Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, warned the governor-elect, Dr. Alex Otti, of the Labour Party (LP), against what it described as “public posturing.”
The PDP’s Vice Chairman/Acting Publicity Secretary, Abraham Amah, in a statement, said: “PDP has observed with dismay attempts by Dr. Alex Otti and LP to assume the role of a sitting governor by taking steps that are inconsistent with operational procedures of governance.”
He said that such action reveals their emptiness and puts question marks on prospects of Otti’s administration.
Among Otti’s activities, which the PDP frowned on, is his inauguration of a 100-man Transition Committee to develop a blueprint he will use to govern the state, describing it as a move that shows that Otti did not have an idea of what he wants to do in Abia prior to his being elected.
The other one is his alleged inspection of both federal and state roads in Aba with a construction company, Julius Berger. Amah, therefore, asked why Otti would take such steps, wondering the essence of these public posturing when he (Otti) “would, in the next few weeks, assume office and have the opportunity to inspect all roads in the state for the next four years.
According to the PDP, Otti, “as a novice in government, should understand that there are extant procedures for bidding for road contracts, and that award of contracts must follow due process.
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What Otti is doing with Julius Berger is inappropriate; because, he has by-passed the stipulated process and is seen to be favouring a particular company over others. This does not sound like due process to us, and it projects a conflict of interests, which negates basic tenet of public procurement.
But Media Adviser to Otti, Ferdinand Ekeoma, recalled the governor-elect’s campaign promise, saying the road inspection was to enable the construction company assess what are on ground.
He said: “Aba Port Harcourt road is legendary with long history of devastation, and abandonment by previous government. Otti is determined to do the needful to remedy the scenario using top grade contractors, not only for Aba-Port Harcourt Road, but other roads in the state.”
Excited residents of the area had vented their anger over the perennial neglect of the road, as well as failed attempts to reconstruct it, saying that many businesses had closed and residents forced to relocate.
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