The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, expressed his dissatisfaction with the state’s condition upon assuming office last May. He emphasized that his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, had left the state in a significantly deteriorated state.
When asked if he met the state in bad shape, he replied, “Absolutely, very, very bad shape, but I am not complaining. I have folded my sleeves and I am just dealing with what I met here.”
The governor appeared as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, where he conveyed his stance on debts.
He clarified that while he didn’t entirely oppose borrowing, his concern stemmed from the lack of transparency regarding how the funds borrowed by his predecessor were utilized.
“My worry is not really about debt, it is about what the debt is used for. If you inherited a debt profile of N34.4 billion by May 29, 2015 and eight years later you ran that debt to about N192.2 billion; I really can’t see anything that you have done with the money, salaries were not being paid, pensioners were being owed, infrastructure was decaying, the place go into ruins, schools were run down completely, hospitals were dilapidated.
“So, the issue is where did the money go? If I am going to take debt, it is going to go into regenerative expenditure. But when you are taking loans and you are running the state into debt, just for consumption, you are not investing in the state; you are not paying salaries; that’s actually what I was talking about.”
In terms of tax collection, Governor Otti stated that his administration has revamped the system by eliminating unauthorized individuals from collecting taxes on behalf of the government.
He emphasized that they have instituted a policy whereby revenue collection must not be conducted in cash.
“As a government, we do not patronise touts and we have also made it clear that people in Ariaaria market can only pay through the designated banks. Cash payments are no longer allowed. You do not pay for any revenue by cash, you can only pay through the banks,” he said.
Additionally, Otti provided reassurance to the people of Abia regarding the delivery of the rail project, one of the pledges made during his campaign. He disclosed ongoing discussions with a Chinese company, reporting positive progress in the negotiations.