…we don’t want 419 people as leaders of town unions,” Otti declared firmly.
ABIA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the leadership of community and town development unions across Abia State and Nigeria to take responsibility for instituting credible leadership in their various communities. He stressed that genuine development and peace in communities can only be achieved when leaders of integrity occupy the helm of affairs, not individuals with questionable backgrounds.
The Governor made this charge on Wednesday while hosting members of the Abia State Association of Igbo Town Unions, led by its President-General, George Mgbeorurukwe, at the Government House in Umuahia.
In his remarks, Governor Otti expressed dismay over the trend in some communities where people of shady character, with no credible sources of livelihood, still manage to emerge as leaders of town unions. According to him, such practices endanger the growth and moral fabric of society.
“We don’t want thieves. We don’t want drug dealers, and we don’t want 419 people as leaders of town unions,” Otti declared firmly. “Because, if your leader is a thief, he will teach people to steal. If he is a drug addict, when you arrest somebody, he would want to bribe you to release him. That is not the type of leadership we need in Abia.”
The Governor emphasized that his administration has a keen interest in the composition of town union leadership, insisting that the people entrusted with community leadership must be role models capable of guiding their followers in the right direction. He explained that those who become leaders should embody the values of honesty, responsibility, and service to humanity.
Otti urged the Abia State Association of Igbo Town Unions to return to the grassroots and ensure that only credible leaders emerge from their electoral processes. He maintained that the time had come for communities to reject individuals who use money, ill-gotten wealth, or influence to hijack leadership positions.
“Our communities must produce leaders the people will be proud of,” he added. “We cannot afford to hand over the moral direction of our towns to men and women who have nothing to show but fraudulent lifestyles and questionable money.”
Beyond leadership selection, the Governor also encouraged the union to work closely with government and security agencies by providing credible intelligence to combat insecurity in rural areas. He explained that information from town unions, which are closer to the grassroots, would greatly assist in tackling criminal elements before they spread into larger towns and cities.
“Your role is not just to choose leaders but also to act as partners of government in intelligence gathering,” Otti told the visiting delegation. “When you give accurate information, it helps security agencies to deal with crime from the root. Together, we can make Abia safer.”
Responding to a request from the union leaders, the Governor announced that his administration had approved their demand for a parcel of land to build a permanent office in the state. He described the gesture as part of his government’s commitment to strengthening community-based organizations that promote peace, unity, and development across Abia.
President-General George Mgbeorurukwe, who led the delegation, had earlier commended Governor Otti for his reform-driven administration and for recognizing the role of community unions in governance. He assured the Governor of the union’s readiness to support the state government’s policies and to ensure that only credible persons are entrusted with the leadership of communities.
Observers believe that Governor Otti’s strong stance on leadership credibility reflects his broader agenda of entrenching transparency and accountability in both state governance and community life. Analysts say his message also serves as a warning to individuals who use financial influence and ill-gotten wealth to buy community leadership positions, thereby frustrating grassroots development.
The meeting between the Governor and the Abia State Association of Igbo Town Unions ended on a note of renewed commitment, with both sides agreeing to work hand in hand to sanitize town union leadership, promote transparency, and strengthen security through grassroots intelligence.
With the Governor’s bold charge, Abia communities may now face a new era where integrity, and not money or influence, determines who becomes a leader, a shift many believe is essential for the sustainable growth and moral revival of the state.
