Otti’s Govt Built Omenuko Bridge not Fed Govt – Abia state Govt clarifies
By ThankGod Inalegwu
The Abia State Government has clarified that the Omenuko Bridge and several other major infrastructure projects in the state were fully executed by the state government under Governor Alex Otti, and not by the Federal Government.
The clarification followed remarks reportedly made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who allegedly credited the Federal Government and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with constructing the projects.
Reacting to the claim, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, stated that the projects were initiated and completed solely by the Abia State Government.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Ekeoma said the Omenuko Bridge was started and completed by the administration of Governor Otti and was executed simultaneously with the strategic Arochukwu–Ndi Okereke–Ozuabam road project.
According to him, the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene road was also awarded by the Abia State Government, stressing that the details of the projects are well known to the public.
“Omenuko Bridge was started and completed by Abia State Government led by Governor Alex Otti. It was done simultaneously with the very strategic Arochukwu–Ndi Okereke–Ozuabam road. The Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene road was awarded by Abia State Government led by Governor Alex Otti. All these are public knowledge and verifiable,” Ekeoma said.
He further noted that no official of the Federal Government had claimed responsibility for the projects, adding that acknowledging the state’s role does not diminish the achievements of the administration of President Tinubu.
Ekeoma, however, criticised the remarks attributed to Kalu, accusing the Deputy Speaker of misrepresenting facts during his party’s state congress.
“The history of these projects is still fresh in the minds of Abians, yet Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in his usual unguarded and reckless manner, mounted the podium and falsely claimed that the projects were being done by the Federal Government,” he said.
The governor’s aide described the alleged statement as dishonourable, accusing the lawmaker of misleading the public and engaging in what he termed “ignoble politics” by dragging the President’s name into political disputes involving the Abia State Government.
He maintained that the clarification was necessary to set the record straight while reiterating that recognising the state government’s efforts does not in any way undermine the contributions or achievements of the Federal Government under President Tinubu.