Abia State APGA governorship candidate, Dr. Alex Otti


The clamour for women to get top political positions in the country received a boost in Abia State as the governorship standard-bearer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dr. Alex Otti, has picked a lady, Dr. Eme Uche Eme, as his running mate.

Eme, a renowned teacher from Ohafia in Abia north, studied political science at the University of Nigeria Nsuka (UNN).

This happened as Otti bagged man of the year award and overwhelmingly received at different rallies and consultation with eminent personalities in the area who vowed to deliver their votes to the APGA guber candidate, saying that he represents in its entirety, the positive change the people of the state are currently gunning for.

Unveiling his deputy during a courtesy call by eminent personalities in Ohafia, Otti averred that the choice of Eme was purely based on her competence and not necessarily about her loyalty to him, as according to him, ‘a good leader will always get loyalty from the followers’.

“She is competent and that is the main consideration in arriving at her choice. If you are a good leader, people will be loyal to you”, Otti stressed.

Otti lamented that the best of Abia has been scared away from politics and governance since 1999 thereby making way for incompetent hands who tries to always replicate themselves in what could be described as a vicious circle.

“Abia is a state blessed with so much human resources and yet remains backward. This is because the best of Abia has never come to politics since 1999. Those that got through replicate themselves and the vicious circle continues.

“The time has come for a strong force to break the circle and move Abia forward”, he thundered.

In her acceptance speech, Eme says a revolution is currently going on in Abia State of which the intelligential must not sit on the fence but must pioneer it, adding that “the revolution train is on and moving fast in Abia State”

In his speech at the occasion, former Finance and National Planning Minister, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, stamped a seal of endorsement on Otti quest for the governorship seat of the state, saying that he and the people of Ohafia are in total support of Otti as governor.

“I and my people are in total support of Otti as Abia State governor come February 2015 and I am ready to defend him as his team anytime, anywhere,” Kalu stressed.

Other Ohafia dignitaries present at the occasion include Uma Eleazu (the chief host), Dr. K.U. Kalu, former chairman of Union Bank, Chief Ole Ikpa, Awa Kalu (SAN) and a host of others.

Prior to the unveiling of his running mate, Otti had made a brief stop at the home of eminent man of God and preacher of the gospel, Rev Uma Okpai where he received divine endorsement in a close-door parley.

At ITEM, Otti was received by the warm arms of thousands of people who gathered to have a glimpse of the man determined to make Abia work with unrepentant passion.

He was handed an award as the Best Personality of the Year 2014 in Industrial Development of Nigeria by the ITEM Development Association (IDA) recognition of his immense contribution towards industrial revolution in the country.



Source: ThisDay