Why we don’t interfere with security agencies in Abia — Otti

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Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained why his administration does not interfere with the operations of security agencies in the state.

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Otti said the policy was based on his administration’s commitment to transparency and doing what was right.

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The governor spoke on Wednesday at a send-off ceremony in Umuahia for outgoing service commanders who served in Abia State and were recently transferred.

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Reacting to remarks by the outgoing commanders on his non-interference in their duties, Otti said, “The reason we don’t interfere is that we have nothing to hide. And for us, what is right is right. If it is not right, it’s not right.”

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He thanked the outgoing commanders for their sacrifices, hard work, cooperation and discipline in securing the state, describing security as one of the most difficult responsibilities.

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“I want to also thank the outgoing service commanders for their sacrifices, for their hard work, for their cooperation, for their discipline in working with everyone to secure this state. It’s one of the most difficult jobs. A lot of you don’t sleep, so that the rest of us can sleep,” he said.

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Otti said he relied on the security commanders because his administration took security seriously, adding that the results of their collaboration had been impressive.

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“So, I relied on all of you, and because we take it (security) very seriously, and because we also have God on our side, the results have been very impressive,” he said.

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The governor assured the outgoing commanders that the relationships they had built with the state would remain cordial and offered to employ any of them who wished to return and work for the state.

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“We need foreigners to develop our state. Once you live in our state, you are an indigene. We and you are brothers. We will accommodate you if you wish to come back,” he said.

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Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Meribole, said the ceremony was organised to honour the security commanders who had been transferred out of the state.

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Meribole said although the commanders had left the state, the impact of their services remained, adding that their efforts had contributed to the peaceful security architecture in Abia.

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“The peace we are enjoying today is as a result of your sacrifice,” he said.

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In their separate goodwill messages, the outgoing service commanders thanked Otti for not interfering with their duties and for providing the support needed to carry out their responsibilities.

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The commanders included the Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Brig Gen H.M. Bello; the state Commissioner of Police, now Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Danladi Isa; the State Director of the Department of State Services, Ibrahim Sarki; the state Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Akinsola Aderemi; and the state Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Chigbu Odoemenam.

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They said the governor’s non-interference and support had contributed to improved security in the state.

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They said, “We have not seen where the governor does not interfere with the security architecture and readily give assistance to us. Abia is today safe because of this”.

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Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, retired Navy Commander MacDonald Uba, urged the new security commanders in the state to emulate the outgoing commanders and sustain the existing cooperation with the state government.

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