Emelam Udo, Umuahia.
Following the allegations of bribery and other forms of extortions leveled against management of Abia Schools of Nursing by certain students who were involved in the recent Preliminary Test examinations into the schools and their parents, the State Government has requested the affected candidates and their parents to write formal petition to the Abia Governor,Alex Otti and provide proof and facts of such allegations for prompt action.
In a statement signed by Dodoh Okafor, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication and made available to newsmen in Umuahia, the State Government acknowledged their protest and asked both students and their parents to arm themselves with facts and evidence to substantiate such allegations when both the accused and accusers would face Government that is serious to get to the root of the matter as the students and their parents have publicly made such allegations.
The statement said “Even then, responsible governments all over the world, it must be noted, act only on facts and established evidence, and not on hearsay and conjectures
As the officials who addressed the protesting students and parents in front of the Abia State Government House Umuahia on Thursday directed, that the students and their parents were required to write a formal petition to His Excellency, the Governor of the state, Alex C. Otti, stating all the issues and providing reliable, foolproof evidence to substantiate their allegations. Such petitions should reach the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor as quickly as they can be properly put together”
Government further assured that every allegation would be painstakingly investigated and all accused persons called to present their side of the story adding that nobody would be shielded and nothing would be be swept under the carpet.
It also said Governor Alex Otti was committed to running a transparent and sincere administration where international standard practices would be adhered to in all issues regarding service delivery.
The statement further said that Governor Otti had severally emphasized that his only interest in the admissions process in institutions owned by the state was for the rules of meritocracy to be followed, whether at ABSU,medical or law schools,
“The Governor has made it clear that he has no candidate neither does he have any list.
We therefore encourage all who believe that something had gone wrong in the admission process into the nursing schools to put their facts together and present to the government as well as be ready to follow up by appearing to testify when called upon. Nobody will be victimized in any way for stating what they know to be true.”it added.
The statement also said that in the New Abia, allegations of corruption and dishonesty in service delivery would never be swept under the carpet and nobody who attempts to short-change hardworking Abians would be spared.
The statement requested from individuals who have evidence of corruption, extortion or acts of dishonesty against any official of the present government in the state, to forward such to the appropriate quarters.
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