Abia Governor, Otti warns monarchs against shielding criminals

The governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has issued a warning to any traditional ruler in the state who is found to be hiding criminals.

While speaking at the inauguration of the 9th Executive Council of the Abia State Council of Ndi Eze in Umuahia, he issued the aforementioned warning.

Otti praised the new leadership of the traditional institution, saying that traditional rulers are respected figures whose backing is essential to Abia’s safety and progress.

He insisted that his government had carefully selected Eze Linus Nto Mba and other royal fathers to lead their colleagues, and he urged traditional rulers to avoid rivalry among themselves.

He was shocked to learn that some local chiefs don’t keep up with current events, which stunts community growth.

Otti urged the state’s traditional leaders to work with his administration in safeguarding the country, bringing up the importance of the recently started Operation Crush and convincing them to back the security combined outfit.

The governor, who has stated his intention to develop the state by making use of Abia’s agricultural potential and other mineral resources, has stated that such ambitious goals cannot be realized while the state is in a condition of insecurity and turmoil.

HRH Eze Linus Nto Mba, the newly appointed Chairman of the Abia State Council of Ndi Eze, made lofty claims about the future of the state’s rural towns in his inauguration presentation.

Eze Mba, in addition to promising to mobilise his colleagues for the development of Abia, he guaranteed them that his administration would create peace, harmony, and love in their respective areas.

He praised Governor Otti for appointing him to head the royal fathers and for raising the monthly stipends of traditional rulers in Abia, promising not to betray the trust placed in him.

HRH Eze Nelson Mmerengwa is the first Deputy Chairman; HRH Eze Franklin Nwosu is the second Deputy Chairman; and HRH Eze Uwakwe Ukaegbu is the third Deputy Chairman of the traditional rulers’ executive council.