Chukwuma argued that his company’s inability to supply the vans requested by Otti made him turn to Toyota
By Kehinde Okeowo
Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Innocent Chukwuma, has defended the decision of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti to purchase 20 Toyota vans for security agencies in Abia State.
Some media outlets reported that the governor came under a lot of criticism during the launch of Abia’s combined security outfit, Operation Crush.
His critics, which included some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains, berated him for shunning Innoson Vehicles for Toyota vans, despite using the Nigerian brand to campaign during his election as governor.
Reacting to the attacks, Chukwuma, who visited the governor on Friday at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, made a case for him, describing Otti as the “number one promoter of the Innoson brand”.
“He’s the number one marketer of Innoson. Most of the vehicles bought by the government in this state, Abia, are Innoson vehicles and they are happy with the vehicles,” he said.
He went on to explain that the former MD of Diamond Bank had placed an order for 20 security pick-up vans from his company, which the government needed urgently but were not available at that period of demand as Innoson had run out of stock.
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He further noted that his company’s inability to supply the 20 vans at the urgent period of need, may have informed the governor’s option for another brand which, according to Chukwuma, should not earn Otti criticisms.
The founder of Nigeria’s indigenous vehicle manufacturing company who also used the visit to announce his company’s plans to establish Compressed Natural Gas, GNG plant in Abia for use by diesel and petrol vehicles, disclosed that IVM is presently negotiating with officials of the Abia State government to set up a servicing and vehicles repairing centre in the State.
Receiving the business mogul, Governor Otti promised to maintain his support for the Nigerian indigenous vehicle manufacturing company and disclosed his administration has already purchased no fewer than 40 Innoson brands of vehicles.