by ABIA: Gov Otti Restates Commitment To Greater Development Of the state
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti says his administration is committed to running a transparent and accountable administration to engender greater development in all nooks and crannies of the state.
Governor Otti made the statement when the House of Representatives committee on Public Accounts led by its Chairman, Mr Bamidele Salam paid a visit to him as part of their oversight visit to the state.
The Governor said his government is responsive while accountability and transparency remains it’s watchword.
He maintained that to achieve his goal of a new Abia, he must be responsible and assured that he will always do what is right as to justify the confidence reposed in him.
The Governor while describing accountability as an important facet of Governance, noted that it is in the spirit of accountability that led to the setting up of a forensic audit which disclosed massive looting of the state resources by the past Administration.
“When we came in slightly less than a year ago, we thought that in the spirit of accountability, that we should set up a forensic audit on the activities of our predecessor. We are not interested in witch-hunting, we just needed to know where we were and how our resources in the last few years were used.
“At least we can hold ourselves and our predecessor to account, our predecessor should hold his predecessor. I think that’s the way it goes and when the result came out, mind bulging revelations were made and we are still struggling with some of them.
“There is no responsibility without accountability. By the time I hand over to my successor, I expect him as a matter of importance to also set up a forensic audit on my administration and then come up with a report and that is accountability”, Gov Otti stated.
In his remarks earlier, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Bamidele Salam, explained that they were not in the state for a witch hunt exercise but to carry out its role of tracking public expenditure to ensure that public funds are used for the public in a manner that conforms with all the rules of transparency and accountability.
The House Committee Chairman said that the Governor has over the years supported public Accounts and transparency in Governance and congratulated Governor Alex Otti for not disappointing those who believe in him which speaks volume of how prepared he is for Leadership.
He noted that Governor Otti has made Abia to be in the news for positive things and described him as a leader who has redefined Governance and has also brought innovation to bear in governance.
“Everything you have done since you assumed this office has shown that you actually prepared to govern Abia state in a manner that enable it fulfill God’s purpose”, the House Committee Chairman noted.
