Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, a close ally of Abia Governor-Elect, Dr Alex Otti, has disclosed that the reluctance to of the out-going government to make available handover and necessary documents to Otti, might affect his speed and quest to hit the ground running from day one.
Anokwuru who is Otti’s team leader in the Handover Committee headed by the Secretary to State Government, SSG, Chris Ezem, expressed displeasure over the unwillingness of the outgoing Government to avail the governor-elect with the handover documents ahead of May 29 inauguration date.
“It is expected that the outgoing administration ought to avail the governor-elect with the handover documents early enough to enable him to study the content before May 29.
“The administration has only few weeks in office so by now the handover documents, covering the government’s activities from 2015 to April 2023, ought to have been ready.
“Unfortunately, the government committee appears to be more preoccupied with preparations for the swearing in ceremony rather than the documents.
“And, if the government insists that the handover documents would only be made available on May 29, it means the governor-elect has to take another period of time to study them.
“This is the only factor that will likely impede or slow down the pace with which the governor-elect had prepared to take off.
“For us from the governor-elect, we are not getting the maximum cooperation we were promised by the government.”
The cleric said that Government’s non-committal was at variance to its initial promises during committee’s inauguration by the Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.
According to him, Chukwu promised that government would avail the incoming government all it needs, including documents, to enable it to take off smoothly.
“We are asking to be exposed to the documents, inventories from inception of this government to at least, the month of April.
“Whatever they have from end of April to May 29 could be captured in a footnote or addendum.
“I want to say that it has not been smooth and easy for us nominated by the governor-elect to interface with the government team,” Anokwuru said.
The cleric expressed bewilderment at Government’s silence over allegations of mass looting of government property by its cronies.
“It’s unthinkable and hard to believe that government can look away and watch its properties being looted,” he regretted.
The cleric said that Government’s failure to either deny, condemn or warm against the alleged criminal act seemed to reinforce the allegation.
“The allegation causes some concern because government seems to be silent about it and no official statement made countering it.
“But I wouldn’t want to believe that government can allow such to happen, I want to believe that it is a rumour.
“I know there are entitlements, like consumables, such as cars, which top official go home with but carting away fixed items and government properties is a crime and unacceptable.”
He urged Permanent Secretary and Heads of Ministries and Departments to resist such criminal acts, warning that the incoming administration will hold them responsible for any missing government property under their watch.
“The Permanent Secretaries and Directors should know that it is their responsibility to protect the properties because these commissioners and aides to the governor are government appointees, who are also leaving on May 29.
“So, failure of heads of these MDAs to act means they will be held responsible to give account of their inventories,” Anokwuru said.
Anokwuru also decried the alleged employment racketeering currently going on in MDAs.
He wondered why an outgoing administration that was finding it difficult to pay salaries due to lean resources would be employing workers in its last days in office.
“This is sheer wickedness, insensitivity and deliberate intention to place a burden against the governor-elect, who has assured the people that he will not lay off workers.
“We are telling the government to desist from taking such actions, what is happening is a red alert.
“I think they are capitalising on Otti’s early statement that he is not going to sack workers.
“We call for caution and the need to apply morality,” Anokwuru said.
The cleric who said Otti was in a hurry to transform the state, assured that appointments would be based on merit and competence.
