Ahead of the expected flow of investments into Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, has advised his kinsmen against selling off their lands to investors.

Ikpeazu, who was rounding off his town hall meeting in Abia South, Monday, urged his kinsmen to rather be proactive in integrating themselves into the development of the state by negotiating for partnerships with potential investors.

Addressing the people at Obehie in Ukwa West Local Government Area, he equally enjoined the people to be fair-minded while making demands on him as he was the governor of all Abians, not just for the Ukwa/Ngwa.

He warned that selling of their lands would turn them into slaves in their own land with time, emphasising that it was the bitter truth he needed to drum into their ears.

Ikpeazu said: “Another truth I must tell our young people is, we are serious about our plans to develop our land. Very soon multinational companies will be coming to you, asking you to sell your lands to them. Please do not sell your lands but go into partnership with investors coming into your area.

“Let your land be your own contribution to any business that is coming to your area, so that you will not only benefit from the business, but your children and generations unborn will also be shareholders and benefit from the business.

“Please let us stop selling our lands. Our tomorrow will be better and we must plan for that tomorrow now. Never again will we be slaves in our land. This is one truth I must tell you, as one of you.”

The Governor reiterated his call on the people to begin to think of going into agriculture, as the way forward all over the world, for economic survival.

The Governor said the interactive meeting between him and Abians was in fulfilment of his promises during his campaigns.

“I’m here to fulfil the promise I made to you during the campaigns. I promised that I will always return to you as the owners of the mandate I’m holding in trust, to report to you on what we've done, what we are doing and what we want to do.

“I’m not your ruler, but your servant. Therefore, I’m here to tell you what we’ve done in the first one year of our government and what we plan to do in the next one year. I will also give you the opportunity to ask me questions, and I will answer all your questions here. That's why we are here in this town hall meeting,” he announced.

“All I am asking from you is your continuous prayers. Be rest assured that Abia is in God’s safe hands,” he added. “My dear brothers and sisters from Ukwa/Ngwa,” he continued, “it is true that I am one of you. It is also true that we’ve not been governor until now. But I am the Governor of Abia State, and not just the Governor of Ukwa/Ngwa people.

“So when I want to take decisions about our state, I will think of Abia as a state and not Abia South or Ukwa/Ngwa. This is one truth that I must tell you.

“I know where I come from, and our brothers and sisters from Old Bende know that I come from somewhere. We must be fair to every Abian and visitors in our land,” he stressed.

He, however, assured the people of the zone that they would get everything that was due them.

In his remarks, a former Commissioner of Information, Chief Ralph Egbu, commended the Governor for initiating the idea of the town hall meeting and also making out time to attend.

“This is the first we have a Governor in a town hall meeting where he sees feels and hears from the people that voted him to be their governor. I must commend you for that and also ask that you ensure that all that have been said here is attended to,” Egbu said.

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu.

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