“Abia needs a capable hand with the requisite skills, training and competence to save it from complete collapse.” – Alex Otti
Cashing in, on the space of time before the Primaries for the 2023 Gubernatorial election, Dr. Alex Otti, former aspirant under APC hurled himself into Labour Party, Abia State in his 4th attempt for a credible platform to pursue his political ambition as governor of Abia state.
Having moved from APGA to PDP then to APC, Dr. Alex Otti, foremost economist, investor and former CEO, Diamond Bank had swung into Labour Party as he saw his chances to actualize his ambition came crashing under the Ikechi Emenike led All Progressive Congress (APC) in Abia state.
Feelers from anonymous party members revealed that his emergence under the platform of Labour Party appears as a kind of ‘invasion’ without due party procedures as neither his ward nor his LGA Chairman in Arochukwu as alleged were duly notified ahead of his declaration in Umuahia after the state congress held on the 22nd of May.
However, speaking with the State Party spokesperson, Mr. Njoku Jeremiah Ajike, he stated that, “there is still rooms for any aspirant that has the interest of a better Abia for its citizens and residents to join the race, as you can see, the 6 days extension of party primaries issued by INEC is still in existence therefore the case of Dr. Alex Otti joining Labour Party to actualize his political ambition is still in order. If there were any lapses which I believe is an internal party affair, we have the capacity to resolve that and give everyone a level playing field for competition in order to get the best for Abia State.”
“Labour is the engine of the economy, therefore it will be sinful and unacceptable to muzzle the horse that till the farmlands, this is the more reason we continue to explore every option available to make sure that we elect the best to lead Abia
“A person of Dr. Alex Otti pedigree joining Labour party is a welcome development but party internal structures must be given its due recognition because there is beauty in harmony, He said.
On the question of Labour Party not having a strong foothold in Abia politics, Comrade Njoku responded; “People keep talking about Labour Party and the non-existence of structures, whatsoever that means is best left to the fictitious imagination of strangers to the pillars of Labour Party. It may interest you to know that everyone of us in the executive from the ward to the state level represents formidable structures of people including artisans, professionals, handymen and women, farmers, traders, business people and civil servants, what people fail to understand is the impact they play in Labour, if you understand that, you cannot be taken for a ride, no matter the influence of money or the Nigerian big man politics. The People remain the vital tool and they alone have the capacity to decide what happens to them.” Said Mr. Njoku
“This is Worker’s party and the will of the people here holds supreme.” – Njoku Jerry Ajike
Abia state as Southeast center of Commerce and Industry has the capacity to match with Lagos in building its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) but it lacks leadership with such foresight since inception and this is where the likes of Dr. Alex Otti as an economist of repute comes in handy, nevertheless my position is not an endorsement but a statement of fact. He said.
Having lost out in previous election in 2015 citing his touted clannish rejection by the Ukwa Ngwa bloc due to his ancestral Arochukwu Ohafia affinity, it may stand in his favour this time due to his political appeal at both ends and at the Central senatorial districts of Abia State, however like I said, lets leave the decision of who becomes the Gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party Abia state to the people. This is Worker’s party and the will of the people here holds supreme.” Said Mr. Njoku
The emergence of Mr. Peter Obi, another foremost economist alongside professionals like Pat Utomi standing with him in victory, as the Presidential candidate of Labour Party at the center, appears to have changed the dynamics of the coming electoral year with the increase in registration of Nigerians into Labour party and forming a complete paradigm shift from career politicians who have continue to subject the country to perennial economic failures.
“Having lost out in previous election in 2015 citing his touted clannish rejection by the Ukwa Ngwa bloc due to his ancestral Arochukwu Ohafia affinity, it may stand in his favour this time due to his political appeal at both ends”
Whether this will affect the position of aspirants like Dr. Alex Otti in Labour Party or influence the leadership of the Party to take decisions that will align Abia to the focus on present reality of voters’ swing to professionals rather than career politicians will serve a litmus test on the leadership of the Party to make wise decisions.
Responding to interviews during his submission of nomination forms for the state gubernatorial election, Dr. Alex Otti declared that Abia needs a capable hand with the requisite skills, training and competence to save it from complete collapse.
Mr. Otti alleged that the State has been plunged into huge debts, stressing that the civil servants, pensioners among others were hugely owed by the state government, an act that will be considered shameful for a state famed in industry and commerce to be reduced to such economic redundancy where it is not able to pay salaries of workers who forms an integral part of the engine of the economy.
Njoku Jeremiah Ajike, defending the position of the party in its decision to continue to keep the doors of the party open to aspirants until its Primaries declared that Labour is the engine of the economy, therefore it will be sinful and unacceptable to muzzle the horse that till the farmlands, this is the more reason we continue to explore every option available to make sure that we elect the best to lead Abia out of the human created quagmire its previous rulers has subjected the state to.
