Victor EzejaLabour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti has restated his commitment to creating wealth for all in the state not giving positions of authority to few persons as compensation for support.
He asked the various communities in Abia to stop requesting for individual benefits from politicians aspiring to lead the state at the gubernatorial level.
Otti made the clarification on Tuesday in Ukwa East Local Government Area, when he flagged off his campaign for the 17 local government areas of Abia State.
He explained that it would be more beneficial for the communities to demand for democratic dividends that would impact positively on the lives and well-being of the generality of the people, than just one or two persons and their families or friends.
The LP governorship candidate said political offices are for individuals but basic amenities and infrastructural developments such as good roads, portable drinking water, quality healthcare, stable power supply and basic education are for collective good.
“I have been listening to people talking about position, asking what position I would give. That position that you would get ends up being a position for one person or his family or his immediate environment. So, I want us to start thinking well,” Otti told the crowd of Ukwa East people who had gathered to appraise his candidacy at a townhall meeting.
He engaged the community in a question-and-answer, asking, “You have got a position here (in the past) as number three man, abi? Senate President… Has anything changed? The crowd chorused, “No!” The candidate then retorted, “So, I do not have number three position to give you, but you have got it before.”
Further pressing home his point, he said, “There have been commissioners here, right? There have been members of the House of Assembly; there have been party chairmen of ruling parties and Ukwa is still like this.
“So, the issue is not what you get for individuals, it’s what you get for everybody as a community. What I’m coming to do is to create wealth for everybody… I don’t want any family to have one unemployed person.
“I want to engage your people so that they can work. I want to build roads to connect you, so that when your products are coming from the farm you will not spend N1,000 to take it to Aba. So, that is the focus now.
“I don’t care about positions; positions are for individuals. But we are looking collectively at Ndoki people, what do we get?
“There has been a president in this country, after he finished his presidency, it was reported that he has no pipe-borne water in his village.
“The mindset now has to change. Talk about the community, don’t talk about the individual.
Otti’s message appeared to resonate with the people as they cheered him relentlessly.
Prior to meeting the people at the community hall, Otti an economist and veteran banker had first visited the Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers in Ukwa East, His Royal Highness Eze Tony Wabara, in his palace, where he interacted with Eze Wabara and other members of the Ukwa East traditional rulers.
Otti and members of his campaign organisation and Labour Party executives in the state also stopped by at Obeaku, to pay homage to Eze Ikeagwuchi Ekeke of Obeaku. Thereafter, the entourage proceeded to party office.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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