Ex-Commissioner Asks Otti To Account For Funds

Even though Governor Alex Otti is adjudged to be performing well, he owes the people explanations on how he manages Abi State finances, a former commissioner for Finance, Sam Onuigbo, has said.

Onuigbo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, told LEADERSHIP in Umuahia, the state capital, that such performance must equate the financial inflow for it to be real.

He said it was an open secret that, with the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, state governors were receiving more funds than before.

“What we’re saying is that we want to see performance that is commensurate with the resources that are accruing to the state,” the former member of the House of Representatives argued.

“Recently, we started talking about how funds for the local governments should be released to them for them to perform and also absorb the youths through jobs, and by so doing, check insecurity.

“Some of us have been shouting on reasons why funds for the local governments should be released to them to ensure developments go down to the grassroots.”

‎‎On the kudos he gave Otti, even as he is an APC member, Onuigbo said it was not out of ongoing insinuations in some quarters that he may likely defect from the Labour Party to the APC.

‎‎”As a matter of fact, Otti was with us in APC before he moved over to the Labour Party to contest the election. So, we’re not ruling out his returning to APC.

‎‎”There is a great possibility that he will come and join us so that we can sustain and consolidate what President Bola Tinubu has been doing.”

‎‎Speaking about his political aspirations in 2027, the member of the board of the North East Development Commission explained that it would be determined by God alone.

‎‎”If God touches the heart of the people who want me to represent them or work in any capacity, He will also make it possible. You can never choose against God.’