Orji urges Tinubu to decline Otti’s invite to commission single project in Abia

A former ally of Governor Alex Otti, Professor Moses A. Orji, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reconsider an invitation from the Abia State Government to commission a single infrastructure project during his scheduled visit to the state.

President Tinubu is expected in Abia on May 23, with plans to inaugurate the 6.5-kilometre Port Harcourt Road in Aba, reconstructed under Governor Otti’s administration.

In an open letter addressed to the President and made available to journalists on Tuesday, Prof. Orji raised concerns over the optics and rationale of such a visit. According to him, “it could even be in the personal interest of Governor Otti that the President doesn’t come now. Perhaps Otti needs time to put his house in order.”

Orji questioned the significance of inviting the nation’s leader to commission just one project, stating: “In which state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the president gone to commission just a single completed project, and nothing more?”

He contrasted the Abia invitation with presidential visits to other states, noting: “Why would Mr. President go to Enugu state to inaugurate seven (7) different key projects completed (by a fellow first termer with Otti), and then feel the same sense of duty to be called upon to inaugurate just one in Abia?”

The professor further asked: “Why would the President go to commission the dazzling wonderland called Funcity built by Governor Soludo of Anambra state, and not ask us questions about the whereabouts of Abia’s ‘Recreational Facilities’ which was completed last year at the cost of over N7 billions but is nowhere to be found? Or do we think the presidency is not aware?”

He raised alarms over multiple project flag-offs in the state without evidence of actual work. “Why would we want to drag the President into our numerous cases of ‘flag-offs’ when work has not commenced on any of the previous flag-offs?”

Citing the Owazza Integrated Industrial Park as an example, Orji queried: “What about our flagged-off Seaport, Fertilizer Plants, Refineries etc at the proposed Owazza Integrated Industrial Park? Has anybody seen the feasibility study report, or the Environmental Impact Assessment Report of any of them? But they have been flagged-off.

“What about the Pensioners who are proposing to come out in their numbers to make their case before the President? What are we going to tell Mr President? That we are the only state in the South East still owing Pensioners their arrears. What would be our governor’s excuse for wanting Abia pensioners to forfeit their earned pensions when our monthly inflows has quadrupled?.”

While accusing Alex Otti led administration of employing propaganda and brinkmanship, Prof. Orji recalled that Governor Otti, about a year ago, nearly pulled off a similar stunt when he tried to drag Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state to Abia state.

“Our Governor wanted his colleague from Lagos state to come and commission a 200 metre track road (Yellow Avenue) on the outskirts of Aba, a street leading to the private residence of one of his business friends. Of course his intended guest caught wind of it, and refused to show up.

“I am therefore of the opinion that this make-believe approach to scoring dubious political points by an administration that is grossly underperforming should be exposed and discouraged.

“For example, what if the President decides to have a breather at the Government House, Umuahia which has a Presidential Lounge? Would Mr Otti tell the President to follow him to his private residence at Isiala Ngwa? Remember the President is not coming on a social visit? Or would our Governor tell his august guest that tortoise, vulture and other animals were used to lay the foundation of our Government House?

“Again the Abia “Medical City” at Owerrinta is within the precincts of our Owerrinta Rice Complex.

“What if the President decides to have a glimpse of the ‘Owerrinta Rice Mill. The proximity of the “two projects” could tempt the President to kill two birds with one stone.”

Orji submitted that Abia state have been wallowing in the morass of propaganda and brinkmanship while states like Enugu and Anambra have taken a quantum leap forward.

“Yet we may not have learnt our lessons as our governor continues to fire broadsides at his predecessors, and as he continues to blame the rate of the Dollar to the Naira for the inflated value of his contracts.”