Stakeholders in Abia North, under the aegis of the Alliance for Good Governance, at the weekend, converged at the Isieke Civic Centre, Ugwueke, in Bende Local Government Area, where they reiterated their resolve to support, protect and sustain the good governance model of Governor Alex Otti beyond 2031.

Presenting the communique issued at the end of the meeting, which drew eminent sons and daughters of Abia North, the secretary and spokesperson of the group and former Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University, Uturu, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, said, “The purpose of this meeting is to reiterate that Abia has never found it so good in terms of good governance and that this good governance must be sustained at all costs.”

He said the interest of the group was to ensure continuation of good governance in the state, adding that it was the resolve of the stakeholders that the good governance transcended beyond 2031.

They called for all hands to be on deck to actualise the second-term bid of Otti and others, through voter education, especially those at the grassroots.

“We are non-partisan, we are the elders of Abia North, and we are the lone voice crying in the wilderness, calling on all and sundry not to allow this singular opportunity that we have prayed for over the years, which God has graciously granted us, in giving us a person like Governor Alex Otti, to slip through our fingers.

“It was also agreed that it is not enough to merely wish that Governor Alex Otti will remain in office beyond 2027. All hands must be on deck to actualise it.

“We resolved to embark on massive voter education, particularly at the grassroots and among the less literate. We also agreed to mobilise our youths not to succumb to pressure or inducement from other parties and not to sell their votes.

“If anyone offers them money, they should collect it, but at the right time, vote for Alex Otti and all candidates in his lineup.

“In the past, we fretted, we trembled, we were afraid and intimidated to be identified as Abians. But today, we can raise our shoulders high and say proudly, we are Abians. Continue breaking new ground in the remaining months of your first term and into your second term,” Prof Mkpa said.

A former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Ogah, and a renowned economist, banker and former Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Elder Urum Eke, said the stakeholders were mobilising their structures ahead of the general elections, adding that Abians would no longer allow mediocre to occupy positions of trust.

The convener of the Alliance for Good Governance, Chief Ebueme Ezikpe, and the meeting host, Sir Johnson Chukwu, described the Alliance for Good Governance as a structure that brings together opinion leaders and people with some level of influence to shape the direction of governance in the state, noting that Otti’s achievements have, among other things, introduced sanity into governance.