Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has urged leaders of Community Development Unions to enthrone good leadership and ensure that only credible individuals hold positions of authority in their communities.
Governor Otti gave the charge in his office, on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the Abia State Association of Igbo Town Unions, led by its President-General, Chief Sir George Mgbeorurukwe.
The Governor decried situations where people of questionable character still head development Unions and stressed that his government would insist on knowing who occupies leadership positions in Town Unions.
“We now have to, as government, insist that we need to know who the leadership of the Town Unions are. And we will do it through you.
“So, you must put the right people in authority, just like you quoted Proverbs 29 verse 2. When the righteous is in authority, the people rejoice.
“I’m challenging you to go back and ensure that the communities have all their well-meaning people involved and produce the kind of leadership that you and I would be proud of.
“We won’t come out and say that we are not interested. As the Chairman, you need to get interested. We don’t want thieves. We don’t want drug dealers, and we don’t want 419 people as leaders of town unions”, Governor Otti stated.
He also tasked the Unions with providing credible intelligence to security agencies to curb crime in rural areas, particularly drug abuse among youths.
“If the Town Unions are strong, they will eradicate that from their communities. And if everybody does the same thing, this place will not be a safe haven for any of them”, Governor Otti stated.
The Governor approved the Union’s request for land to build a secretariat and directed relevant commissioners to facilitate the allocation.
Earlier, the President-General, Abia State Association of Igbo Town Unions, Chief Sir George Mgbeorurukwe commended Governor Otti for his achievements and for restoring the pride of Abia people.
