Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has once again voiced concerns that the national demonstration that is scheduled could degenerate into violence, which would then target the weaker, impoverished, and vulnerable members of society.
In a Tuesday morning broadcast to the Abia people, Otti made a plea to traditional elders, religious leaders, and other community leaders to counsel their people against resorting to violence.
The governor promised his administration will stop at nothing to keep the people safe from damage and devastation. He counseled the young of Abia to be restrained and approach officials with a list of demands.
He accepted that Nigerians had the right to protest against unfavorable circumstances, but he voiced worry that the original national demonstration organizers’ good intentions would be undermined if thugs and fifth columnists use the event as a cover to commit mayhem.
While stating that his administration has made investments in infrastructure in Aba and Umuahia, Governor Otti pointed out that this kind of infrastructure needs to be safeguarded against being demolished by individuals who could try to use the state’s protests as a cover for chaos.
He claimed that rather than anarchy, Abia needed a strong sense of calm and steady progress.
The governor urged the youth to use nonviolent methods rather than using violence to express their agitations, pointing out that some federal economic policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, may not have yet produced the final desired results as originally intended.
Otti also begged the people of Abia to refrain from violence, stating that among other things, his administration had fulfilled its promise to pay the April tranche of the Wage Award to state civil servants in Abia.
