Gov Otti Speaks About Funding Peter Obi’s Tribunal Litigation, IPOB Activities

The Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has reacted to claims of him using state funds to finance the tribunal litigation of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and also activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The governor denied using state funds to support either of the above parties while calling for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

The governor’s reaction follows claims that he was allegedly funding Obi’s tribunal litigation against President Bola Tinubu, as well as supporting IPOB activities ahead of the governorship election petition tribunal verdict slated for 6th October.

However, Otti, in a statement through his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Ferdinand Ekeoma, called on all security agencies to look into the matter for further probe and apprehension.

Otti also appealed to the president, the Chief of Army Staff, the National Security Adviser, and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to thoroughly examine the allegations made against him.

Otti said he is calling for an investigation into the matter because the allegations are weighty and could not be ignored.

The governor’s aide said the allegations were made by individuals suspected to have been hired by opposition elements who lost in the March 18 governorship election.

Ekeoma, who questioned the mortality of the group’s call for the delivery of the October 6 judgement outside the state, said: “They went further to call for the governorship election judgement billed for 6th October 2023 not to be delivered in Abia because the Abia State government had allegedly concluded plans to intimidate the Justices to deliver judgement in favour of Governor Alex Otti or alternatively would ensure that the Judges would be killed if they fail to deliver judgement in favour of the Governor.

“Governor Alex Otti’s position as Governor of Abia State is a product of a nationally celebrated Governorship election victory, hence we consider it a demeaning insult and a provocative blackmaill for a group of greedy hatchet men with zero stake in the Abia project to sit behind the microphone and spew gibberish that lowers the office of the Governor of Abia state while insulting the sensibilities of our people who have heaved a sigh of relief since the emergence of Governor Alex Otti.

“The hate, anger, bitterness and the trademark of terror contained in the text of the press conference and on the facial expression of the accusers showed a despicable design to subject the government and people of Abia state to public opprobrium.

“The two opposition parties that are in court against Governor Otti and who are suspected to be the brains behind these allegations know very well that they have terrible cases and that their suits would be thrown into the thrash bin on the 6th of October, hence the resort to this panic and desperate strategy of deceit and destabilisation.”

He said if some individuals have decided to play dirty politics, then they should be exposed and punished after all.