Governor Alex Otti of Abia State and his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, are currently trading words over the alleged allocation of N10 billion by Mr Ikpeazu-led administration to a non-existent airport project in the state.
Abia State Governor Alex Otti and his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, have continued their tirade over the financial status of the state.
Otti, who was represented by the Accountant-General, Mrs. Njum Onyemenam, said contrary to Ikpeazu’s claims, he met a debt hangover of N191,239,307,593.67 as against the N24 billion Ikpeazu claimed he handed over to him.
The governor also wondered why Ikpeazu could not pay April and May salaries/pension if the state had money. He hinted that aside the financial liabilities left behind by the Ikpeazu-led government, there were the physical liabilities in all key institutions.
Otti added: “To put the record straight and disabuse the minds of those who may have been misled, we have decided to address Abians and state that the Summary of ABSG balances with different banks, and external debt, as at May 28, 2023, is N191,239,307,593.67.
“The public should note that the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government did not leave any N24 billion in government’s account as falsely claimed. The $200 million and $50 million dollars they claimed they left for the new administration are loans they were pursuing which is yet to crystallize.
“Outside the humongous financial liabilities left behind, they also left physical liabilities in all our key institutions. For example, the University Teaching Hospital lost accreditation for the first time in history. Our only state Polytechnic also lost accreditation. The regulatory authorities predicated their action against these institutions on non-payment of salaries, lack of equipment and infrastructure. Poor internal revenue generation, with the little they generated frittered away as payment to consultants for no added value. They pay as much as 20 per cent which is highly unethical.
“Doctors who have been on strike since February 2023 just called off their strike, and they emphatically said they based their decision on the conviction that Governor Otti would solve the problem that necessitated the strike.
“Finally, the elementary question is; if Ikpeazu had the billions he claimed to have left behind for the Otti led-government in April and May, why did he not pay workers and pensioners before leaving office, since Governor Otti just took over from him on May 29?”
But Ikpeazu’s former media aide, Ikechukwu Iroha, debunked Otti’s claims, saying “under the watch of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the World Bank approved all the processes and declared the financing agreement for a grant of $20 million to Abia State, effective from June 14, 2023. With this, Abia will be the first state in the Southeast to qualify for a $20 million grant for ease of doing business processes, programmes and projects based on the work Governor Ikpeazu did to qualify Abia for the funding.
“When this money is received the current administration should apply it as necessary and, of course, have the integrity to acknowledge the work of the previous administration that made it possible.
“Transparency is not something you preach, it must be a way of life and if you must highlight liabilities you inherited, also remember to highlight the assets you are inheriting. Otherwise we will help you inform the people of Abia State because the state belongs to all of us.”
Source: Nation Newspaper