Gov Alex Otti 



Our attention has been drawn to yet another skewed analysis by Ferdinand Ekoma, titled “Osisioma Ekeakpara Road: Unmasking Falsehood with Documentary Evidence.” It is evident that Mr. Ekeoma is struggling to dismiss the legitimate concerns raised about the current government’s handling of the Osisioma Ekeakpara road project as mere falsehoods.


What is clear to the average observer of Abia’s developmental issues is that the aides and defenders of this government are lacking a basic understanding of the very administration they are attempting to defend.




In a previous communication dated August 23, referenced by Mr. Ekoma, Mr. Oriaku clearly stated that the contractor, Wellangy Construction, had not been paid as of August 21. During a visit to the road en route to Sir Adaelu’s compound for a condolence visit, Mr. Oriaku reached out to a staff member of the construction company, who confirmed that no payment had been made by that date.


If the document now being flaunted shows payment was made on August 22, how does that make Mr. Oriaku a liar?


We would also like to ask Mr. Ekoma why he chose to focus only on the road issue, cherry-picking from the many other concerns raised in the August 2023 mail. Why ignore the reported deplorable state of Okpuala Ngwa General Hospital, which has been abandoned and overrun by reptiles? What is the current status of that hospital, especially considering that over N3 billion was claimed for its retrofitting in the 2023 financial report?


A strategic road, awarded at approximately N6 billion and flagged off with pomp and pageantry in March 2024, has only received N206 million as the first payment after seven months. And yet, a media aide is celebrating this? The contractor, after waiting for payment, had to request an Advance Payment Guarantee (APG) from Zenith Bank, only for the state to reject it and instruct them to continue working based on an interim certificate.


Our concerns, which we’ve always held, are being confirmed—that the government is not committed to completing this road project due to political reasons.


We call on the government to prioritize this road, which is not only crucial for the industrial revival of the zone, particularly with the presence of Geometric Power, but also for the burial of one of our revered leaders, Sir Adaelu.


It is insensitive for a government official to revert to the August 23rd mail, especially when no significant progress has been made on the road even as the burial of our patriarch approaches.


The media aide needs to understand that the N206 million payment was based on certificates raised before the current government re-awarded the contract. For a government that received N17 billion in total allocations in August 2024, excluding monthly IGR averaging N1.5 billion, it is baffling that they struggle to pay contractors. The state spends an average of N4.5 billion monthly on salaries and pensions, leaving about N13.5 billion available. Why, then, is it difficult for the state to pay contractors, especially those not aligned with the political interests of the administration?


We are aware that the government was forced to re-award the contract to Wellangy, as another contractor( a Chinese Company that understands the business )had been shortlisted and was almost given the site. We appeal that the animosity and victimization towards anyone associated with the Ikpeazu administration not be extended to this contractor. Paying N206 million out of N13.5 billion is unreasonable for a government that claims to prioritize road construction in other zones.


It’s also important to remind Mr. Ekeoma that Ikpeazu awarded the Osisioma road contract to Wellangy in 2021, while Oriaku left the Abia government in 2019.


Mr. Oriaku stands by his assertions about the current government’s commercial bank borrowing, validated by the contractor financing scheme involving Creanboug Construction Ltd. for N50 billion. It is true that the tragic death of Access Bank’s former MD, Herbert Wigwe, truncated the completion of the deal and transfer of accounts from UBA to Access Bank.However, offer letters were signed, and the transfer of statutory accounts like FAAC and JAAC was in process, pending the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Finance, CBN, and DMO. Ekoma Ferdinand even admitted on Love FM Umuahia that the borrowed funds had been repaid, months ago. where is the lie?


We boldly state that this present government would not have fared any better than Okezie Ikpeazu if they had taken office in 2015, when total allocations were only N3.6 billion in December 2015, compared to N13 billion in December 2023. Verify the figures yourself. With the current opaque financial management and the profligacy we are witnessing, this administration is no better.


Unfortunately, pensioners and workers have continued to protest over the past 16 months, under the deceitful “New Abia” of the present government. Meanwhile, allocations have surged from N7 billion to an all-time high of N17 billion, due to the removal of fuel subsidies and the naira’s floating rate, even though the wage bill has remained unchanged or decreased. Till yesterday, this government is still battling with verification of workers salary and pensioners which have left many State workers in regret as many are unpaid . A technocrat led government. 


With monthly allocations( FAAC & JAAC ) of about N17 billion in June and July 2024 and monthly obligations of N4.5 billion for salaries and pensions, even a novice could easily pay salaries and still retain N13.5 billion each month. We are left asking: what is the government doing with the remaining N13.5 billion when the developments on the ground in Abia are not commensurate with the conservative figure of N300 billion received in the last 16 months? Let's analyse the total of both state and local government receipt for clarity as stated in the Abia financials. 


1. N210 billion for both FAAC and JAAC receipts from June to date 

2. Capital receipts of ₦80b.

3. IGR of ₦10billion totalling ₦300billion which is more than Okezie Ikpeazu's total receipt in the first three years (2015 to 2018). You can argue with inflation but this is sad reality as salaries and pensions have remained the same till date. 


We will continue to hold this government accountable, demanding transparency as no one is more  Abian than the other, Including our chief public servant, Governor Alex Otti. We still await details on the N6.5 billion recreational facility, the N4.2 billion farm seedlings, and the N7 billion capacity-building expenditure. We also demand a list of remodeled schools that have benefited from the N11 billion already spent, as reflected in the 2023 financial report of Abia State, available on the official website (abiastate.gov.ng).


This is our government, and we will persist in our calls for accountability and transparency.


Obinna Oriaku’s Media Team