Abia State Government has called on relevant security agencies in the state to thoroughly investigate an alleged threat to the life of one of its lawmakers.
In a press statement by John Okiyi Kalu, the state Commissioner for Information, the state government said its attention “has been drawn to a circulating publication by the member representing Aba South State Constituency at the Abia State House of Assembly, Mr Obinna Ichita, wherein he alleged among other things that some unnamed individuals are seriously threatening his life over his political activities within the state.
“We wish to unequivocally condemn such threat if at all it exists beyond the imagination of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) legislator. We also call on relevant security agencies in the state to thoroughly investigate the purported petition by the lawmaker.”
The commissioner noted that “under the watch of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, a premium has been placed on freedom of expression for all citizens of the state as well as protection of their lives and property.
“The administration has never been and will never be associated with political killings or harassment of citizens based on their opinions and political views,” he reiterated
“We wish to insist that the grave allegations by Ichita be expeditiously investigated in its entirety and those found culpable brought to justice,” Okiyi stressed.
“However, if on the other hand there is no substance to the allegation, we also will insist that appropriate sanctions be applied to deter those who may wish to needlessly overheat the polity by raising false alarms”, the state government demanded.
Part of the statement read: “It is desperately malicious and/or a hallmark of ignorance for a state legislator to claim that a World Bank project fund of N27.4b has been “paid in full by the World Bank to the state government“ and insinuate the possibility of misappropriation whereas the practice is for such funds to be held in a project account supervised by the Bank with contractors’ payments released to them on the basis of agreed milestones and “no objection certificate” from the World Bank itself.
“It is shocking that a state legislator does not know that the state government cannot pay out ONE KOBO from that fund, even if it wishes to, without approval and concurrence by the World Bank which must have also certified work done as we do not have direct access to the fund.
“For a legislator whose political party, APGA, previously petitioned sundry federal agencies including the Ministry of Finance to stop the World Bank from funding the projects for the people of Aba South in particular and Abia State in general, to turn round and make maliciously false insinuations regarding the project without educating himself properly on it can only be attributed to a lack of attention to details, dereliction of duties, unsuitability for office and mischief”.
The Commissioner explained that “with regards to the disbursement and application of the State House of Assembly appropriated Paris Club Refunds, the (Okezie Ikpeazu) administration has no reason to interfere with legislative or legal reviews of the application of the funds.
“We have already stated our position on that and other related issues to the effect that we do not interfere with constitutionally empowered bodies reviewing our management of the finances and other resources of the people of Abia State.
“Anyone found culpable in misappropriating public funds should be sanctioned according to the law while those who make false and malicious claims should also be sanctioned as appropriate.
Okiyi warned that the State Government remained focused on implementing the kinetic Abia projects that had endeared her to the people and would continue to prioritise the security of lives and property of all Abians within a democratically free and open environment.
The member representing Aba South State Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Obinna Ichita, had early Wednesday morning raised an alarm that he was being threatened over his role in the investigation of 27 Billion Naira world bank intervention for flood control and construction of major roads in Aba south through NEWMAP.
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