By NewsCritic Reporters
The former Executive Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area, LGA, Revd Sam Ekeledo has urged the incumbent Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, to show better sense of transparency and accountability in governance to avoid the pitfalls of the previous administration.
In an interview with NewsCritic online, Revd Sam Ekeledo said that performance has to be measured in terms of the volume of funds available and or the amount of money the Governor has received so far, adding that he (Ekeledo) can’t be oversighted by the reconstruction of existing roads infrastructure in the state, which he said is not enough.
He said “with the amount of money that accrues to Abia State, I think the Governor has not started. Let there be a better sense of accountability in governance, there’s nothing that stops the government from doing power projects, developing deep seaport and industrial parks in designated economic areas.
“This way the Governor will be remembered just like the late Dr M.I Okpara is today being remembered for the many landmark projects he constructed like the Obudu Cattle Ranch, the Farm Settlements, the Palm Plantations and the industries that were the drivers of the regional economy then.
“So, the Governor should be talking about building new roads that weren’t in existence before if truly we are serious about a New Abia, not like the Express-Ossah-Okpara Square expansion project which is an existing road.
“What I’m saying is that Gov Otti comes across as one who is eager to serve, so I will urge him to be more careful, and more transparent otherwise the same accusations that worked against the past administration will be repeated again’, noting that it’s avoidable now.
The former General Manager/CEO of Abia Transport Corporation also railed against the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members who defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC in Abia State, describing it as a miscalculation on their part.
According to Revd Ekeledo, the APC might be challenged because Nigerians are advocating for a new political association in the face of biting economic hardship, saying ‘the country as it is today, lacks direction’.
