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IVM vs Assembly: Stop embarrassing Abia, PDP tells gvt *Says Otti lacks transparency
“If the governor cannot give the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, who is the number three person in the government hierarchy, the correct information in a financial matter as little as the purchase of vehicles, we cannot imagine how the governor would give ordinary Abians correct information on other matters. And every Abian is a witness to the constant misinformation the governor willfully dishes out all the time.”
With these words, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, for the umpteenth time, called out the government of Alex Otti, for exhibiting lack of transparency in the handling of affairs since taking office, which had on several occasions led to embarrassment to the people.
The admonition, is coming against the backdrop of the contract tussle between the Abia State government and Innosson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) over the alleged non-supply of vehicles purportedly paid for by the state government, leading to accusations and denials.
Abraham Amah, Vice Chairman who is also the spokesman of the party, who condemned the development, particularly dwelt on the spat between the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa and IVM, describing it as not only needless but a revelation of a lack of due process and transparency in the conduct of government business by the current administration.
Emeruwa, had told reporters, as captured in a viral video that the government of Otti, had made payments for the purchase of the vehicles for the use of members of the assembly, which IVM had failed to supply one year after, a claim the company quickly debunked.
In the said video, the Speaker, who said the decision to buy from the company was purely to promote local content, not only threatened to terminate its contract with IVM for allegedly reneging on an agreement to produce vehicles for all the lawmakers, but bemoaned a situation where members would have to continue waiting for their cars since after their inauguration, saying it was unacceptable.
However Cornel Osigwe, IVM spokesman, in a quick riposte, denied that the company received payment from the Umuahia for the purpose of supplying the vehicles, adding that because the said vehicles were of a special order, which required special features, the company refused to accept such payment until the cars were fully produced.
“In accordance with the Governor’s initiative to promote local products, we took this project very seriously and produced a sample for approval by the Governor. During this process, the Governor suggested some remodifications, which we promptly implemented to meet his specified requirements.
“As of today, we would like to inform the public that we have completed all modifications and have addressed any initial defects. The new model vehicles are currently undergoing rigorous testing at our quality control section. We are pleased to announce that the vehicles will be ready by the end of this month and the supply will be completed by the beginning of next month. “When the governor requested to make payment IVM made a conscious decision not to accept any payment until the vehicles were finally produced and delivered, adding therefore, that the House of Assembly’s claim that payment has been made is inaccurate. We would like to express our gratitude to the Government of Abia State for their continued support and patronage. We want to reassure them that we have taken significant measures to prevent future delays and uphold our commitment to delivering high-quality vehicles.
“Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Ltd remains dedicated to providing excellent products and services to our esteemed customers. We appreciate your understanding and patience in this matter.”
Amah, who said that the revelation made by IVM that it did not receive any payment from the Abia State government concerning the vehicles Emeruwa was talking about showed a total and embarrassing disconnect between the roles and actions of the operators of the Abia government, added that the PDP was concerned that this situation assaulted the concept of separation of powers and debased democracy.
“In the first place, it is an infringement on the independence of the legislature that the governor should be the one to award contracts for the purchase of vehicles for legislators. As a separate arm of government, the Assembly should be the one to award the contract for its vehicles, its budget should be on the first line charge to enable it to maintain its independence.
“This unconventional situation brings the legislators under the influence of the governor and it is difficult to see how they can maintain their independence if they have to depend on him for their welfare. What is even more shocking is that the Speaker had relied on oral evidence from the governor who told him that he had made payments for the vehicles and unfortunately, the company, not the Abia PDP, refuted the governor’s claims.
“That shows that the award did not pass through the due procurement process. What is more unfortunate is that the governor’s penchant for giving out wrong information to the public is also on full display within the highest echelon of the operators of this government. We call on Governor Otti to restore the independence of the legislature, become transparent to his fellow operatives in government and Abia people and ensure that due process and accountability are followed in the conduct of government business.”
Hours after Mohammed Hayatu-Deen did, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, also flatly rejected the outcome of the presidential primaries, of the African Democratic Congress, alleging widespread voter disenfranchisement and electoral malpractice.
Amaechi former Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, described the announced results as “concocted,” insisting that the process failed to meet the standards of transparency and fairness earlier promised by the party.
He said in a statement: “I unequivocally reject the concocted results being announced,” Amaechi stated.
