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By Chukwudi Nweje
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has accused Governor Alex Otti-led Labour Party (LP) government of engaging in cheap, infantile and barefaced lie to paint the past PDP administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu bad.
The PDP was reacting to the statement credited to Otti’s Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, that the state government has commenced payment of eight years salary arrears owed to judicial workers in the state.
The Abia State vice chairman/ acting publicity secretary of the party, Elder Abraham Amah, said judiciary workers in the state were not being owed, and described the statement by Uko as despicable and mischievous.
He said: “Nothing can be more demeaning, condescending and utterly embarrassing to Alex Otti and his Labour Party than descending to such a cheap, infantile and barefaced lie to paint the past PDP administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu bad by alleging that it owed judicial workers in Abia State for the eight years it was in government.
“The Abia PDP uses this opportunity to inform the good people of Abia State and Nigerians that judicial workers in Abia State were paid their due salaries and allowances as at the time Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu handed over the reins of government to Alex Otti on May 29, 2023, so, the issue of eight years of salary arrears is nothing but the wicked construction of Otti’s administration to continue to ride on the back of lies and propaganda to cover up its incompetence in governance.”
The PDP noted that the Judiciary Workers’ Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) was in discussions with all the state governments nationwide as at 2015, before Ikpeazu became governor in Abia State, and noted that “the non-existent eight years of salary arrears” is aimed at embarrassing Abia State.
The PDP said the party and Ikpeazu have been vindicated by the Chief Registrar of Abia State High Court, Mrs. Victoria Okey-Nwokeukwu, who refuted the claim that judges and judicial workers in the state were owed salaries.
“It is unfortunate that the Otti government would build its image and public relations on lies and propaganda just to defend its incompetence and scapegoat the Abia PDP for its unending policy somersault and failures. From what has transpired in this ill-fated outing where the shameful lies have been punctured and ridiculed, it is obvious to Abians that the majority of what this government has sold to them since May 29, 2023, is nothing but lies, lies and more lies to deceive them.”
It charged the people of Abia to demand from the Otti-led administration an explanation on how the government spent N552 million on the Ministry of Information and propaganda between July and September 2023.
