Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Member representing Aba South state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, has written to Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, demanding explanations on how he spent the N27.4 billion World Bank largesse for road rehabilitation in Aba.
The lawmaker in a letter through his lawyer, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, requested the Governor under the Freedom of Information Act, to furnish him with accounting details of how the State Government disbursed the funds.
Ichita also sought to know the identities of contractors that handled the projects and how much they were awarded.
The letter made available to Ikengaonline read in part: “We are Solicitors to Honourable Obinna Martins Ichita, a Principal Officer of Abia State House of Assembly, representing Aba South State Constituency (hereinafter referred to as our client).
“We write this Letter on the firm instructions of our said Client to request Your Excellency to furnish us the following information within the deadline set by applicable law:
“The accounting details of how the Government of Abia State spent the N27.4 billion (Twenty-Seven Billion, Four Hundred Thousand Naira (or the equivalent sum in dollar) which the Government of Abia State had received in full from the World Bank for road construction and erosion control projects in Aba, specifically Port-Harcourt Road, Uratta Road, Obohia Road, Ohanku Road and Ngwa Road.
“The name and business address(es) of the Contractor(s) that executed any of the projects mentioned in the preceding paragraph; and copies of the contract awards documents. The cost of the execution of each project.”
The letter further read: “Your Excellency will recall that you had informed the people of Aba via a live radio program on the 29th May, 2020 that the Government of Abia State had received the said money in full and it was also reported in the National Dailies…
“On 7th March, 2021 during the 2021 Convention and the 20 million Naira Visual Studio Fund launch of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Aba Presbyter at St. Andrews Parish, No.1 Azikiwe Road, Aba, Your Excellency, again, publicly acknowledged the receipt of the said money in full by Abia State from the World Bank.
“Your Excellency, it is pertinent to state that this request for information is made pursuant to the provisions of Freedom of Information Act, which requires compliance within strict deadlines. We therefore await Your Excellency’s timely response.”
Later in an interview , Hon. Ichita expressed worry that despite receiving such a whopping amount of money for road rehabilitation in Aba, the commercial city is still in a sorry state.
He particularly decried the condition of the affected roads, insisting that the State Government must account for how it disbursed funds meant for them.
The lawmaker said that gone were the days when funds from development agencies were pocketed by individuals while the masses are subjected to perpetual suffering.
He said that his constituents who were directly affected by the bad condition of the roads needed to know how such a largesse fund was spent.
Hon. Ichita who is the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, in the March 11 poll, noted that public office holders should not forget that they only hold public offices in trust for the people, and should not shy away from rendering accounts of their stewardship.
He vowed to pursue the matter to a logical end because it affects his constituents the most.
