Otti in an interview said, “the records available to me do not show that the govt guaranteed that loan. So, the loan was given at the back of the assets of Geometric.”
By Kehinde Okeowo
Loyalists of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti and that of his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, have taken to social media to counter each other’s claims following the commissioning of Geometric Power in Osisioma by President Bola Tinubu last week.
The bone of contention is the 5% stake which aides and allies of the former governor, Ikpeazu said he acquired in Geometrics Power, on behalf of the Abia State government while in power.
According to the Ikpeazu’s allies, who include John Okiyi Kalu, Onyebuchi Ememanka, Enyinnaya Appolos, Chinonye Mba, and Don Ubani, the Otti administration ought to have confirm the said investment.
They argued that the Obingwa-born former governor, acquired a 5% stake in Geometrics worth $5m with about $3.6m allegedly paid to Geometrics already, representing about 71% in payment.
These aides went on to berate Otti and the Chairman of Geometrics, Professor Barth Nnaji for not crediting Ikpeazu’s administration with the roles it played in the power project.
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In addition to these, former Commissioner for information under Ikpeazu, John Okiyi Kalu, took to his Facebook page, to challenge the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on recovery of government properties and funds to investigate the acclaimed Abia State government investment in Geometric.
However, reacting to the allegations, media aides to Governor Otti dismissed the reported investments in Geometrics, saying that no documents about such investments were handed over to the present administration by Ikpeazu.
Some of those who defended Otti include Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dodoh Okafor, Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Communications..
Speaking on the matter, Ekeoma said: “At this point, we do not have any document, any information.
“So, as long as we do not have any document, what it implies is that to the best of our knowledge, such does not exist”,
Ekeoma further accused Ikpeazu of allegedly deploying his former and serving aides to attack the present administration in the State, saying that the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was jealous of achievements recorded by Governor Alex Otti in the Geometric power project.
Meanwhile, while featuring on Channels TV last week, Governor Otti admitted he was aware of the ongoing social media arguments concerning 5% investment which the Abia State government was said to have made in the Geometric power project.
Asked to explain Okezie Ikpeazu’s roles in Geometric project, he said, “It is difficult for me to say, but I am aware he joined the Geometric management team to South Africa sometime in 2018 or 2019 to sign a loan agreement of about $50m part of which was used to settle the dispute between Geometric and EEDC.
“But the records available to me do not show that the government guaranteed that loan. So, the loan was given at the back of the assets of Geometric.”