Gov Otti not accountable to sanctimonious charactes: Our re-industrialisation policy, promise kept
By Ukoha Njoku Ukoha
As part of the Government’s wider development efforts and commitment to getting it right with the younger generation, Governor Otti initiated a systemic and entrenched process of developing the leadership attitude of our young people through the setting up of Abia Leadership Academy.
A few days ago, the first batch and pioneer class of the Abia Leadership Academy, cohort one, who successfully completed the intensive leadership training organised for 250 young Abians aged between 16 and 20 years had their graduation ceremony.
In his speech titled, “A New Pedestal,” the Executive Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, while expressing his satisfaction with the participants, also used the opportunity to announce that the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has approved Abia State Government offer to acquire Star Paper Mill.
The Governor, who is a first-class renowned economist, went further to explain the Government’s plans for the company, “So, before the end of this month, we shall pay AMCON what Star Paper Mill owes them, and then take back the company and put it back to work”
“We are doing that because we knew it used to be the largest employer of labour at some point in the State, and our intention is not to own it. By the time we acquire it, retrofit it, get it back to work, we’ll still sell it to the private sector.”
Ndi Abia, is there any ambiguity in the above quoted remarks. I know that Obinna Oriaku is not an economist, but even a child with just a First School Leaving Certificate will understand the above quotes laced in the simplest grammar without any econometrics terminology.
Any revisionist historian or armchair critic who wants to twist the message must be doing so out of petty mischief while those applauding him must have their heads re-examined to ascertain if they are not having a hangover of the imaginary #54 Billion lunacy.
Let me assume that I am teaching a class of retarded kids with special needs and bring the explanation further down. Star Paper Mill has not been acquired. The State made an offer to acquire the company, and AMCON recently accepted and approved the offer. The transaction can be said to be concluded after payment and documentation is concluded.
“Before the end of this month, we shall pay AMCON” and “By the time we acquire it,” meaning that it has not been paid for, therefore, yet to be acquired.
The interest of the State is not to owe or operate a business but to create employment for our people by buying back Star Paper Mill, getting it back to work as a way of derisking it for the private sector players to buy it back and operate it. As stated by the Governor, “Our intention is not to own it. By the time we acquire it, retrofit it, get it back to work, we’ll still sell it to the private sector.”
The question now is, why the outrage and uproar again? why are they on the loose again? Let me not conclude that we have a few lunatics on the loose in Abia State, but allow the reading public to name or describe their ailment.
Finally, to Ekwedike, who raised the false alarm to misinform the public, it is no longer your family land. It was sold and bought.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
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