ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has taken a stand in defense of Governor Alex Otti and Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, amidst a feud with the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This dispute revolves around Otti’s commendable efforts in awarding the contract for the Port Harcourt Road Aba project.
Former Commissioner for Information, Okiyi Kalu, expressed concerns about the cost of the 6.8-kilometer road project, valued at N30 billion and awarded to Julius Berger.
However, Senator Wabara praised Otti’s transparency in revealing the contract sum and emphasized the importance of recognizing Otti’s commitment to tackling this significant project that previous administrations had struggled with. This is as Wabara suggested that Otti had secured his second-term ticket with this project.
In response, the Abia State PDP chapter, through its Vice Chairman (North) and Acting Publicity Secretary, Elder Abraham Amah, accused Senator Wabara of trying to gain favor with Governor Otti.
The PDP also raised questions about Wabara’s past electoral performance and cautioned him about his statements and actions.
Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, the former Chairman of APGA in Abia State and the current National Vice Chairman of the party for the South, joined the conversation, criticizing the PDP for its inability to address the road issue during its over 20 years in power.
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Ehiemere asserted that the PDP had no moral grounds to criticize Governor Otti, who managed to achieve in four months what the PDP couldn’t in two decades.
“God has answered Abians by giving them a man to clean their tears. God forbid that PDP should return to power in this state after its decades of abysmal performance. PDP was a curse to Abia and must not be allowed to return”.
Ehiemere challenged PDP to disclose the cost of the flyover it built at Osisioma and compare it with the significance of the Port Harcourt Road before raising eyebrows over the cost.
“If Otti can have the mind to invest N30 billion to fix Port Harcourt Road and make it motorable again considering its economic importance, Abians have no quarrel with that. After all, why did PDP not fix that road with the $25 million World Bank fund? They should hide their face in shame!
” Senator Wabara spoke the bitter truth as an elder. Everything is not politics. At his age, he should be able to speak his mind and not talk like a sycophant. He knew that PDP failed, and that Abians are not happy with them.
” So, the attack on Senator Wabara is uncalled for. What he said was right. PDP should allow Otti to fix Abia, and stop distracting the Governor.
”The truth is: If Otti will complete the Port Harcourt Road; fix other important roads across the state; pay workers as he is doing; wipe pension arrears before December as he promised; pay pensioners full and not half like Okezie Ikpeazu ; provide security and make the hospitals work again; everybody will be happy with him”.
The APGA chieftain accused PDP of resorting to baseless criticism of the Labour Party-led administration in the state out of envy and frustration because Gov. Otti is already dwarfing the achievements to the former ruling party.