Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti has emphasized that the forensic audit of the State Government’s accounts was initiated by his administration to recover stolen funds, and not to witch-hunt anyone.
Otti stated this, Sunday, during an interactive session with constituents of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
The Governor while addressing concerns regarding the missing funds earmarked for the Abia Airport Project, vowed to exhaust all avenues to locate the funds and ensure their return for the betterment of the state.
He said that the report of the audit revealed that “a lot of money was looted and stolen brazenly” for non-existing projects which include the Abia Airport Project.
Governor Otti clarified that the primary objective for initiating the forensic audit of the state Government’s account was for the recovery of misappropriated funds to facilitate developmental projects.
He expressed the determination of the present anniversary to locate the missing funds and ensure accountability.
“I established forensic audit of the State Government’s account as soon as I was sworn in, and that the report turned out that a lot of money was looted , stolen brazenly and part of the one I mentioned was the Abia Airport Project.
“I am looking for the airport for which funds were move from the coffers of the government for.
“The people concerned with the act of moving the airport project funds in question went to the media and began to say all manner of things.If you are following the happenings in the media space, you will see these things there.
“The problem with lying is that when you tell one lie, you will need another one to cover the first lie and need three more lies to cover the second one. We are looking for our money and we must find our money.
”If we don’t find the airport, then they will refund our money,”he stated
Governor Otti who noted that his administration is committed to improving the welfare of the citizenry through various progressive initiatives that facilitate socio-economic growth, outlined key priorities including infrastructure development, healthcare system enhancement, job creation, and educational reform among others.
The Governor unveiled plans for a groundbreaking medical village aimed at positioning Abia as a premier destination for advanced medical care.
He commended the bipartisan support received from the House of Assembly member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency , Mr Roland Chinwendu, for playing “politics of no bitterness”.
“Immediately, after the elections he came to me to make it clear that as the member representing my Constituency, he would work with me to move Abia forward.
“It is worthy of note that he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and I commend him for that,”he said.
Earlier, Chinwendu affirmed his dedication to effective representation and cooperation with Otti’s administration for the betterment of Abia State.
Also, a Chieftain of Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, commended the lawmaker for reaching beyond party affiliations to support the Labour Party-led government in Abia adding that the present administration was poised to reposition the state through governance.
