Otti is a bad loser, says Ikpeazu

 

                                                              Okezie Ikpeazu

Abia State Governor-elect, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has denied an allegation by the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Dr. Alex Otti, that he (Ikpeazu) rigged the April 11 governorship election in the state.

He, therefore, described Otti as a bad loser. Ikpeazu said this during a media chat on Tuesday.

He said, “That is the way of bad losers. All of them say the same thing and they do the same thing. I am not afraid of his going to the tribunal because he can’t go to the tribunal in my absence. We will all be there to defend the mandate, and I am the custodian of that mandate.

“But I am bothered that we still have very desperate losers in Nigeria. I think he should have emulated President Goodluck Jonathan by conceding defeat.”

Ikpeazu dedicated his victory to God while thanking the people of the state for their massive support.

He promised to run an inclusive government but noted that mediocre politicians would have no place in his administration.

He said, “Anybody that has positive ideas that will bring about the unity, progress and development of Abia is most welcome. God has given me grace to recognise quality materials wherever they may exist.”

Ikpeazu admitted the contributions of political loyalists to his success at the poll but said that merit and competence would remain the yardstick for members of his cabinet.

The governor-elect said that the clamour for the revival of Aba, the economic hub of the state, would not make him neglect other parts of the state.

He said his administration would not sacrifice the development of other parts of the state for the transformation of Aba even though he noted that reviving Aba would remain the focal point of his administration.

He said, “I want to put it on record that Aba is not the only city in Abia. Abia State is not all about Aba. Our greatest challenge is to have a strong economic focus because if we get our economy right, you can put food on the table of the masses.

“What drives trade is good road. We expect that all the potholes on Aba roads will be a thing of the past. I will do a ring road to decongest the city centre. We will construct a bridge that will pass through some parts of Obingwa to Osisioma and Arungwa. The idea is to allow Aba develop horizontally.”

Meanwhile, three governorship candidates who lost at the governorship poll in the state have conceded defeat and congratulated Ikpeazu.

The candidates are: Chief Dan Onyeonagu of the KOWA party; his Independent Democrat counterpart, Mr. Gilbert Chikezie; and Mrs. Ijeoma Okpara of the Citizens Popular Party.

In a statement issued after a meeting on Tuesday in Umuahia, the candidates said their action was predicated on their “belief that Abia people spoke with one voice in electing Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu as the next governor of the state.”

They said they would not challenge the outcome of the poll, adding that they had accepted it as “God’s will for the people”.

According to them, “power comes from God and only God determines who gets it at any time.”