TRANSFER OF NON-INDIGENES IN ABIANS' BEST INTEREST- ABIA GOVT

By Laja Thomas
Abia State Government insisted Monday that it transferred non-indigenes in its public service to their home states in the best interest of people of the state.

Special Assistant to Abia State governor on Public Relations, Barr James Kwubiri Okpara, in a chat with newsmen in Lagos yesterday, said it was in the best interest of Abians who voted for the governor to serve their interests.

Okpara, who explained that it was wrong for people to label what had happened as sack of non indigenes, said: 'The use of the word sack is wrong. Abia only transferred back none indigenes of the state in the public and civil service.

'The government is duty bound to protect, at all times, the interests of its citizens, and that is exactly what the government has done. The reason is simple, it is for the economic, human and infrastructural development of Abia State.

'There is need to meet the needs of thousands of Abians who were recently displaced, dislocated and lost their jobs across the northern states.

'All of them are in Abia State as we speak and any responsible government will not fold its hands and just watch but must be interested in solving their problems.'

Okpara dismissed the criticisms that had trailed the decision, saying those criticising the government were not sincere.

He averred that Abia was not the first to do such a thing, adding that precedents abound, if those criticizing would be honest with themselves.

He said: 'Critics are not fair to the government. Let all criticisms be fair, honest, informed and objective.'