ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Hon. Obinna Ichita, the member representing Aba South constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has replied Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, over his recent ‘loan’ statement.
Voiceofnaija.ng had reported that Wike, while speaking at the 58th birthday ceremony of his friend, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, vowed to expose some persons, who stopped the release of the loans from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Abia and Benue States.
The former Minister alleged that the motive was to punish Governor Ikpeazu for supporting him in demand for the resignation of Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike stated further that the CBN loan was a facility made available to every State of the federation, adding that his administration had secured the loan already.
He said: “I will tell all of you, how Abia and Benue states were denied their money that every State had gotten from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”
Reacting to Wike’s comments, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) lawmaker in a press statement, said that Abia State does not need any fresh loan as the current administration is winding down.
He explained that Abia’s debt profile was already high, warning that it is risky for an outgoing administration to take loans.
Ichita further challenged Governor Ikpeazu to first account for the previous loans obtained by his administration before thinking of a fresh loan.
”On the recent claims by one of the Governor’s associates that some persons stopped the CBN loan to Abia State apparently as punishment to Governor Ikpeazu for standing with him, I want to say that Abia State does not need any further loans at this twilight of Ikpeazu’s administration.
”It is risky for Governor Ikpeazu to go for fresh loan in less than eight months to the end of his tenure when he has not given any good account of how he deployed the previous loans he obtained,” Ichita said.
The lawmaker further said: “The State Government should also tell us what the Government has achieved with over 100 billion naira loan it has incurred in domestic debt.
“This is different from other sources of revenue like Statutory allocation, Ecological Fund, 13 per cent derivation, financial donations from international donor agencies and so on. No one mentions the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”
The lawmaker who is the APGA Deputy Governorship candidate for 2023, accused the Governor Ikpeazu government of under-developing Abia State.
“Why is Ukwa land, the only oil-producing community in Abia , in complete ruins with no basic infrastructure?
“What did the Government do with the money meant for the flood mitigation project in Ifeobara, Ariaria ? What happened to the World Bank loan of 56.4 million US dollars?
“Why has the Government decided to ignore, abandon and maltreat the people in Port Harcourt Road, Aba whose roads and houses were destroyed by Abia State Government?
“Are people in Uratta, Ozuomba, Ohanku, Obohia, Owerri Aba, Omuma and Faulks road still part of Abia State?”
Also, Ichita denied the claims that a certain presidential candidate in Nigeria stopped the CBN from disbursing money meant for the construction of Ariaria market in Abia, dismissing it as “a fat lie.”
“I challenge Abia State Government to make public, any personality or any authority that has withheld any money due to Abia state.
“The assumption by the people in charge of Abia state government that the people of Abia State are naive, primitive and uninformed is the height of insult on the industry and intellect of Abia people.”
The lawmaker therefore urged Abians “to ignore the propaganda by government and join in the efforts to birth a new Abia”.