FENRAD congratulates Abia gov-elect, Alex Otti, urges him to partner with civil groups

Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has congratulated Abia gov-elect, Dr Alex Otti over his victory in the just concluded governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

The environmental and human rights advocacy organization in a statement signed by its chief executive director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor which a copy was made available to News Band Newspaper, also congratulated governor Okezie Ikpeazu over what it described as his display of political maturity and true spirit of sportsmanship, adding that he truly revealed that political opponents in Abia are not rivals nor adversaries.

FENRAD in the statement, however, called on the governor-elect (Dr Alex Otti) to hit the ground running, urging him to commence immediate implementation of his lofty ideals as enshrined in his campaign manifesto after his inauguration.

It further admonished Dr Alex Otti to shun partisan politics and focus on building a new Abia at the moment.

Part of the statement reads, “Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, an environmental and human rights advocacy group, congratulates the Abia Governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti (OFR) of the Labour Party over the recent announcement that officially declared him the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Abia State by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, after a drawn-out collation that lasted four days.

“FENRAD believes that having emerged from a process where collation was suspended for a review, the gains of democracy, especially as enshrined in the Electoral Act of 2022, had been deepened. This is largely so because the review exercise itself, carried out from INEC backend, put to rest the debate on actual number of voters from Obingwa, a hotly debated topic.

“FENRAD wishes to congratulate the Abia Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, over his display of political maturity and true spirit of sportsmanship which evidently showed that political opponents in Abia are not rivals nor adversaries. Politics is not a “do or die” affair but a platform for leadership recruitment. It is necessary to state at this juncture that though there were isolated and pockets of violence and skirmishes by political thugs, Abia had not witnessed what played out elsewhere where people were not allowed to vote for holding contrary political views.

“Finally, the Foundation calls on the Governor-elect to hit the ground running, beginning with the implementation of his lofty ideals as enshrined in his campaign manifesto after his Inauguration. The place, if it must be redeemed, needs that issues affecting the material and living condition of its entire workforce, that of of old citizens are accorded priority. This is not the time to merry, because the journey and work ahead are daunting.

“Having congratulated him, we call on the Governor-elect to shun partisan politics and focus on building a new Abia of our dream At the moment, Abia public debt stock is frightening; opening informal sectors that can engender an acceleration capable of restoring Aba and environs to what it used to be should be paramount. Budget deficits need to be cut and leakages ploughed.”

While demanding for transparency and accountability from the incoming government, FENRAD also called on the governor-elect to address issues of refuse disposal and all other unfriendly environmental activities in the state.

“As an environment-focused group, we would that the Governor-elect addresses issues like refuse disposal and all other unfriendly environmental activities; FENRAD does not mind bringing her expertise on board if need be. Sustainable and green city is possible in Aba, Umuahia and elsewhere. We hope our Governor-elect continues with open government partnership and expand governance space for FENRAD and other civil society groups initiated and have been sustained by the Governor ikpeazu Administration.

“Once again, we at FENRAD congratulate you on your recent electoral success after the polls. We wish you all the best as we work towards a new Abia of our dream.”

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