Abia State government says it has uncovered alleged plan to blackmail the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti, alleging that a certain federal lawmaker gathered some media men over the weekend in Abuja and handed over tons of fake documents purportedly from the government.
The state government also alleged that the unnamed federal lawmaker shared large sums of money to the media men to support the launch of a media onslaught on the Governor.
Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity who made the allegations in a statement noted that those behind the plot have the “delusional desire to hold Abia state down in penurious perpetuity”.
The statement went on to state as follows, “1. That Governor Alex Otti holds the popular mandate of Abia people in trust and enjoys the overwhelming support of Abia masses who are already heaving a sigh of relief since his assumption of office, therefore no form of orchestrated and senseless media attack can diminish his towering credentials and verifiable achievements as being acknowledged by Abians.
“2. Those unleashing these endless smear campaign against Governor Otti are pained by the popular verdict of acceptance which has continued to place him very high as a very performing and popular Governor in the country. Sadly they do not know that these vicious campaigns can never offer them the second opportunity they desperately seek to bring back their era or ruins, ruthlessness and enslavement against Abians.
“3. Abians have taken a courageous decision to live honourably and peacefully in the New Abia under the responsible and responsive leadership of Governor Otti and therefore can never fall prey to the antics of political opportunists or be deceived to believe that their oppressors of yesterday can become their saviours of today.
“4. Those who are out to blackmail and defame the present government and the Governor in order to return to power directly and indirectly and continue to build the eternal criminal empire they dreamt about, clearly have underestimated the resolve and determination of the government and people of Abia state to resist, confront and defeat them in order to build an Abia that would be glorious and prosperous in all spheres.
“5. Finally, the Alex Otti led-government is only loyal to Abia people and not to a group of selfish political merchants who are only after their selfish political interests, and thus would continue to serve Abians passionately and diligently while remaining accountable and answerable to them at all times.”
