Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has refuted claims that the previous administration made any financial contributions to the recently commissioned 188MW Geometric Power Plant project in the state.
Speaking through the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mr. Okey Kanu, Governor Otti clarified the state’s position in a press statement issued at the Government House, Umuahia.
Kanu emphasized the government’s commitment to transparency and factual accuracy, stating that there was no evidence of financial commitment from the state government to the Geometric Power Plant project during the transition period. He dismissed assertions to the contrary, highlighting the private sector nature of the project and the absence of documentation to substantiate any claims of investment by the previous administration.
Supporting this stance, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, underscored the importance of adherence to procedural standards in government operations. Ekeoma noted that while statements had been made regarding the previous government’s alleged financial contributions, the present administration lacked any documentation to validate such claims.
Ekeoma further emphasized the need for tangible evidence to support assertions of financial commitments, emphasizing the government’s preference for factual documentation over verbal claims. He expressed openness to reviewing any substantiated evidence but stressed the importance of concrete documentation in validating past agreements or transactions.
The clarification from the Abia State Government comes amid discussions surrounding the significance of the Geometric Power Plant project in the state’s energy sector. While acknowledging the completion of the project’s first phase in 2013, the government reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in all aspects of governance, including public-private partnerships such as the Geometric Power Plant initiative.
