Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti has reaffirmed his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption as he vowed to show the exit door to anyone who go against the values his administration subscribe to.
The Governor said his administration cannot afford to fail Abains because the expectations of the people were undoubtedly very high.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Government House Umuahia while Inaugurating Members of the Abia State House of Assembly Service Commission, Special Advisers, Abia State Commission for the Welfare of the Disabled and the Civil Service Commission, the Governor said their appointment was a call to serve the people as the responsibility of building the New Abia which his administration has been saddled with requires the consistent identification, and recruitment of the right individuals whose skills, competences, and experiences will be very useful for the rebuilding and restoration efforts.
“Leadership is an exercise in continuous team building. It is essentially about finding the right people, placing them at the right positions, and giving them the leverage to work in harmony with other team members to translate the vision of the leader, into the reality of the collective. The responsibility of building the New Abia which our administration has been saddled with requires the consistent identification, and recruitment of the right individuals whose skills, competences, and experiences will be very useful for the rebuilding and restoration efforts”
“One thing you must immediately know is that the expectations of our people are understandably high and we just cannot afford to fail. Your appointment is a call to service, and nothing else should matter. Ndi Abia at home and in the diaspora are praying for our success because this is a government they installed. As leaders, our duty is to work to make life better for the people whose goodwill and enduring support brought us here”
“We have spent the last 59 weeks working to create a new leadership paradigm, one defined by genuine sense of service, courage to do what is right, and empathy to appreciate that the ultimate aim of leadership is to bring succour to the led, especially the most vulnerable in the society. We certainly cannot accomplish everything in one day but we must strive to see that there is something new and meaningful to report each time we face the people, as it is inevitable in a democracy. What makes us different is that we are running a government that is 100% accountable to the people of the State and God”
“To the new appointees, may I announce to you immediately that this is not a regular job. For starters, you are required to work round the clock, engaging with team members, developing and evaluating your strategy, and delivering excellence in sincere service of our State. To be honest, this is not an assignment that will earn you the whole riches in the world because stealing, asking for, and taking kickbacks, or engaging in phony deals, the type that fattens the bank accounts of individuals while impoverishing the public, are completely forbidden. The consequences of non compliance can be very heavy”
“This Administration has zero tolerance for corruption and the fastest way to get yourself out of the team is to engage in dishonest practices. For clarity, let the warning be given in advance that once we establish any case of self-serving activities that go against the values we subscribe to as a Government, we shall be left with no option but to ask you to leave, and perhaps hand you over to the law enforcement agencies for further investigations.
“Even then, I must also point out that you have not been called on a journey of self-immolation. As a responsible Government, we shall provide everything you need to operate effectively. At any rate, the biggest pull for this job is not in how wealthy you become at the end of your term but in the satisfaction that comes from serving your people, the opportunity to be part of history, shape the future, and one day, teach our children from the vantage point of experience, about the virtues of service, sacrifice and courage”
Speaking further the Governor said he remained very committed to fulfilling the promises made to the the people within the limits of available resources.
“Our people are very understanding and from my experience in the last 13 months, they will never fail to appreciate an honest effort because that is all that they ask for. A few persons with political intentions may murmur or even wail but the people we have been called to serve have remained unwavering in their support for the simple reason that we are alive to our responsibilities as a government and they are discerning” the Governor Stated.