He said he had previously maintained that he would only accept the outcome of the primaries if the process was free, fair and transparent, stressing that the exercise did not reflect the democratic values the ADC claimed to represent.
“I will not accept results from a process that does not reflect the values that the ADC had pledged to uphold, to rescue Nigerians from the impunity and gross mismanagement that our country is currently facing in the hands of the ruling party,” he said.
Amaechi alleged that a significant number of party members were denied the opportunity to vote during the exercise.
“There’s no way that about eighty percent of members of the party were not allowed to vote, and you expect me to accept such results,” he stated.
The former Rivers State governor questioned the moral basis of the ADC criticising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over alleged electoral malpractice while allegedly engaging in similar conduct internally.
“A party that criticizes the ruling APC and INEC for vote buying, rigging and writing of results, cannot be engaged in vote buying, writing of results, and other electoral malpractices that leads to the disenfranchisement of voters who are party members. This is not acceptable!” he declared.
Amaechi said the ADC was envisioned as a platform to amplify the voices of ordinary Nigerians and provide credible political alternatives irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social background.
His rejection of the outcome is expected to deepen tensions within the opposition party following the conclusion of its presidential primary election.
“These timeless virtues of devotion, selflessness, and submission to divine will are values our nation desperately needs today,” were the exact words with which Godswill Akpabio, attempted to rouse Nigerians to the ethos of unquestionable faith and service to the country.
Akpabio, Chairman of the National Assembly, who drew example from Prophet Ibrahim, admonished Nigerians to emulate his unwavering faith, obedience, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Almighty Allah.
The Senate President, who conveyed his sentiments via a statement by Eseme Eyiboh, also used the specifically hail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vice, Kashim Shettima and Muslim faithful in Nigeria and around the world as they celebrate Eid El Kabir.
Stressing that the occasion called for prayer and sober reflection on the theme of sacrifice, he added: “This sacred occasion reminds us of Prophet Ibrahim’s unwavering faith, obedience, and willingness to sacrifice for the sake of Almighty Allah.
“To our dear President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima and Muslim brothers and sisters, I felicitate with them on behalf of my family, constituents and the Senate on this blessed Eid. May the lessons of sacrifice, compassion, and generosity that define this season strengthen your faith and bring peace to your homes.
“As you share with the less privileged and extend love to neighbours of all faiths, you embody the true spirit of Nigeria. To all Nigerians, I urge us to use this solemn period to pray fervently for peace, security, and prosperity in our land. Let us pray for our troops in the frontlines, for farmers to return safely to their fields, and for unity to prevail over division in our Nation.
“Eid El Kabir also calls us to deep reflection on the future of our country. Just as Prophet Ibrahim was tested, Nigeria is in a season of testing. The sacrifices we make today in patience, in tolerance and in choosing hope over despair will determine the Nigeria our children inherit.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration, supported by the National Assembly, is anchored on that same principle: that meaningful progress often requires collective sacrifice.
“May Almighty Allah accept your prayers and sacrifices. May He heal our land, guide our leaders, and bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Barka da Sallah. Eid Mubarak.”
“I will not be attending the announcement of the ADC Presidential Election Results today. I am concerned by reports from across the country of widespread vote rigging, some of which I myself observed, and will therefore be taking advice on my next steps.”
These were the exact words of Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, one of the presidential aspirants of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), with which he cast a slur on the ongoing presidential primaries of the party, hinging his position on reports of fraud trailing the exercise.
Hayatu-Deen, a second timer in the search for the nation’s number one job, ran against Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation.
In a statement on his assessment of the exercise which began on Monday, the renowned economist Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), used his X platform to convey his dissatisfaction with the process.
The ADC which said the collation for the exercise would take place in Abuja had urged aspirants, party leaders, delegates, and members to conduct themselves peacefully and uphold party unity.
Bolaji Abdullahi, its spokesman, who described the exercise as a defining moment for both the ADC and Nigerians seeking a credible political alternative, maintained that it remained committed to internal democracy and a transparent leadership selection process.
“The ADC remains proud to stand today as the only truly democratic party in Nigeria because it is the only political party whose choice of presidential candidate is determined through open primaries,” he said adding that the conduct of aspirants and party members during the exercise would reflect the leadership culture the ADC seeks to promote.
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