₦airaland Forum

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has denied spending nearly one billion Naira on his feeding and personal welfare, saying such information is untrue, ABN TV reports.

The governor's chief press secretary, Kazie Uko, and his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma in a statement titled, "ABIA STATE Q3 BUDGET EXPENSES: UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES" said Abia State Government did not spend close to One Billion Naira on feeding and welfare for the Governor's Office, within the period of three months.


The statement said the total amount spent so far by the entire government of Abia State for Refreshments and Meals for the period is N223,389,889.84.

It says, "1. The total amount spent so far by the entire government of Abia State for Refreshments and Meals for the period is N223,389,889.84.

"2. The figure above is as captured in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government.

"3. Please, NOTE that this figure is for the entire state and not for the Office of the Governor, as being erroneously portrayed.

"4. The stated figure covers expenses for special events, such as retreats, conferences, and related events.

"5. For welfare, the Abia State Government has so far spent the sum of N397,520,734.84.

"6. The Welfare expenditure is in line with the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme (SFTAS); an initiative of the Federal Government.

"7. Also NOTE that the Welfare Expenditure covers all the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and not just the Governor's Office, as wrongly alleged.

"8. Expenses under Welfare deal with issues of Health, Rehabilitation and Public Emergencies.

Workers in the judicial service of Abia State are currently in a jubilant mood as the Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, fulfills his promise of paying off their salary arrears said to be dating back to eight years, ABN TV reports.

The workers, who had been owed since January 2015, had embarked on an indefinite strike against the immediate past government in the state, to press home their demands, shortly before Governor Otti assumed office on May 29, 2023, chief press secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

They had demanded the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as the substantive Chief Judge of the state, after she had been on acting capacity for over six months. Also, they demanded the payment of the arrears of Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, leave allowances, and judicial autonomy, the statement added.

However, out of the four demands, the previous administration was only able to grant one, the confirmation of the Chief Judge, and that was after the then Governor-elect, Dr. Otti, had declared that he would confirm Justice Abai, after being sworn-in as governor, the statement noted.

It continued, "The intervention of Governor Otti and promise to pay the outstanding salary arrears led to the calling off of the strike action by the workers, who associate under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State Chapter, in June 2023.

"In fulfillment of that promise, therefore, the Abia State Government has begun payment of the consolidated salary arrears of the members of JUSUN, who have since confirmed that they have started receiving the arrears owed them.

"Consequently, the workers through their union leader and Chairman, Oracle Chinedu Eze, have expressed their gratitude to the Governor and government of Abia State for fulfilling the promise of salary payments."

"It is with a grateful heart full of joy and happiness that I, on behalf of the entire Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members and executives, wish to inform and appreciate you for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears paid yesterday (November 15, 2023).

The Abia State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned protest by members of Labour Party in Umuahia over the removal of Sen. Darlington Nwokocha of Labour Party by the court of Appeal.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvoyAAP-wcE

PDP described the protest led by the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa as irresponsible

The Court of Appeal had in its ruling on Abia Central Senatorial election removed Darlington Nwokeocha of the Labour Party, declaring PDP’s Col. Austin Akobundu winner of the February 25 National Assembly election.

The PDP in a statement on Tuesday by Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, the party’s Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary in the state said the protest is misplaced and irresponsible.

The PDP says the protest is a demonstration that people who p populate the Labour Party are unintelligent, urging the security agencies to intervene to forestall the breakdown of law and order.

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has explained why he operates from home instead of the state government house, ABN TV reports.

According to him, he chose to work from home for the time being in order to manage the cost of governance.

Otti stated this during the weekend when he received the global leadership of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, led by Pastor Ted Wilson, who visited him in commemoration of the church’s centenary anniversary.

According to Otti: “Good governance starts with managing the cost of governance. If you’re not careful, the limited resources could be deployed to managing government rather than managing the governed.

“At the time we came in, in May, we found out that we were going to spend a whole lot of money fixing the Governor’s Office. Luckily, we have facilities here (at home) and are able to run from here.

