Former Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, John Okiyi Kalu, has stated that Governor Alex Otti chooses propaganda above governance.
Okiyi Kalu, who served as commissioner under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, reportedly remarked this in response to Governor Otti’s interview last week.
Speaking with Arise News on Monday, Kalu refuted the claim that Ikpeazu’s administration left nothing in the state’s treasury.
He stated that Ikpeazu left ₦4 billion in cash and near-cash assets for the incoming administration before leaving office.
“You must have heard of Governor Alex Otti; KPMG studies commissioned by his administration state that over N4 billion in cash was left for him. He also received close cash instructions. For example, Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration won N24 billion in stamp duties; we also left out other assets because he enjoys discussing liability and was not pressed. If you’ve come to the public arena to discuss liability, he should also discuss assets.
“Otti inherited a $60 million round fund, $225 million African Development Fund, N24 billion stamp duties due to Abia State and saw cash in Union Bank of about N4 billion and you said nothing is left in the coffers,” according to him.
Kalu accused Governor Otti of having a limited understanding of state finances and project planning.
“Thank you for the interview; it revealed a lot of information. For the first time in my life, I encountered a state governor who couldn’t tell me how much IGR a state generates on a monthly basis.
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“I saw a Governor for the first time who flagged off an airport project and has no idea how much the state’s intervention will cost the people of the state, nor does he know how much the federal government is investing in that project, despite the fact that it has budgetary approval. “That speaks to who Dr. Alex Otti is; he is very high on propaganda and very low on substance,” he said.
Speaking about the unfinished government building, he remarked, “He told you that’s the first floor of the new Government building that was commissioned; he went there and it was beautiful. Let me concede for a moment that it was an unfinished edifice.”
He stated that Ikpeazu built hospitals, 213 roads, and installed street lights throughout the state.
“There was no excellent road when he first came to power. All the good roads were done by Ikpeazu, built schools, streetlights and installed cameras,” he added.
