The immediate-past governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has finally responded to the allegation of diverting N10bn meant for the construction of an airport in Aba, saying as someone with executive power at that time, no one can question his decision not to go ahead with the project.
While admitting that the sum of N10bn was earmarked for the construction of an airport to boost commercial life in Aba, the former governor in an interview monitored by our correspondent said he realized that roads to the major markets in the city were in a bad state, making interconnection difficult.
“So we decided to suspend the airport project. Today when people talk about the money for the airport and all that, it’s as if they are questioning my decision to change my mind and I had right at that time to say I don’t want this airport now.
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“Because of you land at the airport, where are you going to? You can’t go to Ariaria. We had to change the status quo at that time and I am happy that I finished Eziukwu Road from that fund, I finished Faulks road from that fund, Ngwa Road is okay, and Osusu Road is okay.
“So today you can connect Ariaria through Osusu road, to Eziukwu market and connect Eziukwu road to Ngwa market. I succeeded in interconnecting all the markets, courtesy of that fund which we were supposed to construct an airport”, he explained.
According to the former governor, if his administration had gone ahead with that project, the sum of N10bn wouldn’t have been completed it, saying it would have amounted to tying the money as some airports in the country are not viable.
He also dismissed allegations that the fund was diverted to about 32 accounts, insisting that those who received money from the funds were contractors who carried out various projects and they were less than 32.
He also challenged the incumbent government to follow the trail to check if a dime was diverted to an individual’s account from the N10bn.
He listed other projects completed from that fund to include, Faulks Road, Eziukwu Road, Ejike Lane, Milverton Avenue, and so many others.