“We will continue to do this until we have been able to deal with a lot of the hygiene problems, problems of health, problems of education and infrastructure, infrastructural decay, particularly in Aba, and a lot of the other hygiene problems we’re dealing with in the state.

“By the time we are finished with that and we have some elbow room, then we can now face the Governor’s Office. It’s not a priority.”

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https://abntv.com.ng/news/video-darlington-nwokocha-remains-abia-central-senator-labour-party/?fbclid=IwAR3giugxqgV2bhtPU4NlPQgxUVqwOQjS3evERicyThgGeyY9Nowy-yBkIAI

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The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the state governor, Dr. Alex Otti of abandoning governance in a short while and engaging in what the party calls financial recklessness.

The party says this came after its review of the 3rd Quarter 2023 budget performance report provided by the state government.

"This publication is coming on the heels of the cash award to States by the World Bank under the States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, SFTAS, and after a very careful and professional review, the Abia PDP came to the inevitable conclusion that Alex Otti has displayed an unparalleled, unequalled and inhumane level of financial recklessness that speaks to the abandonment of good governance in such a short period in office and a flagrant disregard to his campaign promises", the party said in a statement on Thursday signed by Hon. Elder Abraham Amah, the PDP Vice Chairman/Acting State Publicity Secretary.

The party while accusing Gov. Otti of not doing enough in delivering democratic dividends said his Ebonyi State counterpart, Gov. Nwifuru tangible dividends of democracy to his people, accusing Otti of running a government of propaganda in the media.

He said, "The financial recklessness captured in almost every sector of Abia life is made worse, especially when compared with the records of our sister state, Ebonyi whose governor was more miserly in his expenditure and has apparently done more in delivering tangible dividends of democracy to his people than the government of propaganda run on the media by Alex Otti. 

"Very few revelations in the expenditure records will startle even the most adept kleptocrat and make the innocent recoil in wonderment as to how such a barefaced financial wickedness can be meted against citizens in this very austere times. 

"According to the records, Alex Otti used the sum of N5.32 billion to run the governor’s office from his private residence in Isiala Ngwa in three months while his counterpart in Ebonyi State used the sum of N805 million to run the governor’s office during the period under review. 

"About a month ago, Alex Otti made a public display of self-indictment when he announced to a gathering of his ‘yes men’ that he has not and will not collect salary of about N1.6m a month as a governor and they gave him a thunderous applause even when they did not know that he collects an unaccounted amount of N933.3 million naira monthly as security vote, totalling N2.8 billion in the months of July-September while his Ebonyi counterpart collected N805 million naira for the same period. 

"In the period under review, Alex Otti spent a staggering sum of N542.8 million to oil his propaganda machinery, the Abia Ministry of Information and propaganda which is run from Lagos just to deceive and continue to confuse the unsuspecting Abia public who are mistaken of his sanctimonious posture. 

"In the expenditure record, the Abia deputy governor’s office spent the sum of N252 million while the Ebonyi State deputy governor spent the sum of N95m in the period under review even as he used the sum of N393m to clear refuse in only Aba and Umuahia under State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA. 

"In all of these recklessness, the smoking gun is the total recurrent expenditure of N10.8 billion out of a revenue of N25.21 billion even when about 10, 000 workers in the Abia State Civil Service have been unduly sacked by Alex Otti and he spent an unverifiable N5.02 billion on capital expenditure while Ebonyi received a revenue of N23b and spent N11.85 on capital expenditure. More startling is the fact that many Abia Civil Servants have either been paid half salaries or none at all and the big question is why such a huge cost on recurrent expenditures?

"The foregoing figures have put paid to the continuous insistence of the Abia PDP that Alex Otti was running an opaque system of government which does not help the growth and development of the State and the publication of this 3rd Quarter budget performance has vindicated the Abia PDP

Abia State Government has discovered over 50 decomposed dead bodies, over 20 headless bodies, and countless human skeletons all around Lokpanta Cattle Market in Umunneochi LGA of the State.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcZPcpOeAA

The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti disclosed this during his monthly media chat tagged “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians”, held in Government House, Umuahia. He assured that his government is committed to tackling the issues of insecurity headlong without minding whose ox is gored.

