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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his economic policies, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy, which he said would, in the long run, favour Nigerians.
This is even as Otti has rewarded a staff sergeant of the Nigerian Army, Amoke Gunshot Simeon, who led troops to eliminate the dreaded kidnap kingpin, Obioma Nwankwo, aka Osisikankwu.
Governor Otti made the commendation while receiving the Federal Commissioner representing Abia at the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Abuja, Chief Victor Ikeji, who called on him in his office.
“Some of us have held up positions in the past that completely align with what the president is doing today. One of them is on the petroleum subsidy. I have written extensively about the petroleum subsidy.
“You can go and look at it. At that time, I still believed that it was a scam. Today, the president was courageous enough to make a decision on it.
“It may be painful, because once you indulge in bad behaviour, by the time you are correcting it, somebody must take the pinch somehow. But in the long run, things will correct themselves.”
Otti thanked Tinubu for appointing Chief Ikeji as the Federal Commissioner representing Abia at the FCC.
He described Ikeji’s appointment as one of the best decisions the president has made for Abia and expressed hope that the Abia FCC commissioner will not disappoint.
Ikeji had earlier told Otti he was in the state to pay an official visit to the governor and thanked him for the confidence reposed in him, which paved the way for his nomination by the governor to the president.
He promised to represent Abia State effectively within the constitutional mandate of the commission.
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Meanwhile, Governor Otti has rewarded a staff sergeant of the Nigerian Army, Amoke Gunshot Simeon, who served in the state during the terror days of the reign of kidnap kingpin Obioma Nwankwo, aka Osisikankwu, in Abia State.
Simeon, who hails from Nsukka, Enugu State, and served in Abia State between 2010 and 2014, was said to have led the troop that eliminated Osisikankwu.
Otti, while meeting with the soldier who paid him a visit in his office, offered to fly Simeon abroad for medical attention, with the state catering for his treatment.
Speaking with newsmen after meeting with the governor, Staff Sergeant Simeon said he was involved in a motor accident while on active duty in the North East, after serving in Abia State.
He said it was while on deployment in the North East that he had the accident, which got his legs broken.
The soldier, who came to Otti’s office with crutches, said, “It was actually an accident, a vehicle accident in the Northeast. And it was wrongly managed. Because I was believing on the promise made to me when they did the thing. But it was not getting better.
“So, I had no choice. I had to just proceed where the military is treating me and continued from there. They (federal authorities) are all following up on my treatment.
“I’m so happy; I’m so excited that Governor Otti can remember those who fought in Abia State. And being remembered, it will motivate the other military men in Abia State to know that whenever you are working, take money aside and do the job they ask you to do.
“So, Governor Otti has promised me that whatever it will cost to take me outside, they (Abia State government) will fund it and get me back on my feet. And I cannot stop being grateful to Abia State. I cannot stop thanking Abia State for remembering me through their very good governor,” Simeon stated.
The soldier revealed that when they caught Osisikankwu, he offered them N50 million to spare his life, but they rejected it because the express order given to them was to get the kidnap kingpin eliminated.
He thanked the governor for remembering his past deeds to the state and for rewarding him.
