Otti stated that he was on a mission to introduce good governance to the general public, not just a select group of wealthy politicians, when entertaining a team from Course 17, Syndicate 2, of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, at Government House Umuahia.
According to Abia State Governor Alex Otti, politicians in charge of the state’s affairs since democracy returned in 1999 have benefited themselves sufficiently from the common wealth, and now it is the time for the people to reap the benefits of democracy in his state.
Otti stated that he was on a mission to introduce good governance to the general public, not just a select group of wealthy politicians, when entertaining a team from Course 17, Syndicate 2, of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, at Government House Umuahia.
The Governor informed the crowd that he had recently decided to erase the retirees’ 2014 backlog of pension arrears was a demonstration of his passion for the masses, who had been shortchanged by the ruling elite.
He said that “never again shall Abia pensioners be owed their pension”, adding that he had also directed that they be paid along with workers on the 28th of every month, a directive, he affirmed, had taken effect from April.
“This is the people’s time, politicians have helped themselves enough for the past 24 years”, Otti thunderered.
Commenting on the theme of the research work of his guests:”Artificial Intelligence, Security and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects”, Otti said time had come for the country to embrace artificial intelligence because of its numerous advantages.
He said that AI had become very crucial in virtually every field of human development, especially in cyber security and fight against financial crimes.
” Reject AI to your peril”, Otti said, citing example of how someone working in US bank smartly deviced and installed a code that was deducting a cent daily from customers’ accounts.
He said that by the time it was discovered, the suspect had dubiously enriched himself and absconded, adding that the Authorities began to look for him to dismantle the code as nobody else knew the secret.
Gov. Otti said that youths who show apt in AI should be harnessed and engaged to develop the knowledge for positive use as the world is tilting towards Information Communication Technology, ICT.
“Your research theme is apt, particularly at this time when artificial intelligence has taken over from native intelligence. It may look esoteric at this time when you talk about robotics, artificial intelligence 3 D printing, driverless cars, electric vehicles, whether you like it or not that is the direction the world is going. And you refuse to key in and come on board at your own peril. So I like the foresight and I would like to encourage you to continue in that direction.
” This is very necessary and even more necessary in the area of technology because crime and criminality is also changing. People are using technology now to steal people’s money so if you don’t understand what they do or what they did you would not be able to solve the problem.”
Otti also informed his guests that his administration maintained a robust relationship with security agencies in the state.
Recalling how previous administration used security agents to oppress the opposition, Otti vowed that he would never use security operatives for personal gains.
He claimed that the Correctional Centre at Afara Umuahia used to be a dumping ground for political opponents under past administrations, saying he had decongested the facility of politically detained inmates.
“One thing that nobody in this government will do is to ask security agencies or security men to do the wrong thing.
” Anytime we call you, it is for the general interest of the state. We don’t have any personal interest to pursue. We don’t have any enemies to arrest.
” Afara prison (correctional centre) which used to be a dumping ground for political opposition, we have ensured that there’s nobody that is there today, that is not supposed to be there and that is how our administration is.”
Speaking earlier, the team leader of the Course 17 , Syndicate 2 of the National Institute for Security Studies, Abuja, Dr. Adegboyega Karim, said the institute which embarks on research and human capacity building, was in Abia for a one week study.
Dr Karim, who emphasised the importance of artificial intelligence in today’s government business commended Governor Otti for creating a Minstry of Digital Economy and SME and appreciated his relationship with federal institutions in Abia state.
He equally commended the Governor for relating well with, and supporting federal institutions in the state.
“Your commitment to health sector is commendable. We were marveled when we got to the FMC (FMC, Umuahia) and saw the structure you constructed. At least we observed that in some states where they would say, yes, this is federal institution, we have nothing to do with them, but you took it upon yourself to even construct works for them and gave them support”.
He also commended Otti for his developmental strides, declaring that should the tempo be sustained, Abia would soon become a reference state.
“The way you are going, we believe that in less than 4 years, this (Abia) would be one of the states that would be a shining example for other states to emulate.”