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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reaffirmed his commitment to the Labour Party, saying he would not defect alongside Mr Peter Obi but will remain to help the party resolve its challenges.
He made the assertion at the Government House in Umuahia yesterday during the December edition of his Monthly Media Chat with newsmen in Abia, titled: “Govrnor Otti Speaks with Abia People.”
The governor explained that he joined the party before Obi and stressed that his political future was firmly rooted in the party, regardless of Obi’s decisions.
“I am not leaving the Labour Party, my responsibility is to stay and contribute to fixing whatever problems exist,” he said.
He added: “If you remember, I joined the Labour Party before Peter Obi. He communicated to me that he was leaving the Labour Party and I gave him my blessings but I told him that I would remain in the Labour Party. I told him that I would have to continue the struggle to rescue the Labour Party. That is the party that brought me to power. But for now, I am not defecting with him.”
Insisting that his focus remains on governance and consolidation of the mandate that brought him to office, the governor added that any thought of moving to another political party would only come after exhausting internal efforts to strengthen the Labour Party.
Reacting to the call by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, for him to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otti said he had taken the decision not to be distracted by political overtures or commentary.
Quoting former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill Otti said: “You will never get to your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks.”
Otti commended Kalu for his recent rice gifts to vulnerable persons during the Christmas season, saying it was good Kalu heeded his advice to Abians of means to help the less privileged in society at this time.
“You specifically mentioned his invitation to me to join APC. Ordinarily, I would not respond on matters that have to do with the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, but since you have asked, the first thing is to thank him for heeding the call that I made.
“Those of you who listened to my Christmas message, I had called on our people who have means to extend their consideration to the less privileged particularly at this time.
“To see that he heeded that call and distributed rice and some items to vulnerable people, I thank him for doing that. But then I have also taken the principle decision not to dignify all the comments he made with any response.”
Governor Otti used the occasion to reel out his achievements in office and said Abians should expect more dividends of democracy over time.
