* says Abia Govt. not indebted to Councilors…[i][/i]

The Abia State Councilors Forum has described as untrue a newspaper publication alleging that Councilors elected on platform of the People Democratic Party, PDP, has turned to beggars and hunters.

The story which was published in a local newspaper circulating mainly in Umuahia the State Capital, alleged its investigation revealed that the Councilors were been owed backlog of salaries and allowances.

The story which was published on the page 15 of the newspaper on February 5, 2018, also alleged that the Councilors were selected and not elected. It stated that their salaries were also reduced from N189,000 to N89,000.

The story also stated some of the Councilors are now on the run because of the loans they collected to execute their elections campaigns, which they are unable to service.

It accused the Councilors of inability to execute projects in their various political wards due to lack and no payment of their statutory allowances.

But in swift reaction on Thursday, the Councilors debunked the claims by the Newspaper, describing it as a propaganda machinery of the opposition political party in the state.

The group stated that the owner and publisher of the paper became disgruntled “when he was not offered a position he requested for as chieftain of the PDP in the State”.

The group in a statement signed by its Legal Adviser, Hon. Barr. Clinton Iheonunekwu and Hon . Prince Nnaemeka Friday representing Abia South zone, Hon. Bankaria Enweremmadu for Abia Central, Hon. Chris Nkumah Ifegwu for Abia North zone and Hon. Ugochukwu Osita for and on behalf of Councilors Forum, maintained that they were elected massively in a free and fair election conducted on December 17, 2016.

The Statement read in part, “Abians witnessed that the Local Government and Ward elections were conducted in a free and fair manner across the State.

“It is only the Rising sun that knows what he means by selection and not election. Again, he alleged the reduction of our salaries to N 89,000 and most of us turning beggars and hunters, for these we hereby state that the government of Abia State is not owing us any kobo as we are up to date with other workers in Abia State.

“The government has even gone further to increase our monthly allowances from N1.350 million to N 2 million for which we will ever be grateful to the government of Victor OKezie Ikpeazu, PhD.

“May we state categorically clear that in spite of the biting economy of the Nation, activities in huge proportions are ongoing in all councils of Abia State as no Local Government Chairman has ever complained of lack of funds.

“The industrial peace prevailing in Abia is here to stay because our performing Governor and government are committed to our people.

“The Governor of Abia State has earlier commenced his ‘ONE WARD, ONE PROJECT” agenda. He has also commenced the recruitment of staffs in our Local Government Areas which he equally gave one slot each to all the 17 LGA Councilors to employ one person each from their ward. Only the Rising sun sees hunters and beggars in his domain and constituency and not in the Abia State Government”.

Source: https://www.abnews247.com/2018/02/not-beggars-hunters-abia-councilors-insists/