Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has advised his political opponents, especially those in the the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and All Progressives Congress, APC, to use the money they are paying for their court cases against him, in developing their villages.
Otti, who was reacting to his victory at the election petition tribunal, said this is a good time for the opposition parties to sheathe their swords and join hands with him to develop the State.
“My advise to my opponents is that this is a good time to sheathe their swords and join hands with me to develop our state, Abia.
“Any how you slice and dice it, it costs a lot of money to engage in litigation. while I will not ask them to bring the money to me, I would advise that each of them have villages that are dilapidating; without roads, without water, and I believe that their communities will appreciate it ,if they would channel those resources to building roads in their villages and communities,” he said.
He said the resources spent by his opponents in prosecuting the litigation could be used in providing pipe borne water and ensuring that Abia remains peaceful for the benefit of its residents.
He said the victory should not have been contested in the first place and expressed joy that the wishes of the people have come to pass.
“If you follow the election and everything that happened thereafter, you would know that quite frankly this victory shouldn’t have been contested in the first place, but then, i also do not deny my opponents their rights to go to Court,” the Governor stated.
While appreciating God for the victory, Otti pledged to continue to serve Abians diligently.
It would be recalled that the governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Umuahia, had earlier on Friday dismissed the petitions of the PDP and APC, and their candidates, Okechukwu Ahaiwe and Ikechi Emenike, respectively, challenging the electoral victory of Governor Otti of the Labour Party, LP.
The three-member panel in about seven-hour judgment, struck out the petitions for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
