Otti: Corrupt Appointees Will be Shown the Door

Otti: Corrupt Appointees Will Be Shown the Door

 

 

 

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, yesterday vowed to dismiss any official of his administration found guilty of bribery or corruption.

 

The governor, who spoke during a service at the Abayi District of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Aba, and later at the Living Word Ministries International in Umuahia during the 50th wedding anniversary of Bro. Emma Okorie, said his government has zero tolerance for graft.

 

Otti told the congregation that the essence of his foray into politics was to restore the dignity of the Abia man and not to enrich himself or his appointees.

 

“What we have come to do in Abia is nothing other than restoring dignity. The only reason I contested elections is for the dignity of our people. It is not about money. Anything that will not restore the dignity of the Abia man, count us out,” he declared.

 

The governor warned that anyone demanding bribes in the name of government was a fraudster, stressing that legitimate entitlements will get to citizens without inducement.

 

“That is why you will never see bribery and corruption in this government. If you get involved, I’ll fire you. We are intolerant of corruption and nobody can plead for you,” Otti warned.

 

He cited the recent recruitment of 5,394 teachers as an example, noting that no applicant paid bribes or got favoured based on connections.

 

“Even some of the people who know me very well, I said, ‘Go and write your exam. If you pass, we will take you, but if you don’t pass, we will not take you,’” the governor said to applause.

 

Otti added that some of the completed roads in Aba, including Port Harcourt Road and Ohanku Road, would be commissioned on October 3 by President Bola Tinubu.

 

Commending him, Pastor Macaulay Nwosu of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church said the governor had restored integrity in public service and given hope to many. He praised the governor for regular salary payments and infrastructural projects.

 

Similarly, Bro. Emma Okorie, General Overseer of Living Word Ministries International and Chancellor of Rhema University, hailed Otti’s “intentional and people-centred governance,” describing his emergence as an answer to the state’s long prayers for a visionary leader.

 

The governor also joined in celebrating the Okories’ 50th wedding anniversary, congratulating the couple and urging the younger generation to learn from their story of perseverance and mutual respect.