Abia Governor -elect,Alex Otti receives certificate of return,calls on anyone in possession of Abia state property to return it immediately.

Steve Unegbu, Umuahia

The Abia Governor-elect Dr Alex Chioma Otti has received a certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and called on everyone in possession of Abia state property to return it.

The Governor-elect made the call shortly after receiving the certificate of return alongside the Deputy Governor-elect,Engr Ikechukwu Emetu at the INEC Headquarters,Ogurube layout Umuahia.

According to him,” While we have assured the outgoing Government that we are not vindictive people and we are not going to chase anybody,we want to use this opportunity to call on anyone who has government property in his care,or who has taken away funds belonging to the Government to return them immediately.

“Abia state belongs to all of us and our resources cannot,I repeat ,we will not allow our resources to be privatized while our people are suffering in abject penury and poverty”

Dr Alex Otti expressed appreciation to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for his congratulatory message as well as his advice against unnecessary litigations,implored the state government to sustain the peaceful atmosphere in the State and ensure a seamless transition.

In his words,” I also like to use this opportunity to call on the outgoing Government to ensure that he does not do anything that will give an impression that there is going to be tension.

” This is what is called the lame duck period,so entry into a fresh contract that may be reversed, doing things that would create an impression that bubby traps are created for the incoming Government would not make for the peace and progress that he had indicated”

Continuing,he advised those who contested alongside him in the Governorship election to join hands with him to start the process of rebuilding Abia state.

He further thanked INEC and the Abia State Governorship Returning Officer,Prof Nnenna Oti for a job well done,added that the declaration puts a huge responsibility to the incoming Government and assured that he would not disappoint Ndi Abia.