ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State says the State is the peaceful and safest in the South-East.
Governor Ikpeazu also said the peace being recorded in the State was as a result of a deliberate policy of the state government.
He said: “The peace and tranquility in Abia State is not a fluke or a by-the-way occurrence. It is the product of a deliberate state policy.
“Policy of justice and equity to all tendencies. Policy of accommodation and civility. Policy of mutual love and understanding.
“Policy of political tolerance and accommodation. Policy of nobody’s ambition is worth the peace of Abia State.
“After almost eight years, I make bold to say my greatest achievement as governor is the fostering of an atmosphere of peace and unity in Abia State, which has ensured developments across sectors.
“Abia is easily the most peaceful state in the Southeast and one of the most peaceful states in the country. We are proud of this record.
“Peace is a condition-precedent for any other form of development in a state. Without peace, no other conversation will thrive.”
On the prolonged pension arrears, the Governor said: “As the chief executive on whose table the buck stops, I take responsibility for the issues surrounding our pension administration and apologise to our pensioners who are owed backlogs. We will continue to work to resolve it until we leave office.
“As for salaries, I make bold to say we are up to date with the payment of salaries to our core civil servants, which is the direct responsibility of the state government.
“Where we have challenges are with some parastatals, extra-ministerial departments and institutions, who are unable to manage their affairs even with government subvention.
“I give assurance that again, we will work to ensure the evolution of a workable model to address these issues before we leave office.”
Speaking on the ongoing work across the state, he said: “Work has resumed for the completion of Faulks Road. We will also complete our intervention on Uratta Road and the Ngwa Road axis.
“Let me assure residents of Port-Harcourt Road that we will not abandon them. Already, we have completed the huge drainages on both sides of the road and we will shortly move into the next phase of the project.
“I pledge to you today that we will remain on duty, delivering projects and changing the lives of Ndi Abia until the morning of May 29, 2022.”