Dr ALEX OTTI OFR EXONERATED FROM IKPEAZU MEDIA ATTACK.

Iroha's Attack on Dr. Otti

Ebere Uzoukwa

I read with utter dismay a delusional piece ostensibly laced with litany of falsehood and innuendoes credited to one Ikechukwu Iroha, which to my comprehension, was unprofessionally dished out to tarnish the enviable reputation and character of Dr. Alex Otti, OFR who incidentally is the Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for Abia State. The author, an appointee and member of the media team of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu-led government of Abia State, may after all, claimed to have carried out his normal but routine duty.

While I don't intend to join issues with the said writer, it is however my candid opinion as considered expedient and advisory to state that:

1. Election(s) are never won on the viciousness of verbal attacks as it has unwholesomely become a campaign tool for the Government of Abia State and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

2. Dr. Alex Otti, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Governorship Candidate for Abia State is a well known and respected Nigerian whose record of achievements and antecedent 'earmarked' as a role model to many Nigeria and Abia youths. It is morally wrong and uncharitable to vilify such an illustrious son with towering reputation and excellent credentials on the basis of politics for mere resigning from the banking job as Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc, having actualizing his personal dreams and goals, to devote his energy and resources towards serving his people in the area of governance. He should be rather applauded and supported in his renewed desire and crusade divinely aimed at midwifing a better Abia in 2019. Those attacking him ought to have known before now that campaign of calumny orchestrated to smear Dr. Otti's character as resorted by the Government of Abia State and other competing political camps will definitely not erase his enviable record as evidently documented in the history book.

3. The adage that warns people living in glasshouses against throwing stones indiscriminately should at this moment form a watchword for the Government of Abia State and her attack dogs. We have in abundance documented evidence and verifiable facts indicting as well as damaging against the incumbent governor, his godfathers and key actors of the government which we have don't intend to reveal. This is as Team Alex Otti decides to run an issue-based campaign ahead of February 2019 elections. However, smear campaigns and sinister attacks on our principal, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR and the Governorship candidate of APGA in Abia State shall be no longer tolerated. We may be pushed to an unbearable position where we shall be picking up our 'gauntlets' and frontally descend on the incumbent governor to further unmask him as a person and his rotten government to the full glare of Ndi Abia.

4. I will rather admonish the government of Abia State to redirect her resources and energies in convincing Abians on the achievements of the present administration and why Abians should vote for them in 2019.

5. Team Alex Otti for 2019 shall be guided by all known rules of engagement, media ethics and laws to persuasively sell his candidacy to Abia electorate by interpreting all that he has solemnly pledged to achieve if voted into power as governor of Abia State in a document entitled "Manifesto of Hope" also known as "Enough is Enough" declaration.

6. Dr. Alex Otti's resolve to offer himself again to Abians after the wicked manipulations and violent malpractices that denied him the mandate freely expressed by Abia electorate in 2015 is a direct and patriotic response to the ceaseless yearning of Abians and residents for a change. Abia State needs real change and not the one based on empty sloganeering, false promises and deceit. Abia people are yearning for a change that is real, tangible, purposeful and sustainable. A change that is verifiably defined with deliverables and structured agenda which Dr. Alex Otti OFR offers to Ndi Abia.

7. I am confident that Abians will definitely do the needful by critically assessing the government in power within the context of its achievements; study the antecedents and character of the competing candidates to enable them vote wisely in 2019. That Team Alex Otti shall always remind them the need to change the present but dangerous trend via democratic means and by voting into power a competent and purposeful government than can rightly formulate the appropriate policies, create the framework and design people-oriented programmes.

8. I salute the courage and temerity of Ndi Abia and residents to resiliently show resentment in the bare faced incompetences of the present government and her failures.

9. God Almighty in his infinite mercies shall protect and provide our heart desires as well as keep all of us alive till early next year when the "liberation but democratic" battle shall fruitfully end in praise.

Thank you.

I remain Ochiagha Ebere Uzoukwa
An APGA Stalwart and Opinion Analyst from Obingwa.

N/B: This is my personal assertion and opinion.