By Timothy Samuel
The State Governor of Abia HE.Alex Otti-Abia has described the recent establishment of a shadow government by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as treason and vowed to deal with it firmly under the law.
The PDP announced the establishment of a shadow government in the state and the appointment of a chairman and shadow commissioner, claiming that the move was intended to hold the ruling administration accountable.
Otti, who reacted to the move at a meeting with labor leaders in the state on Tuesday, decried the move as baseless and showing ignorance of Nigeria’s political structure.
He explained that the concept of shadow government is alien to the country’s presidential democracy.’There is no such thing as a shadow government in a presidential democracy. The problem people have is ignorance and a refusal to be educated. Shadow governments exist only in parliamentary democracies.
What they have established is, in essence, a government in exile, which, since it is not recognized by law, is treason,” Otti said.The state governor revealed that he has instructed the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwana, to deal decisively with the issue within the framework of the law.
We are a serious-minded government, guided by law, and if a faction of the PDP forms a government in exile, we will treat them as such. We will make them obey the law. People must understand that politics is not synonymous with stupidity,” he added.
Otti also accused the PDP of trying to create confusion and distract the administration from its mandate. But he vowed to remain focused on providing good governance for the people of Abia State.
They call themselves “shadows.” But we will not fall into their trap. Our focus is on the mission given to us by the people of Abia State,” he said.
The governor advised state politicians to educate themselves on the principles of democracy to avoid behavior that undermines the rule of law and makes governance look foolish.
