A group, Integrity and Transparency Promotion Initiative (ITPI) says the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, represents the desire of the people for a new Abia.

The Abia State Chapter of ITPI in a statement it issued Tuesday in Umuahia, capital of Abia, said the state cannot make the desired progress and meet the aspirations of the founding fathers “if we continue to recycle the same set of people who have nothing to offer” other than meet the expectations of their godfathers.

Consequently, the group called on Abians to be wise and to vote massively for candidates, irrespective of political party affiliation, who have the character, competence and integrity to provide the leadership needed to rebuild the state and help restore its dignity and that of the Abia person.

“For us in the Integrity and Transparency Promotion Initiative, of all the candidates in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti of the Labour Party (LP) represents the current aspiration of Abians to build a new Abia state.

“He has the character and competence to do this, and we dare say that if there is any of the contestants that has superior credentials in managing men and resources which are critical to rebuilding Abia state presently, we would support the person irrespective of place of birth and ancestry as long as such a person is an Abian,” ITPI stated in the statement signed by its State Coordinator, Dr Caleb Ajagba; State Secretary, Dr George Chidozie and other 12 members.

The nongovernmental and non-partisan group frowned at what it described as “dangerous and utterly divisive clannish sentiments” that some individuals, groups and politicians have been expressing in the run-up to the governorship and state assembly elections on Saturday.

“As a result of the foregoing, we are compelled to warn all well-meaning Abians to be careful of these class of opportunists, many of whom have no verifiable means of livelihood.

“We say, enough of stoking of clannish, sectional, religious and other primordial sentiments aimed at manipulating the emotions and consciences of Abians for personal gains.

“For instance, there is no verifiable evidence that Ukwa La Ngwa nation has benefitted more than other sections of the state from the administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, neither did those from Umuahia benefit more than other sections of the state, when Chief Theodore Orji was governor between 2007-2015. If anything, all Abians have been victims of maladministration and mindless looting of Abia state resources since 1999 to date.

“We therefore call on the good people of Abia state to disregard any call by anyone no matter how highly placed who purports to represent any section of the state, but beneath the bare-faced representation is a clandestine and wicked plot to defraud them,” the group admonished.

A release from Otti’s Media Aide Kazie Uko quoted ITPI as saying “Abia people are hoping to have a leader who will halt the drift, decay and deterioration in the state; a leader who will not see fellow citizens as enemies for holding him or her to account; a governor and leaders who will not see Abia as their private enterprise or property.

“Abians need a visionary leader who will put Abia first, and strive beyond his or her personal comfort to serve the people selflessly. Abians want a governor who will build a strong institution rather than a cabal of cruelty. Abians do not want a stooge who will metamorphose into a mafia on assumption of office.

“Abians want a leader who will accept healthy criticisms and shun petty sycophancy as well as a leader who will behold the pain on the faces of fellow citizens, reflect on our years of deprivation, and through good governance restore the lost glory of Abia, God’s Own State,” it said.