Abia Youths Decry Ex-Commissioners Continuous Intervention In State's Finances

An advocacy group, Concerned Abia Youths (CAY) yesterday urged the Governor of Abia, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to ask some ex-commissioners to desist from giving directives over state's affairs.

The group stated this when it accused the immediate past commissioner of Finance in Abia State, Obinna Oriaku of still parading himself as commissioner and issuing directives to financial institutions for the state government.

The chairman of CAY, Cyril Ahamefula, further expressed concern that the finances of the state are not safe if the former commissioner, who has questions to answer over the alleged use of his consultancy firm, Llyodant Business Services to manage the financial transactions of the state without appropriate approval.

"It has come to our knowledge that the finances of Abia State is under threat because of the activities of a former commissioner, " Ahamefula said in a statement.

He continued, "as concerned youths from the state, we are deeply worried that despite the petitions raised over the financial activities of Obinna Oriaku as the immediate past commissioner of finance in Abia State, he still gives directives on behalf of the state government on the finances of the state.

"We have it on good authority that Oriaku communicates with and gives directives to financial institutions on behalf of the Abia State government even after he was relieved of his position as finance commissioner by the governor. We have also learnt that he has been parading himself still as the finance commissioner for the state.

"We wonder why and how Oriaku, who lacks the legal and moral authority to give such directives on state finances could continue to do so," he said.

The CAY chairman however urged the Abia state governor and other authorities to look into the matter before it gets out of hand.

"While we shudder at his brazen act of impunity, we call on the appropriate authorities in the state to immediately commence an investigation into this issue in a bid to save the state from being further shortchanged.

"We are constrained to urge our amiable governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, to ask the former commissioner and others who may be engaged in such practise to desist before they drag his administration further in the mud."

Is Abia caused?