Obasanjo to governors: Emulate Otti, abolish pensions for ex-govs, deputies

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Governor Alex Otti, and the Abia State House of Assembly for their courage to abolish the law which had entitled former governors and their deputies to enjoy life pension.

The former President described the abolished Pension law as “rascality”. He expressed the hope that other governors would follow Governor Otti’s footsteps.

The Executive Bill repealing the former pension’s law was assented to by Otti Thursday night after the House of Assembly passed it into law on Tuesday.

It was sponsored by the executive.

Obasanjo made the commendation when he paid a courtesy visit to Govenor Otti in Abia on Friday. He was on his way to Item where his former Special Assistant on Privatisation, Bishop Sunday Onuoha, was celebrating his 61st birthday.

He commended Governor Otti for his courage in repealing the law which empowered former governors and deputy governors of the state to enjoy pensions.

‘It is daylight robbery’

Obasanjo noted that pensions to the former governors and deputies were outrageous while those of ordinary retired workers were owed in Abia from 2014. He described the act as daylight robbery.

He said: “I watched the television and I saw the repealing of Abia pensions. I asked you what exactly is this. And you said to me that the pensions scheme for former governors here was too outrageous.

“It’s like trouble because it allowed them to have a house in Abuja and elsewhere. And it allowed them to cart away whatever they could. Yet the pensions of ordinary people from 2014 were unpaid.

“What sort of leadership! You came and said there would be an end to that rascality. I congratulate you, and I say to you, I hope that your colleagues will follow in your footsteps?”

The former President congratulated Governor Otti for his tenacity and for weathering the storm to become Abia governor. He reminded the governor that a lot of work needed to be done.

“I say congratulations. Congratulations for your tenacity, for not giving up, for weathering the storm and for what you did yesterday (on pensions for former governors and deputies).

“This morning, I came in and I met you exercising. A sound mind and a sound body and I say to you, now I know your secret.

“I was glad when you said you do that every other day. It’s just like me playing squash on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I think a leader must keep himself or herself in a healthy condition,” he said.

Continuing, Obasanjo said: “There are still a lot of work to be done. You have started, but you should never be tired. Don’t be discouraged.

‘You will be abused’

“You will be abused and called names. But if we have one-third of our states doing what should be done, this country will be a different country.”

He urged Governor Otti to pay attention to the infrastructural development of the state. He explained that with infrastructure and good leadership, the state will attain greater heights.

“I will urge you to pay adequate attention to infrastructure because if you give infrastructure and you give the type of leadership you are giving, the people of the state will have nothing to worry about.

“On their own, they are enterprising. All they need is the leadership that will give them all the encouragement.

“I have always maintained that if there is any zone in this country that could really give what I call ‘regional development’, it’s the South-East geo-political zone. You (South-East) are almost monolithic in everything,” the foremost living Nigerian statesman admonished.

We’re focused, Otti assures Obasanjo

Receiving the former President, Governor Otti assured him that his administration was focused and single-minded on infrastructural development. He especially mentioned Aba, as that is at the core of all that is required.

He disclosed that his government had, in the last nine months, completed and commissioned 10 roads in Aba. 31 other roads are at different stages of completion, he added.

“The last one was flagged off two days ago; the Ozuabam to Arochukwu through Ndiokereke, and Okobo bridge. It’s a 30.1-kilometer road and that road has not been used in the last several decades. It connects Arochukwu to the rest of Abia state.

“We also have a 67.4-kilometer road we commissioned a few weeks ago that connects Umuahia through Uzuakoli and terminates at Ohafia,” the governor enumerated.

Also, Governor Otti thanked the former President for supporting his government’s decision to repeal the law that empowered former governors and deputy governors to receive pensions. He stressed that cost of governance is a major problem for every state and the Federal Government.

Additionally, Otti said: “I agree with you completely on your comment about infrastructure. That is why we are very focused and single-minded in developing infrastructure. Particularly for Aba, which is the commercial and industrial hub of the state, and the South-East.

The former President was accompanied on the visit by Ms Adewunmi Osagie, MD Ocean City, Lagos; Ambassador Okey Emuche, Otumba Oyewole Fasawe, and Kingsley Ononuju.