Ex-Commissioner Queries Abia’s N30bn Road Contract

A former commissioner for trade and investment in Abia State Chief John Okiyi-Kalu, has raised posers over the recent flag-off of the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, Aba by Governor Alex Otti at the cost of N30 billion.

Okiyi-Kalu said he was shocked by a statement released by Governor Otti through his spokesman, wherein he attacked him (ex-commissioner) for revealing to the public that his use of N30 billion to complete the Port Harcourt Road, Aba project, is suspicious.

The former commissioner said that the Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration which he served under awarded the same road in 2017 for N9 billion with 40 percent of the work already done including the establishment of drainages end-to-end, along with proper channels for storm water.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Okyi-Kalu said while he was 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 that 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 that property owners along 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 Alex 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.