By NewsCritic Reporters
Abia State House Of Assembly Members will not accept Innoson Motors as official vehicles from the Gov Alex Otti led administration, according to some lawmakers who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity.
There have been speculations that the state governor Dr Alex Otti is planning to buy the Innoson brand of vehicles for the 24 members of the house of assembly as against the Toyota Prado which were the choice vehicle for the 7th assembly.
Already Gov Otti has bought the INNOSON IVM G6T TURBO SUV for the members of the state executive council of Abia state, which was distributed to them immediately after their swearing-in as official vehicles.
It was gathered that the Labour Party, LP, Presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi had made a request that Gov Otti should patronise Innoson Motors if it is the only thing, he can do for him apart from fulfilling his campaign promises to the people of Abia State in terms of good governance.
However, close sources within the Abia legislative assembly disclosed that the members are not willing to have or to accept the IVM brand of vehicles from Gov Otti, who is said to be determined to please Mr Peter Obi, as their official vehicles.
According to sources, the Abia lawmakers are of the opinion that the Gov Otti should allow them to have the vehicles of their choice and not to offer them IVM as if they were his appointees.
“He can’t even contemplate giving us IVM brands of vehicles because we are not his commissioners”, said one of the lawmakers.
Again, they argued that it will be out of place for the governor to equate them with his political aides, considering the fact that they contested in the same election along with him and actually helped in his election.
In conclusion, they said they will not take Innoson vehicles if the governor goes ahead to purchase them. The implication of this according to analysts is that the governor might be heading for a showdown with members of the state assembly over the type of vehicles that is due to them.