A former commissioner for Trade and Investment in Abia State, John Okiyi Kalu, has said something is financially fishy with the recent flag-off of the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba by Governor Alex Otti at the rate of N30 billion.
Okiyi-Kalu said he was shocked when his attention was drawn to a statement by Governor Otti, through his spokesman, wherein he attacked him for revealing to the public that his using N30 billion to complete the Port Harcourt Road, Aba project is suspicious.
The former commissioner said the former Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration, which he served under, awarded the same road in 2017 for N9 billion with 40 per cent of the work already done, including the establishment of drainages end to end, along with proper channels for storm water.
He said while he is unfazed by the tissue of lies and inaccuracies contained in the statement from Otti, it is instructive to note that during a radio programme, he monitored in Umuahia, Otti confirmed he is actually using N30 billion to do the job and that there was neither a budgetary provision nor due process competitive bidding for the work.
“Furthermore, if Otti believes property owners on Port Harcourt Road, Aba should be given compensation, he has my personal support to do so now because the government is a continuum and he is about to work on the same road as started by the immediate past administration.
“Let me remind Otti for the purposes of his records that as of May 9, 2017, the Port Harcourt Rd, Aba project was commenced, I was not a commissioner then and could not have harassed, nor been in any position to harass anyone on that road because of the project as he told Abians on radio through his spokesman. I only became a commissioner in Abia State on October 17, 2017.
“I also find no real issue with associating me with the successes and shortcomings of the Ikpeazu administration because, as expected of any government, we met many challenges, and solved many but couldn’t solve all the problems of Abia before we left office after 8 years. By the time Otti leaves office, too, he will also not have been able to solve all the state’s problems.”
Okiyi-Kalu said his position remains that he promised the people of Abia State transparency in governance, and he will continue to hold Otti accountable regardless of any threat to him or his family members.
He challenged Governor Otti to produce evidence that he diverted resources meant for his community under any guise within 24 hours or else he would take the necessary action as he deemed fit.