Governor Otti said that prostitution, narcotics trade, and other criminal vices around the Lokpanta Cattle Market necessitated the raid of the market as some brothels were recently brought down and there is now calmness in Umunneochi.

The Governor, who insisted that the Lokpanta market would become a daily market that would open at 6am and closes at 6pm would now become a general market as sections are alloted to the cattle dealers and other businesses too. He made it public that his administration is equally fencing the market all in an effort to ensure adequate security.

According to him, the Lokpanta area was notorious for kidnapping and armed robbery, hence the decision of his administration to make the market a daily one. He said though the policy was misunderstood, after a meeting with the leadership of the market, everyone agreed with the government’s stand on making the market a daily one for the good of all.

He further noted that, “We are single-minded about rooting out insecurity in Abia State. Because we know that no government can succeed in the face of insecurity, violence, armed and kidnapping.”

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says his administration is working tirelessly to secure the release of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying it's not ready to make public approaches being deployed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJcZPcpOeAA

Nnamdi Kanu, also a British citizen hails from Umuahia, Abia State.

He has been in detention since 2021 over allegations bordering on founding an "illegal" organizations, terrorism among others.

Several efforts have been made in the past to ensure his release without any result.

ABN TV report that the Court of Appeal had earlier discharged and acquitted him of allegations against him but the federal government eventually took him to Supreme Court where the Justices are yet to rule on the matter.

Top government officials have also lent their voices in the call for his release but the federal government had maintained its ground in exploiting legal option instead of political solution.

At his monthly media chat on Sunday in Umuahia streamed live on ABN TV, Governor Otti said he is approaching the issues differently, noting that he is not approaching it the same ways that have not brought results.

According to the Governor, he does not believe in media frenzy but in achieving results.

"Our approach is different. They are not on the pages of the newspaper", the governor said while adding that his administration is working "very hard" to ensure Kanu's release.

Abia State Police Command has denied report that a man killed and beheaded in an attack in Isiahia village, Umuojima, Osisioma on October 26 is not a policeman, ABN TV reports.

The command while admitting that a man was killed and beheaded at the identified spot said the victim is a vigilante operative who has been collaborating with the police.

The command’s PRO, ASP Maureen Chinaka in a statement on Friday said the attacked team of security personnel include, one policeman, one special constabulary personnel, and three vigilante men.

She gave the name of the beheaded victim as Obinna Ndukwe.

“Yesterday 26/10/2023 At about 15:50 hrs, Abia State Police officers stationed at OSISIOMA Police Headquarters received credible information concerning an attack on a group of security personnel in Isiahia village, Umuojima, Osisioma”, she stated.

She added, “Upon arrival, an unregistered Sienna bus and a headless corpse were discovered. Through investigation, the deceased was identified as Obinna Ndukwe, also known as Socket, who was a member of the Abia State vigilante and often collaborated with the police.

“The body of the deceased has been evacuated and deposited in the mortuary”.

There was an unusual panic in Abia community on Thursday as unknown gunmen attacked members of police Rapid Response Squad on a stop and search operation along Umuode/Isiahia in Osisioma Ngwa local government, beheading one of them and parted with the head.

Members of Umuode community were thrown into panic over fear of possible police invasion of following the incident which happened around 4pm.

Other members of the police squad were said to have taken to their heels with their ammunition as the gunmen made away with the beheaded policeman's head, abandoning his body.

ABN TV learnt that the gunmen had trailed the group of police team who had in recent times been operating in the community.

It was learnt that the team was attached to the Eziama Police Division, raising questions over the legality of their operation in the community considering that the area is not under their jurisdiction.

Recall that an Assistant Superintendent of Police was a few months beheaded along East Street in Aba South local government area of the state by some unknown gunmen.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Maureen Chinaka could not answer several calls placed on her mobile phone number.

Labour Party has said the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha is yet to get over the shock of being defeated at the February 25 National Assembly election by the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon. Amobi Ogah.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ngqaAYA1fo


Ogah of the Labour Party was declared winner of the election, defeating Onyejeocha of APC who had been in the National Assembly since 2007.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh accused the former lawmaker of unholy alliance with the fractional leader of APC, Chief Lamidi Apapa to ensure that crisis in the party lingers.

