Our reporter/ Abia State Governor-elect Alex Otti and the Labour Party (LP) on Wednesday alerted the public of massive looting of government properties by appointees and civil servants.
The governor-elect and his party in a statement identified public institutions and government facilities, including the Government House and guest houses as places being looted.
The joint statement by Ferdinand Ekeoma and Njoku Ajike, the state LP spokesperson expressed disappointment about the situation, noting that the government should have acted swiftly to avert the development.
The statement recalled that last Friday the Abia State Branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) alerted on the issue during a courtesy visit to Dr. Alex Otti.
According to the statement, “choice cars, brand new buses and Sport Utility Vehicles acquired with public funds, have been removed” from the Government House Umuahia.
Others affected are the School of Health Technology Aba; Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB), Umuahia; School of Nursing, Amachara, Umuahia.
“In the case of School of Nursing Amachara, Umuahia, reports alleged that some important medical equipment in the COVID-19 Centre had since been taken away by agents of the government.
The statement described the acts as insensitive and callous to the welfare of the Abia people and the socio-economic development of the state.
Noting that the public assets must be protected and not plundered as spoils of war, the LP reminded culpable persons that “government outlives every occupant”.
“Gvernment is a continuum. Therefore, no action should be taken by anyone to sabotage the existence of government as an institution at any point in time.”
Otti advised Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to “arrest this self-sabotage and ensure that every property belonging to the State Government away is returned”.
Leave a Reply