pro-democracy and anti-corruption civil society group, Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Department (FENRAD), has called on the immediate former and incumbent governors of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu and Alex Otti respectively to declare their assets.
The group also asked their immediate family members and appointees to do the same.
FENRAD made the call on Thursday in a statement issued by Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor and Head of Legal Team and Litigation, Barr. Femisi Akande.
It said that it had earlier written to governorship aspirants from all the 18 political parties that participated in the recently concluded elections in Abia to make financial disclosure of their assets.
FENRAD, therefore, reiterated its demand by asking the former Governor Ikpeazu and the incumbent Governor Otti to publicly declare their assets, explaining that its latest demand came at a suitable time as enshrined and stipulated in the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The group expressed concern about “the magnitude and unheard size of Abia state debt profile which currently stands at ₦144,000,000,000.00 (one hundred and forty-four billion naira) as at the last quarter (Q4) of 2022, according to the Debt Management Office (DMO).”
According to FENRAD, this is an unhealthy outlook “given that past experiences show lack of commitment and financial discipline among former state executive, as some of them currently have cases (pending) before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”
FENRAD further pinpointed the increased unemployment rates in the state, which according to the group, is at an all-time low – 50.07%, next to Imo state.
It stated, “Purchase power decline is also biting and hitting hard with household finances shrinking. As a result, over 5 million Abians are poor, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).”
Reminding Governor Otti of the enormous task ahead of him, especially towards addressing the myriads of problems hindering the collective effort of well-meaning citizens of the state to engender economic and infrastructural development, FENRAD called on the governor to publicly disclose his assets and to also mandate his appointees and cabinet members to declare theirs.
“Guided by that, FENRAD calls on Dr. Alex Otti to make public his assets, including those of his wife and children below the age of 18 as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended
“By this release too, we call on Ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, PhD, to also disclose his assets including funds left in the various Government Accounts. This has to be declared for transparency and Accountability,” it stated.
The civic group also maintained that it is not time for jamboree and endless propaganda, but time for work.
FENRAD regretted that the state had fallen on hard times.
It said, “Budgetary performance is low as arrears of salaries and pension and gratuity stare the state in the face, meaning that it is mandatory for the incoming administration to commit to delivering on all fronts of campaign promises.
“A state with a financial fate like Abia, with burdensome debt and non-performing budgets needs recalibrating. This and lots more are all the challenges facing Dr Alex Otti as the tenth governor of Abia, God’s own state.
“FENRAD will be following and will see that financial discipline is established in fiscal policies of the state as one of the commitments made by the Governor in his inaugural speech after the inauguration where he promised to commit to Probity, accountability and prudent use of the state resources.”
