The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in Abia State, Alex Otti, on Wednesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to probe past and present governments in the state to unravel the “disappearance of billions of naira accrued to the state.”
Otti stated this at a press conference held in Victoria Island, Lagos, where he condemned the National Assembly’s approval of $200 million African Development Bank (AfDB) loan for the state.
According to Otti, the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has left many Abia workers miserable because they were owed eight months’ salary arrears despite several billions of Naira that have accrued to the state.
Specifically mentioning the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the APGA chieftain said the anti-graft agencies should beam their searchlight on Abia and commence urgent investigation in order to unravel the mystery why the state has remained in ruins despite all the money it has garnered from allocations, Internally Generated Revenues (IGR), bailouts and loans.
He said: “There is absolutely no doubt that the Ikpeazu/PDP led government does not mean well for Abia State and its people as the consistency of negativity of the government, especially in the management of the people’s commonwealth has assumed a provocative and insulting dimension, hence the need for all men of good conscience to collectively raise their voices in saving the state by calling Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his collaborators to order so that they don’t plunge Abia and Abians into long term financial and economic chaos.
“I demand that the National Assembly should review its decision taken few weeks ago and quickly withdraw or reverse its approval of the $200 million loan, as any money given to the Abia State government by the issuing body is bound to disappear going by its crazy record of financial recklessness. Besides, the capacity to repay this humongous loan has not been demonstrated in any way or form, irrespective of the outdated document titled: ‘Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project’ dated October 2015, which was the only document placed in front of the Assembly for the loan.
He said the government should tell Abians where the billions given to it so far for the development of the state have gone to, adding that the state House of Assembly should without delay, set up a panel to investigate the financial activities of the Ikpeazu led government and ensure that anyone found culpable in the obvious financial crimes halting the development of the state is made to pay the price.
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