Otti could not have paid him when the governor has been busy grappling with the task of trying to clean the mess and clear years of accumulated arrears running into several billions which the former Governor left behind.

“The anger that propelled the issuance of that release suggests that the former governor was actually expecting to be paid by Governor Otti, just like he, Ikpeazu paid his predecessors. 

“As much as we do not begrudge the former governor for having that expectation that has now been dashed, it is important to remind him that it would be a clear act of injustice for him to be paid when he did not deem it fit as Governor to prioritise the pensions of thousands of senior citizens who are hoping on the intervention of the present governor for the payment of their accumulated arrears, some of them dating back to 2015. 

“Governor Alex Otti is simply thinking of Abians first, hence the luxury of politicians remains secondary. 

“Dr. Ikpeazu and his aides know very well that Governor Otti is facing governance with seriousness, sincerity, and tenacity which is why the state is swiftly becoming a positive reference point, therefore Governor Otti does not require such unsolicited admonition from the former Governor to realise the need to face governance.

-agency