The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) has praised Governor Alex Otti and the Abia State House of Assembly for repealing the law that provided pensions for former Governors and Deputies of the state.
Concurrently, the party has criticized Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for purportedly making disparaging remarks against Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and APGA.
In a statement issued by the National Vice Chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, and the National Organising Secretary, Emmanuel Igbokwe, APGA commended the governor and legislators for their bold move in scrapping the pension law, which the party deemed self-serving.
The party emphasized that the revoked law never served the people’s interests but rather protected the vested interests of a privileged few who had enriched themselves at the expense of the populace.
APGA insisted that Abia’s resources should be equitably utilized to foster public welfare and development across all sectors and demographics of society.
While urging the governor to fulfill his pledge of settling the backlog of pension arrears and salary debts owed to Abia retirees and workers accumulated during previous administrations, APGA highlighted the plight of pensioners who have suffered due to neglect and indifference from past governments.
APGA cautioned against any deviation from the commitment to address the needs of Abia’s pensioners, who eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of the governor’s promise to clear their outstanding arrears. The party also called upon the governor to prioritize clearing the salary arrears owed to Abia workers, which had accrued over previous administrations.
Regarding the controversy surrounding the purported 24-hour power supply in Aba following the inauguration of the Geometric Power Plant, APGA advised the governor’s media team to refrain from unnecessary media hype and focus on substantive actions.
APGA said that “while the governor’s role in facilitating the project is commendable, members of the public should be allowed to sing the praise of the Governor based on verifiable evidence.”
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” We are all happy that at last the Geometric Power Plant Aba has come on board. We are also very hopeful that public power supply in Aba will improve in the days ahead. But for now, the blind man can only be told that there is no enough oil and not salt in the soup”, APGA said.
APGA responded to Alhaji Ganduje’s purported anti-Soludo remarks by asserting that the former Kano Governor lacked moral authority to criticize any governor, given his disappointing tenure in office.
Labeling Ganduje’s statement about re-electing APGA in Anambra as “a reckless outburst,” the party emphasized that the political landscape would not have shifted against the APC in Kano during the 2023 elections if Ganduje had performed well during his eight-year tenure.
Moreover, APGA highlighted the disparity in insecurity levels between APC-controlled states in the South East and Anambra, attributing Anambra’s relative peace to Governor Soludo’s proactive security measures.
In a portion of their statement, APGA expressed that the APC National Chairman’s commentary on APGA’s political prospects was irresponsible, suggesting that he should reflect on his role in the APC’s loss in Kano in 2023 due to his lackluster performance as governor.
“He should first clear himself from the stain of the viral video that showed the form of somebody like him acting a script in a movie. The disgraceful memory of that absurdity is still fresh on the minds of Nigerians.
” What legacies did Ganduje live in Kano other political vendetta, victimisation and deposing of revered Emirs who did not share his jundiced views? Regrettably, his activities and ineptitude have set the most populous Northern state 20 years backwards. Anambra people do not need his unsolicited toxic political counsel to know what they need”.’
