Abia: Ex-Ikpeazu aide queries Otti’s N30 billion road contract
By Emma Ogbuehi
Former Abia Commissioner for Trade and Investment, John Okiyi Kalu, has picked holes with the recent flag-off of the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road Aba by Governor Alex Otti at the rate of N30 billion.
The former Commissioner said that the immediate past Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration which he served awarded the same road in 2017 for N9 billion with 40 per cent of the work already done including the establishment of drainages end to end, along with proper channels for storm water.
Okiyi-Kalu said that he was shocked when his attention was drawn to a statement released by Governor Otti, through his spokesman, wherein he attacked him for revealing to the public that his using N30 billion to complete the Port Harcourt Road, Aba project is suspicious.
He said that while he is unfazed by the inaccuracies contained in the statement from Otti, it is instructive to note that during a radio programme, he monitored in Umuahia, Otti confirmed that he is actually using N30 billion to do the job and that there was neither a budgetary provision nor due process competitive bidding for the work.
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The former commissioner stated the governor has his support in giving compensation to property owners along Port Harcourt Road, Aba if he intends to do so, given that government is a continuum and he is about to work on the same road as started by the immediate past administration. Okiyi Kalu made the remarks in a statement sent to our reporter.
He stated: “Let me remind Alex Otti for the purposes of his records that as of May 9, 2017, when the Port Harcourt Rd, Aba project was commenced, I was not a commissioner then and could not have harassed, nor been in any position to harass anyone on that road because of the project as he told Abians on radio through his spokesman. I only became a commissioner in Abia State on October 17, 2017.
“I also find no real issue with associating me with the successes and shortcomings of the Ikpeazu administration because as expected of any government, we met many challenges, and solved many but couldn’t solve all the problems of Abia before we left office after 8 years. By the time Otti leaves office, too, he will also not have been able to solve all the state’s problems.”
Okiyi-Kalu said that his position remains that he promised the people of Abia State transparency in governance, and he will continue to hold Otti accountable regardless of any threat to him or his family members.
“In his inaugural address to the people of the state, Otti had said: “The time for the rebuilding process has begun. Transparency, accountability, and public trust shall be at the centre of everything we do.”
“Based on the above statement, one then wonders why Otti is angry that a citizen is holding him to his words”, Kalu added.
He added that the current administration in Abia will never be able to intimidate opposition voices in the State, especially himself, stressing that the Governor wants to do so that he can run the finances of the State as his personal funds.
Okiyi-Kalu challenged Governor Otti to produce a shred of evidence that he diverted resources meant for his community under any guise within 24 hours or else he would take the necessary action as he deemed fit.
He added that as regards his official actions as Commissioner for Information or Trade, he is proud of his work and stands by everything he did.