Abia govt won’t stop Biafra sit-at-home protest – Otti

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State, has said that his administration is not interested in going into unnecessary confrontation with the promoters of the May 30 sit- at- home in honour of those killed during the Nigeria civil war.

According to Governor Alex Chioma Otti, people had right to mourn their dead ones.

Gov. Otti who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that Government was in touch with schools to ensure that students currently sitting for the West African Examination Council, WAEC, exams in the state were not adversely affected.

He said that Government was engaging with all the actors to ensure that the academic interest of the WAEC candidates were not hurt.

He said:” Government is in touch with all the schools affected to see what could be done so that WAEC exams are not disrupted. We are in touch with schools on how to handle the situation.

” We are not interested in unnecessary confrontation with the people who are appealing for sit- at-home in honour of their dead ones. They have every right to mourn their own especially going by the history of that war.

” It’s something we shouldn’t politicise. It was an emotional period when we remember the genocidal onslaught. We don’t have any interest confronting those who are asking people to observe that moment of honour for those who were victims of the genocidal war.

” It’s something we are handling with wisdom and diplomacy. We are engaging with all the actors that are involved. We are putting measures in place that Government may not want to make public.

” The most important thing is to see what we can do to ensure that students write their exams. There are things we don’t want to disclose. But be assured that we are putting measures in place to ensure there is peace in Abia State “.

Pensioners in Abia State Rejoice as Governor Otti Clears Nine-Year Arrears

After years of waiting in agony, retired employees of the Abia State government are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel as Governor Alex Otti fulfills his campaign promise to clear the accumulated pension arrears left by past administrations.

Tears of joy flowed freely among the senior citizens as they began receiving credit alert messages, some even receiving amounts as substantial as N1.8 million or more.

Governor Otti, speaking at Christ the King Catholic Church in Aba during Chrism Mass and renewal of priestly vows, assured the pensioners that they would receive their dues by the end of the day. True to his word, credit alerts flooded the accounts of retirees across Abia and beyond.

Confirming the heartwarming development, Comrade Chukwuemeka Irondi, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Abia State, expressed gratitude to Governor Otti for keeping his promise and emphasized the governor’s commitment to the welfare of pensioners.

Chief Emeka Okezie, Coordinator of the Concerned Abia Pensioners, revealed that payments began even before Governor Otti’s announcement, with retirees receiving varying amounts, some as high as N1.8 million.

In response to Otti’s initial promise to clear the arrears by December, which was later extended due to new revelations during verification exercises, pensioners expressed understanding and renewed hope as the governor assured them that their long-awaited dues would be settled by the end of March 2024.

As the pensioners rejoice in the fulfillment of Governor Otti’s promise, plans are underway for a march of solidarity to express gratitude for wiping away the bitter tears of Abia pensioners.