YOU CAN'T JOIN IN THE ABUSE OF OUR PARENTS

Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu

While we respect fraternal political relationships, the rights of individuals to visit and be visited, and the right of assembly, it becomes worrying when those in high positions of authority begin to directly or indirectly support the abuse of their own people.

While we may have forgiven your recent 'EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME' where you gave out motor cycles and bags of rice to Abia Youth as EMPOWERMENT ITEMS (since it may probably have been a misuse of the term 'EMPOWERMENT'), we are now really worried about your recent award to Governor Alex C. Otti, who Abians are fingering for what appears to be reckless, gross and unprecedented abuse of public funds in the last 11 months.

Ben, in a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, where Governor Otti has sacked tens of thousands of innocent Abians FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE for no genuine reasons, claiming to have saved N2.4bn annually, and has forced retirees to forfeit their retirement benefits to him, he is busy running his office with N58m per working day. Many of these sacked Abia graduates were being paid N40k per month, while NCE holders were being paid N19k, while Governor Otti spent about N100m monthly on refreshments in his office, which you know is his home. On top of that he claimed the sum of N2.97bn for capital projects in his office, an office that doesn't exist anywhere.

Dear Ben, a fashionista like you, whose wrist adorns what appears to be a £16k (N28m) Rolex watch, and feet, a Ferragamo pair of shoes worth £700 (N1.21m) in the photo below, must feel bad that my 83 years old mother, whose pension since she retired as a Headmaster Special Class in 2008 remains N13k per month, has been forced to forfeit some years of her unpaid retirement benefits by Governor Otti, for him to continue to fund his luxury lifestyle.

I'm sure that streams of tears must be cascading down your cheek now in your chartered private jet after reading that your old teacher INTERMITTENTLY earns a monthly pension that can't buy your designer handkerchief. You must be wondering 'what if I sacrifice the thousands of dollars of public funds I used to charter this private jet to provide scholarships or build a hospital in Abia that will carter for my people, and provide employment to Abians?'.

I equally believe that it will worry you that Governor Otti ran his office with N11.44bn in 9 months in a state of 4.5 million people where the total revenue excluding borrowing for the period was N117bn. His security vote amounts to N17m per day, after all his promises of not accessing security vote. It may also worry you that Governor has bought cars worth N2.8bn for his office in 9 months, vehicles most Abians can't see on Abia roads.

According to the quarterly financial reports recently published by Governor Alex C. Otti on the state's website, Governor Otti has claimed tens of billions of Naira for several projects in the photos below, which many Abians argue cannot be found anywhere in the state.

Hon Ben, I therefore ask you, what was your award to Governor Otti for? Is it for his abuse of office or abuse of Abia's funds?

Can I humbly ask you not to join in rubbing salt on the faces of our oppressed, demeaned, and abused parents and people, who have suffered years of brutal oppression in the hands of politicians.

If young leaders like yourself involve yourselves in this macabre dance, Abia will be ruined forever.

Ben, we hereby humbly plead with you to help us ask Governor Otti to make public, the location of the the following projects for which he has claimed public funds:

1. Construction of Office Buildings - ₦3.8bn
2. Construction of Water Facilities - ₦260m
3. Construction of Waterways - ₦290m
4. Construction of Public Schools - ₦4.6bn
5. Construction of Hospitals - ₦1.07bn
6. Construction of ICT Infrastructure - ₦2,5bn
7. Construction of Infrastructure - ₦843m
8. Purchase of Land - ₦437m
9. Renovation of Libraries - ₦10m
10. Construction of Boundary Pillars - N140m
11. Construction of Agricultural Facilities - ₦1.6bn
12. Erosion & Flood Control - ₦980m
13. Water Pollution Prevention - ₦158m
14. Research & Development Projects - ₦3bn
15. Government House Restaurant - ₦899m
16. Governor's Office Medical Equipment - ₦773m
17. Governor's Office Media Station - ₦638m
18. Governor's Vehicles - ₦2.8bn
19. Capacity Building & Value Orientation ₦3.1bn
20. Governor's Office Office Furniture - ₦134m
21. Governor's Office IT Equipment & Stationeries - ₦359m
22. Governor's office Generators ₦147m
23. Social Welfare Activities ₦486m
24. Governor's Office Industrial Equipment ₦119.4m1. Construction of Office Buildings - ₦3.8bn
2. Construction of Water Facilities - ₦260m
3. Construction of Waterways - ₦290m
4. Construction of Public Schools - ₦4.6bn
5. Construction of Hospitals - ₦1.07bn
6. Construction of ICT Infrastructure - ₦2,5bn
7. Construction of Infrastructure - ₦843m
8. Purchase of Land - ₦437m
9. Renovation of Libraries - ₦10m
10. Construction of Boundary Pillars - N140m
11. Construction of Agricultural Facilities - ₦1.6bn
12. Erosion & Flood Control - ₦980m
13. Water Pollution Prevention - ₦158m
14. Research & Development Projects - ₦3bn
15. Government House Restaurant - ₦899m
16. Governor's Office Medical Equipment - ₦773m
17. Governor's Office Media Station - ₦638m
18. Governor's Vehicles - ₦2.8bn
19. Capacity Building & Value Orientation ₦3.1bn
20. Governor's Office Office Furniture - ₦134m
21. Governor's Office IT Equipment & Stationeries - ₦359m
22. Governor's office Generators ₦147m
23. Social Welfare Activities ₦486m
24. Governor's Office Industrial Equipment ₦119.4m

Ben, we will no longer sit by and watch politicians continue to oppress us! We encourage you to avoid that band wagon.

We are looking forward to your people centred bills, and development projects, which will improve the lives of the teeming unemployed youth of Abia, while encouraging you to lead with utmost frugality, modesty, temperance and humility.

Great watch and shoes anyway, you are doing well! I won't be surprised that your eye glasses must be Gucci or other superior brand.

Respectfully yours,

Eke O Ako
Fellow Abia Citizen

Cc: Ginger O. Onwusibe