APC chieftain Ikonne challenges Gov Otti on school renovation claims

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abia State chapter, Prince Paul Ikonne, has challenged the state governor, Alex Otti, on the claims of spending N54 billion on school renovation.

Governor Otti, last weekend during his monthly media chat, dismissed claims that N54 billion is missing from the state treasury, describing the allegations as baseless and a reflection of ignorance about government budgeting and spending processes.

But, reacting to the Governor’s claim through a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, he wondered why a governor who boasts of having “seasoned accountants” in his administration would be contradicting himself “in a bid to downplay a now national issue and the question on the lips of every Abian: where are the schools, and where is the N54 billion?”

Ikonne further argued that if Governor Otti insists that only N2.1 billion was spent on schools, then he must explain why his own administration’s budget records state.

He further pointed to the online report’s review of the approved 2024 budget, which showed that N64.7 billion was allocated for renovation/modelling of 51 schools — averaging N1.26 billion per school.

“This data made it clear that the governor is either deliberately misleading Abians or is unaware of what his government is signing off,” Ikonne noted.

He equally welcomed the Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), which is demanding a breakdown of the N54 billion, including the list of schools supposedly renovated, their names, locations, and the nature of works done.

“Governor Otti should stop hiding behind semantics. Budgets are estimates, but expenditures are facts. The documents clearly show N54 billion was reported as spent between October and December 2024.

If he disputes this, let him publish the schools. Abians are not asking for excuses — we are asking for evidence,” Ikonne noted.

The APC chieftain urged the governor to prioritise truth over propaganda, advising him to realise that leadership is about accountability, not storytelling. “He cannot claim to be the face of transparency while avoiding the simplest of questions of show us the schools.”