Attacks On Innocent Abians: The Difference Is Clear

Some opposition elements shared a post I made in 2022 over the kidnap of the Prelate of Methodist Church in Nigeria and other Methodist Clergymen at Lokpanta in Umunneochi LGA of the state in 2022.

They were mocking me over the recent attacks on Innocent Abians and security agents in Abia by criminals. For them, the senseless criminal attacks represent a defeat and failure on the side of the Alex Otti led-government.

The post which I made in 2022 read thus:

“WHAT ALEX OTTI BELIEVES ABOUT SECURITY

Dr. Alex Otti believes that Security and job creation work hand-in-gloves, because statistics all over the world have proven that unemployment, especially amongst the youth is one of the greatest enablers of crimes and criminality.

To nip the rising wave of crime and general insecurity in Abia in the bud, the Alex Otti led-government would through the instrument of good governance and responsible leadership at all levels ensure that Abia youths are provided with Jobs and the enabling environment to become productive and useful to themselves.

The unemployment rate in Abia which is placed at about 51 percent is a warning and a frightening reminder that danger stares us in the face if the right choices are not made and the right things done.

Such unemployment rate serves as a time bomb that must not be allowed to explode, therefore his administration would among other things it plans to do in the area of security, harness the energies and talents of our unemployed youths and put them to good use for the benefit of all.

In Abia, we have got youths that are very talented in tailoring, Aluminium Fabrication, Computer engineering, construction etc. His government would collaborate with experts and institutions in these fields and others from within and outside Abia state with vast knowledge and technological knowhow to provide advanced training for our youths, leveraging modern skills and machines, after which they would be given the necessary institution-based support to take off on a bright note.

Such support would include soft loans and grants, well built and well equipped industrial plazas in conducive environments as seen in most countries of Asia etc. These would give room for maximum output in terms of production, and in turn benefit the government by way of payment of tax by these productive youths.

Bearing in mind that there is a small percentage of youths who are deviant by nature and are unwilling to be peaceful, law abiding and useful to themselves and to the society, the Alex Otti’s government would collaborate with security experts and agencies to build a strong and virile security architecture that would de-emphasize physical and individual security and place priority to institution-based and ICT driven security that would serve the citizens very effectively and outlive the government”

Gentlemen and Ladies, does the post above in any way defeat or contradict what we are doing or have stood for since Governor Alex Otti assumed office as Governor? The answer is NO!

Today, the present government has created a very friendly and conducive environment for business men and women to carry out their activities without the usual government-induced harrassement and extortions that inhibited hitch-free business activities in the past.

Over three hundred Abians were taken to Nasarawa by the Otti led-government a few months ago and trained in different Agricultural Skills for several weeks.

Immediately they returned, Governor Otti approved the disbursement of funds between one to three million naira per person. These beneficiaries have started receiving these funds for take-off of their different Agricultural businesses. Any doubting Thomas can put a call across to establish the veracity or otherwise of my claim.

Just recently, the government disbursed a total sum of One Billion Naira(N1Billion) to Ten Thousand Abians across the 184 wards of the state as Interest-free Revolving Loans.

Private and Commercial motorists no longer suffer unnecessary intimidation and extortion which made life miserable for them, and affected their mental and economic well-being in the past.

Vehicle plate numbers are no longer removed illegality by touts. Vehicles are no longer hijacked and taken to illegal garages by touts. Tyres of Private and Commercial vehicles are no longer deflated by touts. Touts no longer own Aba, the citizens now do. This is a verifiable fact

We may not have completely exterminated terrorists, especially at the Umunneochi part of Abia, however, they have been dealt a fatal blow, and their once invisible criminal architecture weakened badly, to the joy and appreciation of millions of Abians.

Indigenes of Umunneochi visited their communities during the last Christmas and slept with their two eyes closed for the first time in a very long time. Of course this year is going to be more enjoyable for them.

The Lokpanta Cattle market has ceased to be a den of kidnapping and other criminal activities. Sanity, serenity and security has been returned there.

Unlike what happened when the Prelate of Methodist Church in Nigeria and other clergymen were kidnapped, which saw the then government throw up its hands in the air in surrender and haplessness, leaving the church with the burden of raising the hundred million Naira ransom allegedly paid to the criminals before the men of God were released, the Alex Otti led-government has never abandoned its responsibility of leading the fight against criminals and criminality. Recall that Governor Otti announced recenly that the criminals who kidnapped the former DVC of ABSU in his Village of Umuokpara in Umuahia South LGA of the state last year, are already in custody, singing their song of regret. While one was picked up in Port Harcourt, another was picked up at the Murutala Muhammed International Airport Lagos as he was about to board a flight to Turkey.

Abia was saturated with all kinds of people in the past who called the shots either as Bus and Keke revenue agents, Political Thugs, ASEPA Agents, Business Premises Permit Agents, Building Permit Agents, Loading Fee Agents, Excavation Permit Agents, Store Licence Agents, Multiple Taskforces that harassed and brutalised Innocent Abians. While Governor Alex Otti is working assiduously to get most of these disengaged extortionists productively engaged after the right opportunities must have been created, it’s natural for the unrepentant ones to constitute a security threat, however, the government is determined to deal with the threat posed by these remnants.

The Alex Otti led-government is capable and prepared to continue to implement policies and programmes that would have the propensity to increase the transformative tempo ignited by the government so far.

Ferdinand Ekeoma

November 22,2024.