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

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Governor Alex Otti and the Abia State House of Assembly for their bold move to abolish the law granting life pension to former governors and their deputies.

Describing the abolished pension law as “rascality,” Obasanjo expressed hope that other governors would emulate Otti’s courage in repealing the controversial law.

The Executive Bill repealing the former pension law received assent from Governor Otti on Thursday night following its passage by the Abia State House of Assembly earlier in the week.

During a courtesy visit to Governor Otti in Abia on Friday, Obasanjo commended the governor’s decisive action, stating, “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.”

He emphasized the importance of addressing the needs of ordinary citizens and criticized the disproportionate benefits enjoyed by former governors and deputies.

Obasanjo encouraged Otti to remain steadfast in his leadership, despite potential criticism and challenges. He emphasized the need for infrastructure development in Abia State, stating that effective infrastructure and good leadership would propel the state to greater heights.

In response, Governor Otti assured Obasanjo of his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, particularly in Aba, the commercial and industrial hub of the state.

Otti highlighted the completion and commissioning of 10 roads in Aba over the past nine months, with an additional 31 roads at various stages of completion.

He reiterated the importance of infrastructure in driving economic growth and pledged to focus on developing key infrastructure projects across the state.

Furthermore, Otti thanked Obasanjo for his support in repealing the pension law and acknowledged the need to address the issue of high governance costs at both the state and federal levels. He reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to addressing the infrastructure deficit in Abia State and expressed optimism about the state’s future development.

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