Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has charged Traditional Rulers in the 17 Local Government Areas of the State to join forces with the present administration to root out all forms of crime and criminality from their various Abia communities and also be alive to their duties.
The Governor gave the charge, while addressing Principal Officers of the State Traditional Rulers Council and their 17 LGA Chairmen and Secretaries at Government House, Umuahia, vowed that his administration would be “tough on criminals and those who support them in whatever way or for whatever reason”.
He said the traditional institution would play a key role in his fight against insecurity as he desires that individuals in the State would go to their farms and carry out other legitimate activities safely.
Governor Otti warned that government will not fail to take tough actions against Traditional Rulers whose domains are used as criminals hideouts further vowed to apprehend and punish criminals who are bent on threatening law and order in the state adding that his administration has zero tolerance for insecurity.
“Silence in the face of iniquity is also a crime in itself so when you see something going wrong in your community and you look away, that means you are supporting what is going wrong.
“The new and improved Abia cannot be achieved without major inputs from stakeholders like you our respected royal fathers.
“Development can only take place when and where concerted efforts are made to ensure the security of lives and property.
“Our state must remain crime free so that our people will go about their businesses with peace of mind and that is where exactly you come in”, Governor Otti stated.
He assured that his government will remain open to the informed counsel of the Traditional Rulers as well as continue to engage them as strategic partners in the development narratives of the state.
In his speech, the Chairman Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabeke while thanking God for the victory granted Governor Alex Otti and his subsequent Inauguration as the 5th democratically elected Governor of the State, assured of their continued support to his developmental template.
Speaking on behalf of the three Senatorial Zones of the State, Eze Harry Ugwuala, Eze G. C. Onwuka and Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu assured the Governor of their support in securing the state and in realizing his vision for a new Abia.
The Governor gave the charge during a meeting he held with the Principal Officers of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers and their 17 LGA Chairmen and Secretaries at the Government House, Umuahia.
Governor Otti who said his administration has zero tolerance for insecurity, stated that government would not fail to take tough actions against traditional rulers whose domains are used as criminal hideouts. He assured that his government would remain open to their informed counsel as well as continue to engage them as major stakeholders and custodians of the culture and tradition of the people.
Dr. Otti, who described Traditional Rulers as critical stakeholders in the rebuilding agenda of his administration restated his commitment to building a new Abia and intimated them that his government would pay serious attention on education, healthcare delivery, infrastructure among others .
In their responses, the Chairman, Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Joseph Nwabekee, the 2nd Deputy Chairman, Eze Harry Ugoala, 3rd Deputy Chairman, Eze Godfrey Onwuka and Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu assured the Governor that the Traditional Rulers in the State would give him maximum support to enable him succeed.
The Traditional Rulers, who congratulated Governor Alex Otti on his election victory and Inauguration noted that expectations of Abia people are high but expressed confidence that he would live up to expectations and prayed God to bless him with wisdom, knowledge and sound health.
