Abia PDP Challenges Governor Otti To Name Recipients Of N90Billion Debt Repayment
In an open letter to the governor, the party denied that there was such a debt.
The Peoples Democratic Party Chairman in Abia State, Abraham Amah, has denied that the former administration owed N90 billion to contractors, a debt that the incumbent governor of the state said he paid.
In an open letter to the governor, the party denied that there was such a debt.
Amah in the letter said, “The attention of Abia PDP has been drawn to recent claims you made regarding the payment of N90 billion to contractors in our state, which you allege to be debts incurred by the previous PDP-led administration.
“To be clear, the Abia PDP is not aware of the existence of such a debt incurred by the immediate past PDP administration. It will serve the interests of Abians if you put out the records as proof of your claims.”
The party claimed that it was worried that such an amount could be disbursed to settle a debt, citing lack of due process and calling for an investigation.
He said, “We must express our profound concern regarding your assertion that such a significant sum can be disbursed to settle debts that, as per our understanding, lack verifiable documentation and due process.
“This staggering amount warrants immediate scrutiny, and we urge you to provide clarity on how this figure was determined and the basis for these payments.”
The party urged the governor to disclose those who have benefitted from the transactions.
“In the spirit of transparency and accountability, it is vital that you disclose the names of the individuals and companies that have benefited from these financial transactions,” it said.
“The citizens of Abia deserve to know who received these payments, as it will help foster public trust in your administration and its financial dealings.
“Moreover, the speculation surrounding these payments raises alarm bells among our constituents. With your administration allegedly enriching Signature Bank with an additional N90 billion, it is crucial that you assure the public of the integrity and legitimacy of these transactions.”
The party accused Governor Alex Otti’s administration of failing to prioritize transparency, saying it must put that at its front burner.
“Our people deserve to have confidence in their leaders, and without clear communication, such confidence is eroded,” it said.
“We also find it disheartening that despite previous assurances related to spending and project funding, the situation now appears inconsistent.
“We implore you to take immediate action to clarify these matters, thereby reinforcing the commitment to transparency that is essential for effective governance.”
Otti earlier said his administration inherited N191.2 billion debt out of which he has paid N90 billion.
Otti took over power from the PDP’s Okezie Ikpeazu.
