By Ehichioya Ezomon
Former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has denied awarding contracts of N10 billion for an airport in the state during his tenure from 2015 to 2023, as alleged by Governor Alex Otti.
Regarding the specific claim about funding an airport project, the former governor’s spokesperson, Onyebuchi Ememanka, categorically denied ever making such a statement.
Instead, Mr Ememanka explained that while the idea of an airport was initially conceived and preliminary plans were made to explore its feasibility, the project was abandoned at an early stage.
According to him, certain stakeholders within the state did not view the airport as a priority at that time, prompting the former administration to ultimately shelve the idea after considering the concerns raised.
Ememanka clarified that no funds were allocated or disbursed for an airport project, as it did not progress beyond the conceptual stage due to a lack of broad support from relevant parties.
His words: “At some point in our administration, the idea of building an airport came up. It was an ambitious idea that the Governor wanted to pursue and one of the schemes that were considered then for funding the project was a Public Private Partnership.
“The State Government announced their plan to invest the sum of 10 Billion Naira into the project. Some private investors showed interest and the Government, through the Ministry of Lands, commenced the acquisition of a large expanse of land at a location between Ikwuano and Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Areas.
“There were interfaces between the Ministry and the representatives of the land-owning communities, and some investors actually came to Abia, to hold preliminary discussions with representatives of the State Government on the project.
“While these talks went on, a section of the Abia public felt that the airport idea was ill-timed. Indeed, the State Traditional Rulers Council, led by their then Chairman, HRM Eze Joseph Nwabeke, visited the Governor and advised him to shelve the airport plans and channel such funds, if they were available, into the completion of some critical road projects then.
“This was exactly what the Governor did. Indeed, at a hangout with some selected journalists in Lagos, then Governor Ikpeazu, after speaking on the advantages of having an airport, told the journalists that he had decided to backtrack on the project “based on the yearnings of our people.” The video wherein the Governor made that statement is available and will be made public after this release,” Ememanka said.
“The only money the Ikpeazu administration committed to the airport project was 10 Million Naira, released to the Ministry of Lands during the process of acquiring the land and managing the interface with the local communities.
“Not a kobo more was spent! The Honorable Commissioner for Lands then, is still alive. There was never any design for the airport. There was never a contractor selected and there was never any contract signed between the State Government and any person for this job.
“Neither Governor Ikpeazu nor the State Executive Council at the time approved the payment of any money to any contractor for any airport. It is only Governor Otti who knows where he found records of 10 Billion Naira paid to any person to build an airport.”
Ememanka said it was disturbing that people actually believe what he termed “trash,” querying the possibility of any State Government in Nigeria paying N10 billion for any project at all and not making it a press event.
“At least, there will be a flag off for such a project that the government paid N10 billion,” Ememanka said. In Abia, ceremonies are held for the flag-off of road projects, let alone an airport.”
Ememanka raised several queries: “We hereby throw a public challenge to Dr Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State, to make public any documentary evidence or any kind of evidence at all that shows that the sum of N10 billion, or any other amount at all, apart from the initial N10 million mentioned above, was paid to anyone for an airport.
“What is the name of the contractor who received the money? Who authorised the payment? Was it a one-off payment or was it paid in different tranches? Which bank handled the payment? Or was it paid in cash?
“Is it possible at all for any State Government to make such payment in the absence of a design and even a contract document? So, Abia State, under our watch, that was struggling with poor finances, will pay N10 billion to someone, just like that.
“The Commissioner for Finance and Accountant General of the state then, who should be in the know of such transactions, are still alive. If Governor Otti fails to provide answers to the questions above, the Ikpeazu team will leave the public to draw their conclusions about the character of the man who occupies the office of Governor of Abia State.
