* Urge Ikpeazu to intervene, stop pillage
Abia State Governor-elect, Dr Alex Otti, and the Labour Party (LP) have alerted the public of massive looting of government assets by appointees of the out-going administration.
The Governor-elect and his party identified public institutions and government facilities, including the Government House and guest houses as places being looted.
Otti’s media aide Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the State LP spokesman Njoku Ajike, through a joint statement on Wednesday expressed disappointment about the situation, noting that the government should have acted swiftly to avert the development.
They recalled that last Friday, the Abia State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) raised the issue during a courtesy visit to Otti in Nvosi
The joint statement said: “Choice cars, brand new buses and Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) 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 have since been taken away by agents of the government.
The statement further 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”.
“Government 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 carted away is returned”.