“Onyejeocha has been in the national assembly since 2007 until the February 25 general election when she was defeated by Hon. Amobi Ogah with a very wide margin.

“Her loss to Amobi Ogah was a pill too hard to swallow hence she has vowed to use all her connections to ensure that the election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is upturned in her favour.

“Her political ambition was to be the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. She has also boasted that powers that be in Aso Rock have promised her the speakership, a position she contested in 2019 but lost to Femi Gbajabiamila, who now is the Chief of Staff in the Tinubu administration. Onyejeocha believes that the Isikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency is her chiefdom, however, the result of that election altered all the plans and permutation for Onyejeocha who saw her ambition drifting.

“For her to be the Speaker she must first win the seat at the Reps and Amobi Ogah was the only stumbling block. Therefore, he must go at all costs.

“Onyejeocha with strong support from the Presidency plotted to be part of the 10th NASS using the instrument of the Tribunal," the party said.

The party accused her of having worked tirelessly to ensure that the Abia State election petition tribunal pronounced her the duly elected member by turning the rules of the election on the head.

"With her limitless access to funds, it wasn’t difficult for her to get Amobi Ogah sacked by the Tribunal", the party said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has distanced himself from alleged campaign of calumny against the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, urging the minister to focus on the immediate demands of her office and stop raising false alarms through proxies.

Kalu was reacting to a press conference by a support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, the Progressive League of Youth Voters, which had accused him of working against the minister and asked President Bola Tinubu as well as the APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje to call him to order.

At a news conference Tuesday in Abuja, the group, led by Ambassador Usman Shuaibu, specifically threatened to occupy the national assembly if Hon. Kalu continued to politically antagonize the minister.

However, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said the press conference was misdirected or at best, done without the consent of the minister who obviously would be embarrassed by it because it has the imprints of a people on a mission to infamy and perfidy.

He said while one is seriously affronted by the launch of insolence and impudence against the person and the Office of the Deputy Speaker by this group, it is also very pertinent to state that it may be lost on them that Kalu shares a healthy and robust relationship with Onyejeocha both as a sister and worthy partner in the government of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A popular Abia singer, Chika Ofor has been confirmed dead after he was allegedly poisoned during a wake keep in Amauzukwu in Umuahia, the state capital.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3JcQfe1ZJY?si=mGyMAgx48mHvKUVh
A source who spoke with ABN TV on Saturday said Mr. Ofor shortly before the commencement of his performance allegedly vomited substance that looks like noddles.

He was then laid on his care to regain consciousness, from where he was found dead in the early hours of Saturday.

Mr. Ofor who is in his late 30s was said to have foamy substances on his mouth when found lifeless. He hails from Bende local government area of the state.

Court of Appeal sitting in Kano has affirmed the election of Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, setting aside the May 18 judgement by Justice M.N. Yunusa of the Kano state Federal High Court sacking Otti, ABN TV reports.

The Appeal Court in its ruling on Friday faulted the trial court’s determination of the suit without joining necessary parties who were the actual target of the claims in the suit. The appellate court awarded one million naira (N1,000,000) cost against the plaintiff.

Recall that Justice M. N. Yunusa gave the judgement while ruling in a Suit (FHC/KN/CS/107/2023) filed by one Ibrahim Haruna Ibrahim seeking the disqualification of all elected candidates of Labour

According to Ibrahim, the Labour Party candidates for the 2023 general election were nominated in a manner that is at variance with mandatory provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 as amended, which renders its participation in the general election of 2023 in Kano state and the rest of the 35 states of the federation including FCT, as null and void.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu was thrown into excitement while presiding over the proceeding of the House after he received information that his election as member representing Bende Federal Constituency Abia state has affirmed by Appeal Court, ABN TV reports.

Elected in the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ben Kalu as he is often called was declared winner of the February 25 National Assembly election in the constituency by INEC, defeating PDP, Labour Party and other candidates.

Action Alliance had called for the nullification of Rep. Kalu’s election, arguing that its logo was omitted from the ballot box.