Alex Otti has been sworn-in as the 5th executive governor of Abia State by Lilian Abbai, Chief Judge of the state.
Before the ceremony which took place at Umuahia Township Stadium, Chris Ezem, the outgone Secretary to the Government handed over the documents to Caleb Ajiagba who represented Otti at Government House Umuahia.
During the ceremony, Ikpeazu, his deputy and government officials were absent at the venue.
The Umuahia Township Stadium was filled to capacity as many Abians from different parts of the country and in the diaspora could not gain entry to the venue for the “liberation of the state from the clutches of the Peoples Democratic Party for 24 years.”
Ikechukwu Valentine Emetu, deputy governor, first took the oath of office and allegiance before Otti. Otti, in his speech after the oath-taking, said that the outgoing administration of Ikpeazu left a debt profile of N200billion for him aside many months/years of salary arrears and pensions owed workers and pensioners.
Otti noted that despite the huge debt profile left behind by his predecessor, he was not disturbed to fulfill his campaign promises to Abians
He said during his campaign, he promised Abians to cry no more as their help was on the way, adding that now that the help has come, Abians would not cry any more as they have collectively seen to his emergence to come and salvage the state from the shackles of misrule of 24 years.
Present at the ceremony were: Former Chief of general staff, Ebitu Ukiwe, Ike Nwachukwu, former Imo State Governor and minister of External Affairs; Theodore A. Orji, former governor of Abia state; his wife and son Chinedu Orji, Paul Emerua retired colonel, Julius Abure, National Chairman of Labour Party; Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Leadership of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
