by Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has commended the Nigerian Army for being supportive in the efforts of the State government in achieving adequate security in Abia communities.
Governor Otti was speaking while receiving in audience a delegation of the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who was in Abia for an official visit.
He said, “Let me use this opportunity to publicly thank you for the support that you have given us. If you didn’t give the support, the success that people are talking about today would not have happened so we are very very grateful. We have worked together with the military as partners and brothers.”
Governor Otti appreciated particularly, the role the Army played in restoring peace in Umunneochi, especially at the cattle market and other parts of the State as well as the success so far achieved with Operation Crush.
“Our launch of a special inter agency operation code named Operation Crush, which is also led by the army had yielded a lot of fruits. We try to resource it very well, then we have a lot of committed officers in you who have been on top of Operation Crush to restore normalcy in the security situation in Abia State” he said.
He noted that the visit would not only strengthen the collaboration of his government with the Nigerian Army but assist in tacking insecurity in the South East.
“This visit has further strengthened our resolve to do whatever we can do to partner with you and work together to secure not just Abia but the South East. I believe that in no distance future, we will be sitting down with you again as South East Governors, because if you solve the security problem in Abia, and then there is security issue in Ebonyi, Enugu or Imo, then the problem has not been solved.”
He made it clear that in view of the importance of security to the development of the economy of the South East, the South East Governors’ Forum has to work with the army accordingly,
“We have to collectively as Governors’ Forum, decide to tackle insecurity in the South East. Our people are very industrious but what you’ve seen is that because of the level of insecurity, a lot of people are no longer doing the things that they would want to do because they are afraid. If you are not secured, you cannot operate not to talk of inflow of foreign capital which we badly require to develop the State so they are very very critical and central to the development of the State. We will continue to work with you.”
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who is on an official visit to Army formations in the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, thanked the Governor for his support to his men.
“We cease this opportunity to appreciate your support and that of the good people of Abia State to our troups and even their families domiciled in Abia State. I have been briefed of the several interventions of the Abia State Government to the 14 Brigade, vehicles and even infrastructure in our barracks.”
He pledged the sustained support and partnership of the Nigerian Army to Abia State Government.
The Chief of Army Staff later exchanged gifts with Governor Alex Otti while the Chief of staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Commander MacDonald Uba Rtd., other Security aids of the Governor, General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of Nigerian Army, Commander of the 14th Brigade Ohafia among others were present at the visit.
