Address Abians On The Financial Status Of The State And Commence Investigation And Recovery Of Stolen Funds By T.A,Orji Administration—Save Abia Now Tells Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu
A political pressure Group SAVE ABIA NOW (SAN) has called on the interim Governor of Abia State Dr, Okezie Ikpeazu to make open the financial position of the state and what he inherited from his predecessor.
In a statement by its Director for media and Publicity Comrade Kelechi Nkworie,The group pointed It is no longer news that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu received money from different people including Gov. T. A Orji, Engr. Chinedu Orji, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah and lot other people to prosecute his governorship aspiration, but the issue causing riff now is how to pay back within the short period of 180 days.
Based on information received, all the people that contributed financially want their money back within 180 days because they are not sure if Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu will last in office as Governor beyond 180 days considering the weight of evidence Dr. Alex Otti and his team has.
Considering the economic issues and dwindling oil revenue Nigeria has found its self now, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu may turn out to be the worst thing to happen to Abia state in the next six months, because if he concentrates on paying election debts with the little federal allocation, then civil servant may not see their salary and off course no project will hold within this period.
Abia state is in debt to banks and to workers, Okezie himself is owning election expenses and still working with the structures set up by his predecessor who has been proved to be non productive and lack of strategic Plan to move Abia State from its present downtrodden level due to ineptitude of the Past Administration of Chief T.A.Orji.
An insider information received places Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu election debt at 3.6 billion Naira and other financial agreement reached as conditions for election fund is at 25 billion Nairia. Due to the backlog of salaries owned across the ministries,Local council and parastals in the state ,The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recently frowned at the huge burden of unpaid wage bill left behind by the immediate past governor of Abia State. The State Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Uche Obigwe, disclosed that the out-gone government of Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji left behind unpaid salaries of Staff of Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) for a period of eight months, Hospitals Management Board (HMB), seven months and Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), six months.
Others are College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, seven months, pensioners, four months, local government workers seven months, and Primary and Secondary school teachers, six months, among others. “All these are bulk sums of Money running into multi millions, if not billions of Naira, which invariably will slow down the speed at which the present administration wants to move and it is not in the interest of the state.
The NYSC corpers serving in Abia state are currently in pain because they are being denied of their pay for 5months out of a total of 10 months of their service especially painful to batch B corps members who will be passing out ..The Corpers decried the financial stress they are suffering haven labored in the service to their Fatherland and will not like to return back to their states without being paid their Allowances by the state.
In line with the president Mohammed Buhari commitment fight against corruption and recover stolen Funds,SAVE ABIA NOW call on the Dr.okezie Ikpeazu to follow the line of the president to address Abians on the financial status of the state,stating what was left in the State Treasury by his predecessor and how he intend to borrow loans and bonds to run the state ,this is necessary and important to keep Abians informed who are constitutional empowered by Law to know the Earnings and spending in the government circle. Abians will no longer Condone financial Reckless with impunity and Awards of Dubious contract without Due process and budgetary provision which was the practice of the Past T.A.Orji Government .
SAVE ABIA NOW calls on Dr.Ikepazu to immediately open the investigation of the former Governor Chief T.A.orji who has been alleged to have looted Abians up to the tone of N 820 billion within the 8 years of his Administration which is evident in the total collapse of infrastructure in the state and Backlog of unpaid wage bill
SAVE ABIA NOW threatened Legal Suit to compel EFCC to commence investigation of the past Government if within seven days it didn’t commence immediate investigation and prosecution of T.A.Orji Administration and recovery of stolen funds
Abians who haven suffered untold hardship and deprivation for years will see the man bring to judgement.
SIGNED
SAVE ABIA NOW(SAN)
Save Abia Now is a political pressure group committed to reclaim Abia State from the undemocratic forces and Bad Leadership occasioned by the Administration of PDP Controlled Government in Abia state which has impoverished the people and charting the common of the People leaving the state as one of the lest Developed state across the country
Save Abia Now (SAN) comprises of committed professionals,scholars,Political Analyst and Rights Activist determined to make the change through constructive engagement and Education to Abians who are concerned to Restore the Glory of the State.
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