Abia State Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, says that pulling down the cost of Governance which he describes as a big challenge in Nigeria, is part of his administration’s strategy to save money to work for the people.
Governor Otti stated this on Friday, 16th May during the funeral service of late Mrs. Evelyn Ada Ekeke, held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Nunya in Isiukwuato Local Government Area of the State.
The late Mrs. Evelyn Ada Ekeke, who died at the age of 85, is the Mother of Hon. Chinedu Ekeke, the Mayor of Isiukwuato LGA, and the Chairman of the Abia State Chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). Governor Otti said, “As a Government, we don’t use Government money for anything other than Government business. We don’t even allow people to steal the money. And, that is why we are able to do so many of the things we are doing, because once you steal it, it is not available to be used to work. No one dime is allowed to disappear.
“Anytime we can do things in an alternate way, that we don’t need to spend money, we do not hesitate to take the option. There is something called reining in cost of Governance. Cost of Governance is a big problem in Nigeria. So, part of our strategy is to rein in, pull it down, so that we can use that money to work for you,” the Governor stated.
Reacting to the third term wish of the Very, Rev. Fr. Princewill Iwuanyawu, the Chancellor of Okigwe Dioceses of the Catholic Church and Secretary of the Diocese who eulogized and thanked the Governor for his good works across the State, especially, restoring security in Isiukwuato and Umunneochi parts of the State which were hotbeds of kidnapping and other violent criminal activities before his emergence, Governor Otti said,
“The one that I do not agree is the third term. All the people that have tried third term did not succeed. And, it is also instructive that when you finish, you hand over to somebody else.
“The Challenge is not when you finish, it is about who you would hand over to. And, if you build an army like we are building here in Abia State, we are very sure that God in his infinite mercies will produce a whole lot of people better than us. That’s our prayer. It is only a bad father that would want his son to be worse than him. A good father would want his son to be better than him,” the Governor stated.
Governor Otti said that everything that has been said about the Late Mrs. Evelyn Ekeke were beautiful stories attesting to the fact that she lived a good life, anchored on resilience, honesty, etc. and gave her children the best she could afford, especially ensuring that they acquired formal education which she herself didn’t have. The Governor said that having education is not so much about going to school because it requires education to send somebody to school.
The Governor commended the Ekeke family for celebrating their mother and encouraged them not to weep so much because at age 85, one would not say that mama Evelyn died so young. He thanked God for the gift of a wonderful Mother in Late Mrs Evelyn Ada Ekeke.
The son of Late Mrs. Evelyn and current Mayor of Isiukwuato LGA, thanked Governor Otti for honoring them with his presence at the burial of their mother despite his busy schedule, saying that he wished her departed mum knew that the Governor would honor her with his presence.
The Burial attracted top Government functionaries including the Secretary to the State Government among others too numerous to mention.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
