Abia APC Group reacts to Pres. Tinubu's cancelled Visit to Abia State

ONN ABIA 02.10.2035

The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has repeatedly invited the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to commission a handful of short road projects, including the controversial and overpriced 5.8-kilometer Port Harcourt Road in Aba.

The Governor claims to have spent a staggering N36.5 billion on its reconstruction, even though records show that Heartland/Setraco Construction Company Limited had earlier bidded N9 billion to complete the same project.

OVERPRICED COST OF PROJECTS:

For the third time this year, since the road was completed, Governor Otti has publicly announced that President Tinubu himself would attend its commissioning. Opposition voices, however, argue that the road, calculated at over N6 billion per kilometer, is among the most expensive in the world. They contend that it would be an embarrassment for the President to personally commission such an inflated project.

LACK OF MEANINGFUL USE OF THE ENHANCED INFLOWS:

In his most recent media parley with Abia journalists, Governor Otti again claimed that President Tinubu would be in Abia on 3rd, October, 2025, to commission the Port Harcourt Road and four other short streets that were merely asphalted. Critics described this as a mockery of the Presidency, pointing out that former President Olusegun Obasanjo once commissioned a longer road project in the state, though merely asphalted also. They urged the President not to personally attend but instead send a representative until the Governor delivers projects that match the scale of Abia’s enhanced revenue allocations.

REFUSAL TO RELOCATE FROM HIS PRIVATE RESIDENCE:

While the Abia State Government continues to publicize the President’s proposed visit, sources close to the Villa have revealed that President Tinubu will not physically attend but will delegate a representative. According to insider accounts, the President’s decision may not be unconnected to Governor Otti’s refusal to relocate from his private residence into the Government House, despite the availability of resources to do so.

The source, who preferred anonymity, hinted that within power circles, the Governor’s reluctance is tied to the fact that the advice did not come from his political allies, like the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo or Chief Rotimi Amaechi and others forming Opposition coalition against President Tinubu.

CONCERNS ABOUT ABIA WORKERS’ WELFARE:

Another source further disclosed that the Villa is displeased with the treatment of Abia civil servants. Despite increased allocations, staff of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital reportedly earn as little as N29,000 monthly, while employees of ASPIMSS are said to be paid N50,000. This, insiders say, runs contrary to President Tinubu’s call for governors to channel resources into grassroots welfare.

ALLEGES MISMANAGEMENT OF FUNDS FOR RENOVATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS:

The alleged mismanagement of N54 billion claimed to have been spent on renovation of public schools has also been cited as a point of friction between the Villa and the Abia State Government.

CONCLUSION:

Ultimately, the villa sources confirmed that the projects lined up for commissioning are viewed as underwhelming and unworthy of the scale of federal resources now flowing into Abia following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Tinubu administration.

Abia State APC Renaissance Group.