A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Prince Paul Ikonne, has called on Governor Alex Otti to provide clarity on the alleged ₦54 billion school renovation expenditure, accusing him of distracting the public with contradictions.
Governor Otti, during his monthly media chat last weekend, dismissed claims that ₦54 billion was missing from the state treasury, describing the allegations as baseless and stemming from ignorance about government budgeting and spending.
Reacting in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Ujo Justice, Ikonne questioned why a governor who prides himself on having “seasoned accountants” in his administration would contradict his own government’s records.
He insisted that Abians deserve answers on “where the schools are, and where the ₦54 billion went.”
The APC stalwart recalled that similar sums had been earmarked in the past, including ₦18 billion reportedly set aside for school renovations, with little to show on the ground.
Citing a recent online investigative report, Ikonne noted that official budget performance documents contradict Otti’s claims.
According to the report, Abia State recorded ₦54.066 billion spent on rehabilitation and repairs of public schools in the last quarter of 2024 alone, while total expenditure for the fiscal year stood at ₦58.323 billion.
Ikonne argued that if the governor insists only ₦2.1 billion was spent on schools, then he must explain why his own administration’s records show otherwise.
He further pointed to the approved 2024 budget, which allocated ₦64.7 billion for the renovation or modelling of 51 schools, averaging ₦1.26 billion per school — a figure he said raises more questions than answers.
The APC leader urged Governor Otti to be transparent and accountable, stressing that education is too critical an issue for Abians to be left in the dark.
“This data,” Ikonne stressed, “makes it clear that the governor is either deliberately misleading Abians or is unaware of what his government is signing off.”
He welcomed the Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), which is demanding a breakdown of the ₦54 billion, including the list of schools supposedly renovated, their names, locations, and the nature of works done.
“Governor Otti should stop hiding behind semantics. Budgets are estimates, but expenditures are facts. The documents clearly show ₦54 billion was reported as spent between October and December 2024. If he disputes this, let him publish the schools. Abians are not asking for excuses — we are asking for evidence,” Ikonne said.
The APC chieftain concluded by urging the governor to prioritize truth over propaganda. He added that Dr. Otti should realize that leadership is about accountability, not storytelling. He cannot claim to be the face of transparency while avoiding the simplest of questions: show us the schools.
